Scott W. Cowger (born December 3, 1959) is an American politician, innkeeper, and engineer 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

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 ...

from

Hallowell, Maine Hallowell is a city in Kennebec County, Maine, United States. The population was 2,570 at the 2020 census. Popular with tourists, Hallowell is noted for its culture and old architecture. Hallowell is included in the Augusta, Maine, micropolita ...

, Cowger spent 10 years in the

Maine Legislature The Maine Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Maine. It is a bicameral body composed of the lower house Maine House of Representatives and the upper house Maine Senate. The Legislature convenes at the State House in Aug ...

(1996-2006). Cowger was first elected to the

Maine House of Representatives The Maine House of Representatives is the lower house of the Maine Legislature. The House consists of 151 voting members and three nonvoting members. The voting members represent an equal number of districts across the state and are elected via p ...

in 1996. Re-elected in 1998, 2000 and 2002, Cowger was unable to seek re-election in 2004 due to term-limits. Instead, Cowger successfully sought District 21 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 Constitution ...

. He did not seek re-election in 2006. Cowger was well known and respected for his leadership in environmental issues, and for working across party lines in crafting solutions in various legislative committees. In his first term, he served on the Joint Standing Committee on Natural Resources. In his second term, he became the ranking House member on Natural Resources, served on the Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, and was the House Chair of the Joint Select Committee on Research and Development. In his third term starting in 2000, he became the House Chair of the Natural Resources Committee. In his fourth term in the Maine House, he served on the powerful Joint Standing Committee on Appropriations and Financial Affairs. In his term in the Senate starting in 2004, he returned to the Natural Resources committee as the Senate Chair, and also served as a member of the Joint Standing Committee on Utilities and Energy. In 1998, Cowger supported raising Maine's minimum wage. Cowger was born on December 3, 1959 in

Brunswick, Maine Brunswick is a town in Cumberland County, Maine, United States. The population was 21,756 at the 2020 United States Census. Part of the Portland-South Portland-Biddeford metropolitan area, Brunswick is home to Bowdoin College, the Bowdoin Intern ...

. He earned a B.S. from

Swarthmore College Swarthmore College ( , ) is a Private college, private Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1864, with its first classes held in 1869, Swarthmore is one of the earliest coeduca ...

in 1982. Cowger is openly gay. Cowger and Vincent Hannan have owned and operated the Maple Hill Farm Inn and Conference Center in Hallowell, Maine since 1992.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cowger, Scott 1959 births Living people Politicians from Brunswick, Maine People from Hallowell, Maine Gay politicians LGBT state legislators in Maine Democratic Party members of the Maine House of Representatives Democratic Party Maine state senators 21st-century American politicians