With family roots in Ashland potato country and Stonington, Maine, Peter spent his early years in Farmington. He began his business career delivering the Portland Press Herald at age 9. When his family moved to Gorham he managed his younger sister and brother in the paper delivery business. He taught swimming at the Westbrook Community Pool and directed a swim program at Watchic Beach in Standish. While attending Gorham High he bagged groceries at the IGA. Peter then earned a Navy scholarship to Harvard College. One summer he worked 16-hour shifts at Farmington Canning for $1 an hour canning string beans and creamed corn. Other summers he spent training with the U.S. Navy.
Peter served five years on Navy destroyers during the Vietnam War for which he was awarded the Navy Achievement Medal. He then was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal for intelligence work against the Soviets.
Since graduating with honors from Maine Law School in 1973, he has devoted 36 years to resolving legal problems for Maine people and advising Maine businesses. For 26 years, he has owned and run Wright & Mills in Skowhegan. He is one of the founders of the Somerset Economic Development Corporation and a founding member of FirstPark that has brought over 800 new jobs to central Maine.
Peter has three adult children and three grandchildren. He manages woodlots in Cornville where he lives with his wife and two dogs.
During 16 years in the Maine Legislature, Senator Mills has served as the Republican lead on Tax, Labor, Judiciary, Appropriations, Insurance, Education and Human Services Committees. He advocates for pragmatic reforms in tax, health care, education and public pensions.
In 2003, Senator Mills led the effort to stop Baldacci from selling off the state’s liquor revenue to a client of his chief fundraiser.
In 2005, Senator Mills led the “Don’t Mortgage ME” campaign to prevent $447 million in irresponsible borrowing.
More recently, he has passed bills to create portable pensions for teachers and state employees, and to create a Fund of Funds that will keep a portion of Maine’s pension fund investment in Maine, helping entrepreneurs create jobs.
His extensive writings on public policy may be found at petermills.info.
Navy Years with Daughter Kate
The Details
Education/Background:
Born in Farmington, ME 1943
Gorham High School, Gorham, ME Graduated 1961
Harvard College BA. Graduated cum laude in English 1965
U.S. Navy 1965-70
University of Maine School of Law; Law Review. In 1973 graduated #2 in the class
Attorney in Portland 1973-82; owner of the Wright & Mills law firm in Skowhegan since 1982
Married to Nancy Mills, Superior Court Justice
State Senate 1994-2002; Maine House of Representatives 2002-2004; State Senate from 2004-present
Military Experience (1965-70):
Five years as a destroyer line officer with sea duty billets in communications, operations and intelligence. Deployed to Vietnam, the Central Pacific and the Mediterranean. Was awarded the Navy Achievement Medal for gun line duty in Vietnam and the Navy Commendation Medal for intelligence work against the Soviets (specifically tracking and successfully documenting the impact patterns of Soviet multi-warhead ICBMs in the central Pacific.)
Public Service:
In the 117th Legislature, chaired Judiciary Committee and served as a member on Labor Committee (1995-96)
Chaired the Property Rights Task Force in 1995
In the summer of 1996, chaired the Critical Review Committee to rewrite Learning Results for Dept of Education.
In 1996 and 1997, served on the Assessment Design Team to implement Learning Results.
In 1997, served on the Childrens’ Health Task Force and on a committee to reform pensions for teachers and public employees.
In the 118th and 119th Legislatures, served as a member on the Labor and Taxation Committees (1997-2000).
In 1998 served on:
The Learning Results Steering Committee to oversee implementation of Learning Results and
The Task Force to Increase Primary and Secondary Forest Product Manufacturing.
In 1999 served on:
The Committee on Sawmill Biomass and
The Economic Development Incentives Commission.
In the 120th Legislature, served as Senate Republican representative to the Appropriations Committee (2001-02)
In 2001, served on the Education Funding Reform Task Force.
In 2002-04, was Senate chair and then a House member of the Community Preservation Advisory Commission.
In the 121st Legislature (2003-04), was a House member of Appropriations; also served on the Task Force on Retirement Benefits for Law Enforcement Officers & Firefighters. Became a member of the Health Insurance Public Purchasers’ Steering Group.
In the 122nd Legislature (2005-06), served on the Select Committee on Tax Reform and the Insurance & Financial Services Committee.
In the spring of 2005, initiated and led the “Don’t Mortgage ME” petition drive that stopped the state from borrowing $447 million dollars without voter approval.
From August 2005 to June of 2006, conducted an unsuccessful statewide campaign for governor in the GOP primary; spoke to over 200 gatherings about the state’s current challenges.
In the 123rd Legislature (2007-08), served as Republican Senator on the Education Committee.
In the 124th Legislature (2009-10), is serving on the Health & Human Services Committee, the Labor Committee and the Maine Childrens’ Growth Council
Civic Groups:
Past president of the Maine Trial Lawyers Association (1992-94). Inducted into the American College of Trial Lawyers in 1991.
On the Board of Pine Tree Legal Assistance Corporation 1994-1999
On the Board of HealthReach Community Health Centers 1997-2003
On the Board of HealthReach Network, a major provider of home care and other health services in central Maine 2000-2006
On the board of the Maine Math & Science Alliance 1998-2005
Organized transportation summits for Somerset County in 2000 and 2004
Currently serving on the following boards:
The Coalition for Excellence in Education
The Somerset County Economic Development Corporation (Clerk & founding member)
The Kennebec Regional Development Corporation — FirstPark (Secretary & founding member)
The Steering Committee of the Reforming States Group (since 1996) (A group of state policymakers sponsored by the Milbank Foundation to develop health policy initiatives)
The Maine Childrens’ Growth Council (since 2008)
Publications are at petermills.info
