Stephen Bowen (politician)

{{Short description|American politician and educator}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Stephen Bowen

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| office = Member of the Maine House of Representatives

| term_start = December 2002

| term_end = December 2006

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| party = Republican

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1969|6|6}}

| birth_place = Portland, Maine

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| alma_mater = Drew University; George Mason University

| profession = Schoolteacher

| residence = Rockport, Maine

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Stephen L. Bowen (born June 6, 1969) is an American politician and educator from Maine. A Republican, Bowen served in the Maine House of Representatives from 2002 to 2006, representing Camden and his residence in Rockport. Prior to serving in the Legislature, Bowen taught social studies for 10 years. After leaving elected office, Bowen directed the Center for Education Excellence at the Maine Heritage Policy Center. During the 2010 gubernatorial election, Bowen served as then candidate Paul LePage's policy adviser on education, government reform, budget and marine resources policy.{{cite news|url=http://bangordailynews.com/2011/01/31/politics/political-bio-stephen-bowen/|title=Political bio: Stephen Bowen|date=January 31, 2011|work=Bangor Daily News|accessdate=2 July 2013}} LePage won the 2010 election and, in February 2011, newly elected Governor Paul LePage appointed Bowen Commissioner of Education. In August 2013, Bowen resigned as Education Commissioner effective September 12. He did so in order to take a position with the national Council of Chief State School Officers.{{cite news|url=http://bangordailynews.com/2013/08/16/politics/stephen-bowen-resigns-as-state-education-commissioner/|title=Maine education commissioner resigns to take national post|last=Cousins|first=Christopher|date=August 16, 2013|work=Bangor Daily News|accessdate=19 August 2013}}

In a December 2011 poll of political insiders, Bowen was ranked as the 19th most influential person in Maine politics.{{cite news|url=http://pinetreepolitics.bangordailynews.com/2011/12/29/the-25-most-influential-people-in-maine-politics/|title=The 25 Most Influential People In Maine Politics|last=Gagnon|first=Matthew|date=December 29, 2011|work=Pine Tree Politics|publisher=Bangor Daily News|accessdate=2 July 2013}}