All in the Family, Maine Style

While America grows tired of the Bush and (maybe) Clinton dynasties running the country, Mainers too are feeling their own form of dynasty fatigue...or maybe not.

Consider the following:

* While former State Senator Chellie Pingree is working her Washington DC network to pummel Ethan Strimling and maintain the frontrunner status in the Democratic nomination for the first US Congressional district, her daughter, Hannah Pingree, is anxiously awaiting the next legislative session, when the blonde bombshell will more than likely become the next Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives.

* Long time Maine politico Libby Mitchell, of Vassalboro, has worked the State's political landscape to ensure Democrats hold their majority in the State Senate, while strongly staking her claim to the Senate Presidency. At the same time, she is propping up her own daughter, a resident of  Portland, to run for that very same chamber. (For Sen. Strimling's seat, no less!) There's nothing wrong with a little nepotism to ensure a vote for leadership, is there? Her son, Charlie Mitchell, did a brief stint in the House, perhaps he can join them as well.

* Senate Republican Whip Richard Rosen has spent this past session trying to keep the 17 Republican Senators united (no small task with Deb Plowman and Kevin Raye as members of the same caucus), while his wife, Rep. Kim Rosen, holds power broker status on the Transportation Committee. A true Bucksport celebrity couple, huh?

* The Rosen's counterparts in the first congressional district, Acton's own Senator Richard Nass and his wife, Joan Nass, are York County's Legislative version of Bonnie and Clyde.

* Peter Mills and Janet Mills deserve a special award - not only are they a brother and sister team, their other sister Dora Mills is the head Doc at the Bureau of Health.  But wait - there's more - the Mills's clan were represented several decades earlier by their father!

 * Senator Bruce Bryant and his brother, Representative Mark Bryant serve together from western Maine - and in one of the more bizarre stories of the year - we learn that Senator Paula Benoit from Sagadahoc County is the aunt of the Bryant brothers.  This was discovered shortly after Sen. Benoit helped pass a Law that made adoption records more accessible.

* Dana Dow, Lisa Marrache and Josh Tardy all had fathers who served in the Legislature. As for John Martin, he's been under the State House dome long enough to comprise his very own dynasty.

I know Maine is a small State, but isn't this getting a little ridiculous?

Do you know of any family connections that I missed? Let me know at politickerme@aol.com.