Lee Clement seeks a state House seat to represent Lewiston

Steve Collins, Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine
·2 min read
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Apr. 16—LEWISTON — Former Lewiston City Council President Lee Clement, who lost a municipal reelection bid in November, is taking aim at a state House seat this year.

Clement, who served two terms on the council, is running as a Republican in House District 96, currently represented by Democrat Michel Lajoie.

With Lajoie not running for reelection, both Democrats and Republicans are eyeing a June 11 primary to pick their candidates in the district.

Clement, who is retired after a career in law enforcement, will face Joseph Velozo in the GOP primary.

In the Democratic primary, Leigh Albert and David Projansky are vying for their party's backing.

In a news release, Clement said he's been involved "in public service of one type or another" since 1970.

A Farmington High School graduate with a criminal justice degree from the University of Maine, Clement has over 50 years of law enforcement and government experience.

He served on the city's Finance Committee for four years, three of them as its chairman, and as Lewiston's representive on the Maine Municipal Association's Legislative Policy Committee evaluating proposed legislation.

Clement also served on Lewiston's Loan Qualification Committee, the Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments General Assembly, the Lewiston-Auburn 911 Committee and the Androscoggin County Budget Committee.

Clement said he "sees the cost of everything rising, government spending out of control and not responsive to the needs of Maine's citizens."

He served as a National Ski Patroller for 28 years, Senior Provost Emeritus of Kora Temple Shriners and a Mason for the past 50 years, where he was Master of Augusta Lodge No. 141 and a past district deputy grand master. He enjoys hunting and spending time outdoors in Maine.

Married to Lewiston native Lucille Leclair for 52 years, the couple have two grown children and four grandchildren. They moved to Lewiston in 2015, where Clement is secretary and a director of the Apple Valley Estates HOA.

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