New Executive Director of MSEA-SEIU Local 1989 Announced

After a national search, the Board of Directors for the Maine State Employees Association, Local 1989 of the Service Employees International Union, has hired Aroostook County native Chris Quint as the union's new executive director.

Quint will direct a union representing over 15,000 publicly funded and privately funded workers in Maine. He succeeds Tim Belcher, who resigned last fall and is now advocating on behalf of workers as a senior advocate for the Boston law firm Lichten & Liss-Riordan.

Quint, 33, of Biddeford, currently is senior public affairs director for Planned Parenthood of Northern New England, a position he has held since June 2004. Prior to that, Quint was director of public policy for the Colorado Tobacco Education and Prevention Alliance in Denver from August 2002 to May 2004.

"We're thrilled that the person chosen to direct our union is a fifth-generation Mainer from Hodgdon in Aroostook County," said Bruce Hodsdon, president of the Maine State Employees Association. "Chris Quint has seen from his upbringing in Maine that public services strengthen Maine communities and improve the lives of all Maine people. Chris will direct our union in ensuring quality services for everyone in Maine, and in building and strengthening the coalitions to make it happen."

Hodsdon announced Quint's hiring at MSEA-SEIU headquarters, 65 State Street, Augusta on April 5th. He introduced Quint to the union's staff and to a chapter of union retiree members from greater Augusta at the union hall.

"It's just an incredible honor to direct the same union that my dad belonged to for 38 years as he plowed the roads in Aroostook County," Quint said. "Both my dad and my mom, who works for the special education department at Mill Pond School in Hodgdon, instilled in me the value of public service. Through hard work, they put my sister and me through college. While there are many challenges facing all workers in this difficult economy, we know that now more than ever, people count on public services in so many aspects of their daily lives, from strengthening their employment skills at the local CareerCenters to keeping their drinking water safe. I look forward to working with all MSEA-SEIU members as we advocate for the important services they provide."

Quint earned a bachelor of arts degree in history, political science and sociology from Colby-Sawyer College in 1998. He is married to Kimberly Smith Quint and they have two children. He will start working as the union's executive director in the coming weeks.