Olympia J. Snowe
Olympia Jean Snowe (1947- ), a U.S. Representative and a Senator from Maine, was born Olympia Jean Boucles in Augusta on February 21, 1947. She attended St. Basil’s Academy in Garrison, New York 1962; graduated from Edward Little High School in Auburn in 1965. She holds a B.A. from the University of Maine, Orono, 1969.
Snowe was a director for the Superior Concrete Company from 1969 through 1978, and was a member of the Auburn Board of Voter Registration, 1971-1973. A former district office manager for U.S. Representative William S. Cohen, she served in Maine House of Representatives (1973-1976) and in the Maine State Senate (1976-1978).
Elected as a Republican to the Ninety-sixth and to the seven succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1979-January 3, 1995, she was elected to the United States Senate in 1994 for the term commencing January 4, 1995 and was reelected in 2000 and in 2006.
Senator Snowe announced on February 29, 2012 that she would not be a candidate for reelection, citing an atmosphere of uncompromising partisanship that stifled compromise and constructive problem solving. Snowe was known as one of the most “moderate” Republicans who crossed party lines at times to support legislation she deemed important.
Additional resources
Olympia Snowe Congressional Biography: https://bioguideretro.congress.gov/Home/MemberDetails?memIndex=s000663 (accessed January 11, 2021)