Today in Maine’s Franco History is a look back at important dates in the history of Maine’s Franco-American communities. It will run throughout 2020, the bicentennial year of Maine’s statehood. Your suggestions for additional events, people, and institutions to celebrate are most welcome.
January 18, 1955: Birth of Michael “Mike” Herman Michaud in Millinocket . Michaud worked at the Great Northern Paper Company in East Millinocket for thirty years, including while he served as a legislator in the Maine House (1973-1994) and Senate (1994-2003).
In 2002, he became the first Franco-American from Maine to be elected to a federal office, when he became the representative for Maine’s second Congressional District. He served until 2015.
In 2014, Michaud ran unsuccessfully for governor against incumbent Paul LePage, marking the first election in which both major party candidates were Franco-American. He publicly came out as gay at the start of his gubernatorial run, making him the first openly gay man to run for governor in Maine.
Michaud currently serves as a selectman in East Millinocket.