Rep. Bruce MacDonald, D-Boothbay, has been appointed to chair the Education and Cultural Committee, for the upcoming legislative session.  

The committee oversees the Department of Education, along with the university and community college system, the Maine Arts Commission, Maine State Library, Maine State Museum and Maine Public Broadcasting Corporation.

“I am extremely pleased to have been appointed House Chair of the Education and Cultural Affairs Committee. This committee will have major work ahead of it to ensure the best possible education of our citizens, from their earliest pre-Kindergarten years to graduate school,” MacDonald said. “We know that a strong set of universal public education is the driver both of personal prosperity, and of overall economic growth and development. 

“I hope to be able to help our Committee address the bills that come before it with this perspective in mind.”

MacDonald is a fourth term legislator and represents the towns of Arrowsic, Boothbay, Boothbay Harbor, Georgetown, Southport and Westport Island.

MacDonald was selected to serve on the committee by the Speaker of the House Mark Eves. The legislature has 16 joint standing committees which will begin work in early January. A list of committee members can be found at www.maine.gov/legis/house/jtcomlst.htm.