Justin Alfond

Alfond is the son of Joan (née Loring) and Bill Alfond.[http://lib.rollins.edu/olin/oldsite/archives/golden/alfond.htm Rollins College: "Harold Alfond (1914–2007) - Business Leader and Strong Supporter of the Rollins Sports Program"] retrieved September 29, 2015 He is the grandson of businessman Harold Alfond, the founder of the Dexter Shoe Company. He has two siblings, Kenden, and Reis. His father worked for the family business, Dexter Shoes, as the director of the company's golf and bowling shoe division; and also served as a trustee of the Governor Dummer Academy. He attended schools in Waterville and Dexter prior to attending Noble and Greenough School in Dedham, Massachusetts. He then attended Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana, and majored in business management. He was briefly a professional golfer.

In 2012, Maine Citizens for Clean Elections noted in a published report that Alfond, despite funding his own campaigns through public financing, raised significant money through a leader political action committee (PAC). He raised over $192,000 for the Alfond Business, Community & Democracy PAC between its creation in 2009 and 2012.{{cite web|url=https://www.mainecleanelections.org/sites/default/files/web/MCCE_Report01_PACsUnlimited_Tabloid.pdf|title=Money in Politics Project - Report #1|publisher=Maine Citizens for Clean Elections|access-date=5 June 2019}}

On November 21, 2013, Alfond voted against allowing a bill submitted by Rep. Diane Russell (D-Portland) which would have legalized, taxed, and regulated the use of marijuana in the state, to proceed to debate during the second session of the 126th Legislature, which typically only addresses a limited number of bills. The Maine Legislative Council, of which Alfond was a member of as Senate President, voted 5-5, meaning that no legislative action would be taken until at least 2015. Disappointment was expressed over the vote since Alfond represents Portland, a city that only weeks prior voted overwhelmingly in favor of legalizing possession of up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana for adults over 21.{{cite web|last=Altieri |first=Erik |url=http://blog.norml.org/2013/11/21/portland-lawmaker-deciding-vote-in-defeating-maine-legalization-bill/ |title=Portland Lawmaker Deciding Vote in Defeating Maine Legalization Bill | NORML Blog, Marijuana Law Reform |publisher=Blog.norml.org |date=2013-11-21 |access-date=2014-08-25}}{{cite web|author=Robin Wilkey|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/21/maine-marijuana-legalization_n_4320114.html|title=Maine Marijuana Legalization Fails|work=Huffington Post|date=November 21, 2013}}

On December 18, 2013, Alfond announced that he submitted emergency legislation to attempt to help resolve a lease dispute between the Portland Pirates and the Cumberland County Civic Center by allowing the team to receive a share of alcohol revenue, which was illegal under Maine law but the Pirates had originally sought.{{cite news|title=Portland Pirates drop lawsuit against civic center |url=http://www.pressherald.com/news/Pirates_drop_lawsuit_against_civic_center_.html|work=Portland Press Herald|access-date=19 December 2013|date=19 December 2013}}

On June 30, 2014, the Talking Points Memo website claimed that some Maine adherents to the sovereign citizen movement called for Alfond and a fellow Democrat, House Speaker Mark Eves, to be tried, convicted, and executed for treason during meetings with Governor Paul LePage in 2013. LePage has denied that such discussions took place, even after learning audio recordings exist of two men claiming such a discussion took place.{{cite news|title=LePage denies he discussed 'executing' Maine Democratic leaders|url=http://bangordailynews.com/2014/06/30/politics/state-house/lepage-denies-he-discussed-executing-maine-democratic-leaders/|access-date=1 July 2014|work=Bangor Daily News|date=1 July 2014}}

He is married to Rachael Weinstein.[http://www.pressherald.com/2012/05/13/art-majors_2012-05-13/ The Press Herald: "Society Notebook: Maine College of Art honors two behind-the-scenes leaders" BY AVERY YALE KAMILA] May 13, 2012{{cite web|title=About Justin|url=http://www.justinalfond.com/about-justin/|website=Senator Justin Alfond|access-date=5 January 2016}}

In 2004, he founded the Maine Chapter of the League of Young Voters, serving for four years as its director. He serves on the boards of many organizations, including Avesta Housing, Opportunity Maine, Maine Initiatives, Kennebec Valley Community College, the New England Board of Higher Education and the New England Secondary School Consortium.[http://www.maine.gov/legis/senate/bio08s.htm Senate Biography] He lives in Portland's West End.[http://www.mainesenate.org/alfond/bio.htm Biography] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090617063605/http://www.mainesenate.org/alfond/bio.htm |date=2009-06-17 }} Maine Senate Democrats

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Category:1975 births

Category:American people of Russian-Jewish descent

Category:Jewish American state legislators in Maine

Category:Living people

Category:People from Dexter, Maine

Category:Politicians from Portland, Maine

Category:Presidents of the Maine Senate

Category:Democratic Party Maine state senators

Category:Tulane University alumni

Category:21st-century members of the Maine Legislature

Justin

Category:Noble and Greenough School alumni

Category:Businesspeople from Portland, Maine

Category:Jews from Maine