Maine State Rep Craig Hickman of Winthrop — the first openly gay Black member of the Pine Street State legislature — told Portland-based WCSH-TV 6 it was the “honor of my life” to be the delegate chosen to represent Maine in the Democratic National Convention’s roll call this week.
The state-by-state vote to officially nominate Joe Biden as the Democratic Presidential candidate, has been one of the highlights of this year’s virtual convention so far, moving from the traditional, old calling of delegates from the convention hall floor to live video feeds from settings in each state and territory, with representatives from each state or territory making their own unique statements as they introduced their votes.
When it came Maine’s turn, there was Rep. Hickman, telling millions of television viewers, “My American Dream? I’m living it! A 25-acre organic farm by the lake, a roadside produce stand, and a bed & breakfast. My husband and I aren’t corporate tycoons, we just want to make an honest living and feed our community.”
He then went on to announce announce the majority count of Maine’s delegates pledged to Joe Biden for President.
“It’s time for a new beginning,” he told WCSH. “Sometimes we have to go back in order to go forward. Joe Biden represents an administration that dug us out of a ditch.”
Reports WCSH’s News Center Maine:
This marks Hickman’s third time serving as an elected delegate. In 2008, he went to the convention as a delegate for Barack Obama, and in 2012, he was elected but couldn’t make the convention, so he passed the honor to someone else.
Hickman, an organic farmer and small business owner, is Maine’s first openly gay State Representative. He’s currently serving his fourth term in the 129th Legislature representing Winthrop—where he and his husband Jop Blom live—Readfield, and part of Monmouth.
Hickman, 52, said being part of Maine’s history is the biggest honor of his life.
“I’m happy and proud of the history that the people of Maine have allowed me to make,” Hickman said. “The people of Maine vote for me. I pinch myself all the time.”
After his fourth term ends this year, he’ll become the longest-serving Black lawmaker in Maine history. He said ending his time in the Maine Legislature on these terms is his “crowning achievement.”
He said getting the opportunity to represent Maine on the national stage was not only special for him personally, but an important opportunity to share Maine with the rest of the country.
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