Governor Announces Resignation of Finance Commissioner H. Sawin Millett, Jr.

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For Immediate Release: Thursday, April 3

Contact: Adrienne Bennett, Press Secretary (207) 287-2531

Governor Announces Resignation of Finance Commissioner H. Sawin Millett, Jr. 

Commissioner to step down May 31, 2014

AUGUSTA – Governor Paul R. LePage announced today that H. Sawin Millett, Jr., Commissioner of the Department of Administrative and Financial Services, will retire effective May 31, 2014.

“Sawin’s institutional knowledge and acute understanding of the state budget and financial operations has been invaluable to our administration,” said Governor LePage. “His quiet authority and wisdom gained over more than five decades of public service have commanded the highest respect from everyone in state government, and the depth of his experience will be difficult to replace. We wish Sawin and his family much happiness and enjoyment in the retirement he so richly deserves.”

“After nearly 55 years of public service at the local, state and federal levels here in Maine, I have decided that it is time to phase down the hectic pace of my daily commitment and devote more time to enjoying the wonderful family, farm and community pleasures that await me in Waterford, my birthplace and the source of many generations of Millett family heritage,” Commissioner Millett stated to the Governor in his resignation letter. “Thank you for giving me the privilege of serving in your administration.”

Millett has served as Commissioner of DAFS in the LePage Administration for 39 months. During that time he has assisted the Governor in managing two biennial and eight supplemental budgets, directing major pension and tax reforms, overseeing zero-based budgeting and leading the streamlining task force to find $25 million in ongoing structural savings for Maine taxpayers.

Commissioner Millett has a lengthy history of public service to the State of Maine. He began his career as a teacher and coach at Carmel High School in 1959, after graduating from Bates College. He served as a teacher, coach and principal until 1971, having earned a Master’s in Education from the University of Maine in 1967. He served as the Executive Director of the Maine School Management Association and was an Assistant Professor with the University of Southern Maine.

The Commissioner first dabbled in politics at the local level, serving as a selectman from 1963-1970 in Dixmont. He later served as a selectman in his hometown of Waterford from 1986-1989.

Commissioner Millett has served in the Maine House of Representatives six times; from 1969-1972 in the 104th and 105th Legislatures and four consecutive terms from 2002-10 in the 121st, 122nd, 123rd and 124th Legislatures. He served as the lead House Republican on the Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee for the last three terms of his legislative career.

Commissioner Millett has also served five Governors over the span of his career. He served as Commissioner of Education for Governor Longley from 1975-1979 and again for Governor Brennan in 1979. He served Governor McKernan first as a Legislative Director from 1987-1989, as Finance Commissioner from 1989-1991 and then as Commissioner of the newly created DAFS from 1991-1995.

He served Governor King as a Policy Advisor in 1995 and as Associate Commissioner of the Department of Mental Health/Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services from 1996-2000.

The Commissioner also has federal service, having served as the Western Maine Regional Director for Senator Susan Collins from 2000-2002. He is a Rotarian and a member of the Mount Tir’em Lodge 132, A.F. & A.M.

Millett has been married to his loving wife, Barbara, for nearly 57 years. They reside on their 140-acre family farm in Waterford, Maine. Together they have had five children, 10 grandchildren and now have three great-grandchildren.

 

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