AUGUSTA, Maine — State Rep. Michael Brennan suffered a medical emergency that led leaders of the Maine House of Representatives to cancel a Tuesday floor session.
Brennan, a 70-year-old Democrat from Portland, released a statement confirming he had a “medical event” Tuesday morning in the House chamber. He expressed “heartfelt thanks” to the “swift action” of Rep. Sam Zager, D-Portland, and Rep. Jane Pringle, D-Windham, who are current and retired doctors, respectively.
Brennan also noted “the exceptional care I received from the first responders” at both the State House and MaineGeneral Medical Center in Augusta. He did not detail his medical condition.
“Both my wife Joan and I are profoundly grateful to everyone who has reached out, and I look forward to resuming my full responsibilities in the State House in the next few days,” Brennan said.
Three House members who declined to be identified because of the sensitivity of the situation said the lawmaker was able to leave the chamber with assistance. The House was scheduled to gavel in at 10 a.m. Tuesday, but the floor session was canceled. Committee work went on as planned.
Brennan is serving his third consecutive term in the House and co-chairs the Legislature’s education committee. He served in the House from 1992 to 2000 and in the Senate from 2002 to 2006.
Brennan, a social worker who has taught at the University of Southern Maine and the University of New England, became the first directly elected mayor of Portland in nearly 100 years in 2011 and led Maine’s largest city until he was ousted in 2015 by Ethan Strimling.
