Chellie Pingree
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Radio: Bio of Chellie Pingree
March 19, 2006
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Chellie Pingree has been the president and CEO of Common Cause since March 2003. Prior to leading Common Cause, Pingree served for eight years in the Maine senate, with the last four years as majority leader. She was also a Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in 2002.
In the Maine legislature, Pingree was known for successful legislative battles regarding health care, economic development and the environment. She authored legislation that created a landmark program known as Maine Rx, which lowered the cost of prescription drug prices for seniors. She was the winner of several awards including Consumer Health Advocate of the Year by Families, USA.
In 1998, Pingree was an international election monitor for the White House in Bosnia, Serbia and Croatia.
Pingree hails from North Haven, Maine, an island of 350 where she ran a farm and wool knitting business that supplied knitting kits, pattern books and yarn to 1,200 stores nationwide. She was active in rural economic development issues, and helped to create an economic development corporation supporting small business creation and peer lending in Maine. She also served in local office, including the school board.
Year-End Roundup with Robert Dreyfuss, James Ridgeway, Julia Whitty, and Others
Robert Dreyfuss, Mother Jones correspondent
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