Team LePage names key campaign staffers

Gov. Paul LePage’s re-election campaign unveiled key staff members on Tuesday, including some well-known figures from Maine political circles.

Scot Van Orman will serve as campaign manager, Rep. Alex Willette (R-Mapleton) will serve as communications and coalitions director, and David Madore will serve as deputy director of finance.

Van Orman, who served on the governor’s 2010 campaign, has spent the last few years working in the LePage administration, most recently as deputy director of Boards and Commissions.

Willette, who recently decided not to seek re-election to the state legislature, worked with the LePage administration in the most recent legislative session as Assistant House Minority Leader and is the youngest national committeemen in the Republican National Committee.

Madore, a former state lawmaker and Assistant Senate Secretary, is a well-known member of the Augusta-area community.

The LePage campaign’s staff announcement comes several months after similar announcements from his opponents, Democratic U.S. Rep. Michael Michaud and independent Eliot Cutler. The campaigns of both men have been in high gear since last year, while LePage has waited relatively longer to assemble his full re-election team.

According to LePage political adviser Brent Littlefield, these three new additions will join existing campaign staff, including Finance Director Michael Hersey, Political Director Kevin Campbell, and Director of Scheduling, Advance and Special Projects Lauren LePage.

“While the heart and soul of my campaign are the thousands of volunteers across our state, these Mainers are integral to ensuring we get our message out,” the governor said in a prepared statement.

LePage campaign staff will be based out of the campaign’s headquarters on Western Ave. in Augusta.