SACO, Maine–Susan Deschambault, a board member at PeoplesChoice Credit Union, has been elected to the Maine Senate.
Deschambault won a special election to fill the unexpired term in Senate District 32. According to the Maine CU League, Deschambault becomes the sixth credit union board member currently serving in the Maine legislature, and the only one in the Maine Senate. The MCUL had endorsed Deschambault's candidacy for the seat.
The victory is "good news for Maine's credit unions, because Susan understands our issues and the impact that laws and regulations have on credit unions,” said MCUL President John Murphy in a statement. “She has been active and involved in her credit union and other activities including attending the Governmental Affairs Conference, and participating in financial fitness fairs. She will now bring her advocacy and perspective as a credit union board member to the Maine Senate."
According to the league, during her campaign, Deschambault repeatedly mentioned her service as a credit union board member as contributing to her leadership and involvement. Senate-elect Deschambault is expected to be sworn on Credit Union Day, and she will serve out the remaining seven months of the term of former Senator David Dutremble, who resigned in January due to personal reasons.
Once sworn in, there will be eight legislators with direct credit union ties in the Maine legislature including six credit union volunteers, a credit union employee, and the wife of a credit union board chair, the Maine league said.