The commander of Maine State Police Troop C Barracks in Skowhegan has been named to a federal advisory committee to evaluate candidates for Senate-confirmed federal positions in Maine.

Lt. Mark Brooks, of Hartland, was appointed by U.S. Sen Susan Collins to sit on the Federal Appointments Advisory Committee led by Josh Tardy of Newport, an attorney who was chairman of the Trump/Pence campaign in Maine and who is the former minority leader of the Maine House of Representatives.

“I feel real fortunate to be representing parts of rural Maine,” Brooks said by phone Monday.

As the senior Republican member of Maine’s congressional delegation, Collins will advise the Trump administration as it selects candidates for federal positions in the state, according to a news release from Collins’ office in Washington. The committee’s recommendations will be an integral part of that process.

The committee is currently assessing the qualifications of dozens of interested applicants for positions of U.S. Attorney and U.S. Marshal for Maine. It will also consider nominations for the USDA Farm Service Agency state director and the USDA Rural Development state director, as well as any federal judicial vacancies in the state.

Brooks joked that when Collins’ staff first reached out to him to serve on the committee he wondered if they knew they were dealing with the commander of a very rural patrol in Maine.

“It’s a tribute to Collins’ crew that they selected me, that they reached out to some of the rural areas, too, to make sure that the voices of the more rural areas of Maine are also heard,” Brooks said. “I feel fortunate to represent this area, and making some of these appointments that will have a big impact to all of us Maine citizens, and that she has been so kind to allow me to serve on the committee.”

Steve Abbott, Collins’ chief of staff, is serving as her liaison to the committee. The rest of the committee is made up of community leaders and attorneys from across the state.

Brooks has 23 years of service with Maine State Police and is a colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve, having more than 30 years of combined service in the U.S. Army and U.S. Army Reserve. He also serves as a State Emergency Planning Liaison officer working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to assist with any emergencies in Maine for the Department of Defense.

Other members of the Federal Appointments Advisory Committee are:

• Cathy Goodwin, of Eliot, a former state office representative for Collins’ York County office and former director of the York County Chamber of Commerce;

• Sarah Newell, of Winterport, an attorney with Eaton Peabody;

• Matt Manahan, of Cumberland, an attorney with Pierce Atwood;

• Melissa Simones, of Greene, policy director with the Maine state senate president’s office;

• Rick Solman, of Caribou, an attorney with Solman and Hunter.

Doug Harlow — 612-2367

dharlow@centralmaine.com

Twitter:@Doug_Harlow

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