Shenna Bellows: Maine’s first female secretary of state

AUGUSTA, Maine (WABI) - “I grew up without electricity or running water in Hancock, Maine,” Secretary of State Shenna Bellows said. “I was a geek. I had a copy of the Bill of Rights on my bedroom wall. And today I have a copy of the Constitution on my office wall.

Bellows said she has always been passionate about politics and government, and it all began with her parents.

“Even though we were poor, even though my parents were working incredibly hard, they were also always taking time to be involved in our town and give back,” Bellows said.

Her passion continued to blossom while she studied abroad in Brazil for six months during high school. But she didn’t stop there.

“After college, I was able to go into the Peace Corps,” Bellows said. “I served in Peace Corps Panama for two years. I was a small business development volunteer.”

And while she has always pursued jobs she loves, she said she almost didn’t run for Secretary of State. That is, until one friend told her this point: “How come in 200 years we’ve never had a female secretary of state? And we haven’t even had a female run for Secretary of State,” Bellows said.

She added that until we see the last of the firsts, we need to encourage every woman and girl in our life to go for it.

“Hopefully we’re sending that message to every little girl growing up in Maine that anything you want to do is possible,” Bellows said. “There are no limits.”