Gov. Paul LePage's nominee to lead the Maine State Housing Authority has failed to clear the Maine Senate.
George Gervais is the governor's economic development commissioner. He was tapped by LePage to lead the housing agency that provides low interest loans to first time homebuyers and which also administers heating assistance programs.
But Democrats on the Legislature's labor committee voted to block Gervais, citing his lack of credentials and lack of cooperation with the committee as a member of the governor's cabinet.
"The majority of the committee found that his answers did not reflect sufficient knowledge or expertise that would be required for the position," said Sen. Shenna Bellows, one of the seven Democrats on the Legislature's labor committee who voted to block Gervais.
Republicans argued that Gervais was constrained from being more forthcoming with the committee by the governor, who has put other cabinet members on a tight leash when interacting with the Legislature.
"I suggest that it would be a shame if this good person became collateral damage to some matter over which he has nothing to do," said Republican Sen. Roger Katz, of Augusta.
Gervais needed a two-thirds vote from the Senate to override the committee's vote to oppose him, but he fell several votes short.
The governor will now need to nominate someone else to lead the House Authority.
