Billy Bob Faulkingham
Billy Bob Faulkingham | |
|---|---|
| Minority Leader of the Maine House of Representatives | |
| Assumed office December 7, 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Kathleen Dillingham |
| Member of the Maine House of Representatives | |
| Assumed office December 7, 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Erin Sheehan |
| Constituency | 12th district |
| In office December 5, 2018 – December 7, 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Richard Malaby |
| Succeeded by | Heidi Sampson |
| Constituency | 136th district |
| Personal details | |
| Born | William Faulkingham |
| Party | Republican |
| Education | Southern Maine Community College |
| Website | State House |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | United States Marine Corps |
| Years of service | 1999–2002 |
William Robert Faulkingham is an American politician and lobsterman who has served in the Maine House of Representatives from the 12th district since 2022. A Republican, Faulkingham served in the U.S. Marines. He is the Minority Leader of the lower house. He previously served in the 136th district from 2018 to 2022.
Education and career
Faulkingham began lobster fishing with his father at age three.[1]
He obtained a certificate in plumbing from the Southern Maine Technical College and served in the United States Marine Corps[2] from 1999 to 2002. Faulkingham is currently a self-employed fisherman.
In 2018, Faulkingham was elected to the Maine House of Representatives from the 136th district.[3] In 2022, he ran for the 12th district, winning 2,725 (60.4%) against Independent candidate Roy Gott's 1,787 (39.6%).[4] He was elected House minority leader by fellow Republicans.[5][6][7][8] He was sworn in as both on December 7, 2022.[9][10]
Bruce Poliquin advertisement
Faulkingham appeared in a television advertisement for former Republican congressman Bruce Poliquin's 2022 campaign to regain his former seat, in which he criticized incumbent Democrat Jared Golden. In the advertisement, he was not named or identified as a Republican state legislator seeking reelection, which became the subject of criticism. Poliquin's campaign said doing so was necessary to comply with Maine campaign finance laws with regard to Faulkingham's campaign.[11]
Personal life
Faulkingham is a resident of Winter Harbor, Maine. He is married to Carrie Faulkingham, and the couple have three children.[6]
In 2003, Faulkingham pleaded guilty to criminal mischief and disorderly conduct after throwing a bucket of human feces at other people.[12] He was found guilty of driving under the influence in 2008.[13]
On September 15, 2023, Faulkingham's lobster boat capsized due to high seas ahead of Hurricane Lee, which made landfall in nearby Nova Scotia the next day. He and one other person were rescued by other lobster boats.[14]
He has been a member of the as a member of the Winter Harbor Masonic Lodge and the Knights of Pythias Schoodic Lodge.[2]
Electoral history
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Billy Bob Faulkingham | 711 | 100.0% | |
| Total votes | 711 | 100.0% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Billy Bob Faulkingham | 2,308 | 57.5% | |
| Democratic | Kylie Bragdon | 1,704 | 42.5% | |
| Total votes | 4,012 | 100.0% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Billy Bob Faulkingham | 897 | 100% | |
| Total votes | 897 | 100.0% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Billy Bob Faulkingham | 3,198 | 63.5% | |
| Democratic | Antonio Blasi | 1,835 | 36.5% | |
| Total votes | 5,033 | 100.0% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Billy Bob Faulkingham | 744 | 100% | |
| Total votes | 744 | 100.0% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Billy Bob Faulkingham | 2,725 | 60.4% | |
| Independent | Roy Gott | 1,787 | 39.6 | |
| Total votes | 4,512 | 100.0% | ||
Notes
- ^ In Maine, legislative districts are renumbered after every United States Census, alternatively from north to south, then south to north. Following the 2020 United States census, House District 136 was re-numbered as District 12.
References
- ^ Sharon, Susan (November 4, 2022). "Climate skepticism is rife in Down East Maine. But some say there's room for common ground". Maine Public. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ a b "Faulkingham Billy Bob – Maine House Republicans". mainehousegop.org.
- ^ Staff (October 3, 2018). "William "Billy Bob" Faulkingham". Election 2018. Retrieved December 9, 2022.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ Berleant, Anne (November 9, 2022). "Hutchins unseated in D17 House race: Worth defeats Linnehan". The Ellsworth American. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ "Rep. Billy Bob Faulkingham". Maine House Republicans. June 30, 2020. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ a b "Billy Bob Faulkingham". Maine House of Representatives. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ "Some states pay for political candidates. Is it worth it?". WATE 6 On Your Side. November 17, 2022. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ "Rachel Talbot Ross is set to become the first Black speaker of the Maine House". Maine Public. November 17, 2022. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ "Photos: Maine Legislature opens 131st session". Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel. December 7, 2022. Retrieved December 9, 2022.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ Billings, Randy (November 14, 2022). "Maine House Republicans choose lobsterman as next minority leader". Portland Press Herald. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ Molmund, Jack (October 11, 2022). "Can Bruce Poliquin's ad featuring lobsterman Billy Bob Faulkingham leave out the fact he is a politician?". newscentermaine.com. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ Thistle, Scott (October 19, 2018). "Democrats spotlight criminal records of 4 Republicans running for Legislature". Portland Press Herald. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ "Maine's New GOP House Minority Leader Was Once Convicted Of Throwing Poop At People". Second Nexus. November 21, 2022. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ Eric, Russell (September 18, 2023). "Maine lobsterman and state lawmaker tells how he narrowly survived after his boat capsized Friday". Press Herald. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
- ^ "Billy Bob Faulkingham". Ballotpedia. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)