[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 47 (Tuesday, March 14, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S771]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       REMEMBERING MABEL DESMOND

 Mr. KING. Mr. President, it would be hard to put into words 
what Mabel Desmond meant to me, to her family, to her community, or to 
the State of Maine.
  To say that Mabel put service into every part of who she was is an 
understatement. I knew Mabel for her dedication to her constituents in 
Aroostook County and for relentlessly seeking what she felt would be in 
the greater good of the State. That same quality applied to her life as 
a mother, as a teacher, and as a friend. Her determination to make a 
difference echoed throughout her life in countless ways. She knew that 
one person striving to do the right things and being kind mattered.
  Mabel's distinguished political career from 1994-2002 was during the 
same time I served as Maine's Governor. It was clear right away that 
she was a serious lawmaker; not one that would just go along with a 
plan, not one who made any assumptions, and not one that could be 
intimidated.
  I grew to deeply admire her conviction over the years but never so 
much as when she was the lone voice on the education committee who 
would support the Maine Learning Technology Initiative ``laptop'' 
program, keeping the idea alive in the face of almost overwhelming 
opposition. This act of courage on an idea I was passionate about as 
Governor--and still so proud of today--has made an immense difference 
for now decades of Maine students. As a teacher, she ``got it,'' and 
the respect which her colleagues in the legislature had for her was a 
key factor in the passage of the program. So many success stories of 
kids who were able to pursue their dreams, all because of Mabel's 
unshakable belief in a better future.
  Mabel was my friend, someone I looked up to, someone who taught me 
the value of thoughtful decision making. I will be forever grateful to 
have known and worked with her and will miss her dearly.

                          ____________________