Richard Cebra
Richard M. Cebra (born May 18, 1964) is an American politician from Maine. A Republican, he represented Maine House of Representatives District 101, which included Casco, Naples and part of Poland from 2004 to 2012. He was elected to the 128th Legislature in November 2016 serving district House District 68, which includes the towns of Naples, Sebago, Baldwin, Cornish and part of Parsonfield. Following his initial departure from the legislature in 2012, he served as chairman of the Maine Republican Party, from which he stepped down in 2013. Cebra is known as a social and fiscal conservative, and was a close ally of Governor Paul LePage.[1]
Richard M. Cebra | |
|---|---|
 Richard M. Cebra | |
| Member of the Maine House of Representatives for the 68th District | |
| In office December 2016 – present | |
| Preceded by | Christine Powers |
| Chairman of the Maine Republican Party | |
| In office December 1, 2012 – July 3, 2013 | |
| Preceded by | Charlie Webster |
| Succeeded by | Richard A. Bennett |
| Member of the Maine House of Representatives for the 101st District | |
| In office December 2004 – December 2012 | |
| Preceded by | Phillip Cressey |
| Succeeded by | Christine Powers |
| Personal details | |
| Born | May 18, 1964 Passaic, New Jersey |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Philippa Cebra |
| Residence | Naples, Maine |
Early life and education
Cebra graduated from the Eastern Christian High School in North Haledon, New Jersey, in 1982. He studies theology at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia.
Personal life
Cebra has been married to his wife Philippa since 1991. He has two adult children, and three grandsons.[2]
Cebra had previously served on the Naples Budget Committee for five years. He is a founding member of Naples Main Street and the Naples Causeway Restoration Committee. Cebra is currently a Selectman, Assessor and Overseer of the Poor in the Town of Naples, and also serves as a Commissioner on the Naples Casco Bulky Waste Facility Board.[3]
Business experience
Cebra began as a self-employed project manager and systems technician in the professional video and trade show field.[2]
In 1995, he became the Operations Manager, MSI Communications, Inc., an ESOP computer networking company.[4]
In 2001, he became the owner of Steamboat Landing, a tourism based business which includes a mini-golf course in Naples.[1]
Maine House of Representatives
In November 2004, Cebra was elected to represent the 101st House District in the Maine State Legislature. He was re-elected in 2006, 2008, 2010.
In November 2016 was elected to represent house District 68, the Towns of Naples, Sebago, Baldwin, Cornish and part of Parsonsfield.
In the Maine House of Representatives, Cebra has served on the Joint Standing Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (1 term), The Joint Standing Committee on State and Local Government (1 term), The Joint standing Committee on Transportation (4 terms, 2 years as House Chairman), The House Committee on Ethics (chairman) (1 term), and the Joint Select Committee on Joint Rules (1 term).
Cebra was appointed to the commission to Reapportion Maine's Congressional Districts in 2011.[5]
Time in Legislature
He worked with members of both parties to pass LD 2313 "An Act to Keep Maine Bridges Safe" in 2008.[6]
He sponsored and lead the efforts on the Turnpike Reform Bill which was passed into law to reform the Maine Turnpike Authority.[7]
He sponsored a successful bill that banned traffic enforcement cameras in Maine.[8]
He cosponsored and helped craft a compromise bill to bring Maine into compliance with the Federal Real ID program.[9]
Chairman of the Maine Republican Party
Following the resignation of the previous chairman of the Maine Republican Party, Charlie Webster, Cebra submitted his name for election as the new chairman. Following a meeting of the party leadership in Augusta, Maine in December 2012, he was elected to serve as party chairman.
After his election, Cebra stated that his goal was to "unify the party" following a series of well-publicized inter-party squabbles.[1]
Cebra served as the Republican Chairman on the Statewide Redistricting Commission in 2013.[10]
Resignation
Cebra resigned as chair of the Maine State Republican Party on July 3, 2013, citing "personal reasons".[11]
According to Maine Republican Party bylaws, a new election was held on July 20, for the selection of a new chairman.[12] Former Senate President Richard A. Bennett, was elected to replace Cebra.[13]
References
- John Balentine (December 6, 2012). "Cebra to lead GOP rebound". Keep Me Current.
- "Meet the Candidate: Rich Cebra". October 22, 2010.
- "Annual Report Municipal Year Ending June 30, 2016" (PDF). Town of Naples, Maine. 2016.
- "Richard Cebra's Biography". Vote Smart.
- "Redistricting in Maine". Ballotpedia.
- Kathryn Buxton (April–May 2008). "Transportation at center stage: Three bills totalling more than $250 million in new funding make their way through Maine's State House". Maine Trails. p. 4.
- "Rules aim to tame Maine Turnpike spending". Press Herald. 2011-05-11. Retrieved 2017-10-30.
- "Maine Bans Photo Enforcement". Retrieved 2017-10-30.
- Junker, Matt (2017-04-14). "Real ID bill likely to see governor's signature - Keep Me Current". Keep Me Current. Retrieved 2017-10-30.
- "Q&A: Naples Candidates field questions". The Bridgton News. May 21, 2015.
- Robert Long (July 3, 2013). "Chairman, vice chairwoman of Maine Republican Party resign". Bangor Daily News.
- "Maine GOP chairman resigns after 6 months". The Boston Globe. Associated Press. July 3, 2013. Archived from the original on December 27, 2013. Retrieved July 3, 2013.
- Beth Brogan (July 20, 2013). "Former Maine Senate President Rick Bennett elected chairman of state Republican Party". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved July 20, 2013.