Garrett Paul Mason (born June 19, 1985) is an American politician from
Maine
Maine () is a state in the New England and Northeastern regions of the United States. It borders New Hampshire to the west, the Gulf of Maine to the southeast, and the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Quebec to the northeast and north ...
.
A Republican, Mason formerly served in the
Maine State Senate
The Maine Senate is the upper house of the Maine Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Maine. The Senate currently consists of 35 members representing an equal number of districts across the state, though the Maine Constitution ...
from the 22nd District, representing part of
Androscoggin County, including his residence in
Lisbon Falls. In 2003, he graduated from
Calvary Christian Academy in
Turner
Turner may refer to:
People and fictional characters
*Turner (surname), a common surname, including a list of people and fictional characters with the name
* Turner (given name), a list of people with the given name
*One who uses a lathe for turni ...
. In 2006, Mason graduated from
Pensacola Christian College
Pensacola Christian College (PCC) is a private Independent Baptist college in Pensacola, Florida. Founded in 1974 by Arlin and Beka Horton, it has been accredited by the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools since 2013.
H ...
in
Pensacola, Florida
Pensacola () is the westernmost city in the Florida Panhandle, and the county seat and only incorporated city of Escambia County, Florida, United States. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 54,312. Pensacola is the principal ...
with a B.A. in marketing. He also completed graduate work at
Southern New Hampshire University
Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) is a private university between Manchester and Hooksett, New Hampshire. The university is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education, along with national accreditation for some hospitali ...
and the
Art Institute of Pittsburgh
The Art Institute of Pittsburgh was a private college in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Shortly before closing in 2019, it was purchased by Dream Center Education Holdings (in turn a division of The Dream Center, a Christian non-profit 501(c)(3) o ...
. After college, Mason worked for the AA baseball team
Portland Sea Dogs
The Portland Sea Dogs are a Minor League Baseball team based in Portland, Maine, playing in the Eastern League (1938–present), Eastern League. Established in 1994, the Sea Dogs are the Double-A (baseball), Double-A affiliate of the Boston Red ...
and as director of administration for the QJMHL hockey team
Lewiston Maineiacs.
He also received at honorary doctorate in Humanities from Pensacola Christian College in 2018.
In November 2010, Mason defeated incumbent
Democrat
Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to:
Politics
*A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people.
*A member of a Democratic Party:
**Democratic Party (United States) (D)
**Democratic ...
and
Leeds
Leeds () is a city and the administrative centre of the City of Leeds district in West Yorkshire, England. It is built around the River Aire and is in the eastern foothills of the Pennines. It is also the third-largest settlement (by populati ...
dairy farmer
John Nutting. The Maine Republican Party spent $50,000 on television and radio ads against Nutting.
During his first term in the
Maine Senate
The Maine Senate is the upper house of the Maine Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Maine. The Senate currently consists of 35 members representing an equal number of districts across the state, though the Maine Constituti ...
, Mason sponsored a bill to allow
charter schools in Maine. It was signed by Governor
Paul LePage
Paul Richard LePage (; born October 9, 1948) is an American politician who served as the 74th Governor of Maine from 2011 to 2019. A member of the Republican Party, LePage served two terms as a city councilor in Waterville, Maine, before being ...
in June 2011.
Mason was re-elected in 2012 by 28 votes over Democrat
Colleen Quint of
Minot
Minot ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Ward County, North Dakota, Ward County, North Dakota, United States, in the state's north-central region. It is most widely known for the Minot Air Force Base, Air Force base approximately north of ...
.
In June 2013, upon news that incumbent Congressman
Mike Michaud
Michael Herman Michaud (born January 18, 1955) is an American businessman and politician from Maine. Michaud served as the U.S. representative for from 2003 to 2015. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The primarily rural district comprises ...
had taken steps towards running for
governor
A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political ...
, Mason was said to be "seriously considering a run" for the Republican nomination.
After Republicans took control of the Maine Senate in 2014, Mason was elected Senate Majority Leader, a position he held until he termed out in 2018.
Family
Mason's mother
Gina Mason
Gina Marie Mason (née Crafts; December 30, 1959 – September 5, 2017) was an American politician.
Mason was born in Lewiston, Maine, the daughter of Chauncey and Carmella DeBurra Crafts. She lived in Lisbon, Maine and graduated from Lisbon ...
and their cousin
Dale J. Crafts also served in the Maine Legislature. After his mother died in September 2017, his father
Rick Mason
Richard G. Mason is an American businessman and politician from Maine. Mason is a Republican member of Maine House of Representatives for District 56.
Early life
Mason graduated from Lisbon High School.
Career
As a businessman, Mason is ...
won a special election to fill her vacant seat.
['Late Maine lawmaker's husband will succeed her in Lisbon seat,' Bangor Daily News (Maine), Michael Shepherd, November 7, 2017]
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mason, Garrett
1985 births
21st-century American politicians
Art Institute of Pittsburgh alumni
Living people
Republican Party Maine state senators
Pensacola Christian College alumni
People from Lisbon, Maine
Politicians from Lewiston, Maine
Southern New Hampshire University alumni