G. Steven Rowe

Glen Steven Rowe, commonly known as Steve Rowe (born April 23, 1953), is a former Maine politician. A Democrat, he first entered politics in 1992 as a member of the Maine House of Representatives. In 1998, he became the 94th Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives, serving until he was term-limited from the House in 2000. In 2001, Rowe was elected as the 54th Maine Attorney General, serving eight years in that position.

In 2009, Rowe became Counsel at Verrill Dana, a Portland law firm. He ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic nomination for Governor of Maine in 2010. He then returned to the practice of law, but in 2012 became President of the Endowment for Health, New Hampshire's largest health foundation. In 2015, Rowe assumed the position of President and CEO of the Maine Community Foundation. During his tenure from 2015 to 2021, he guided the development of a five-year strategic plan with programs addressing early childhood development, access to education, racial equity, support for older adults, and promotion of entrepreneurship and innovation. Under his leadership, the foundation also expanded its work on climate change, land conservation, high-speed internet access, and racial equity initiatives. He retired in 2021.

In 2023, Rowe received the Access to Justice Award from the Muskie Fund for Legal Services in recognition of his lifelong commitment to social, racial, economic, and environmental justice.

Education JD, University of Maine School of Law, 1987 MBA, University of Utah, 1978 BS, United States Military Academy, West Point, 1975.

Professional experience President and CEO, Maine Community Foundation, 2015-2021 President, Endowment for Health, 2012-2015 Counsel, Verrill Dana, 2009-2012 Attorney General, State of Maine, 2001-2009 Litigation Counsel, UNUM Provident Corporation, 1987–2000 Manager, Fairchild Semiconductor, 1981–1984 Officer, United States Army, 1975–1981

Political experience Maine House of Representatives Representative, Maine House of Representatives, 1992–2000 Speaker, Maine House of Representatives, 1998–2000

Attorney General Rowe served as Maine Attorney General from 2001–2009. During his tenure, he successfully argued two cases before the United States Supreme Court. In S.D. Warren Co. v. Maine Board of Environmental Protection (2006), he achieved a unanimous victory defending Maine's authority to enforce state water quality standards under the federal Clean Water Act. Justice David Souter, writing for the Court, quoted Maine Senator Edmund Muskie, the principal author of the Clean Water Act, in emphasizing that federal law preserved state authority to address water pollution.

He also argued Rowe v. New Hampshire Motor Transport Association (2008) before the Supreme Court, challenging federal preemption of Maine's tobacco regulation efforts.

As Attorney General, Rowe established the Fund for a Healthy Maine, which captured and invested perpetual annual settlement payments from tobacco manufacturers to improve Maine's public health through tobacco prevention, childcare, educational home visits for new parents, substance abuse prevention, and prescription drugs for the elderly and disabled. He also helped create the landmark Maine Rx Program, which provided discounted prescription drugs to the poor and elderly.

Personal Rowe was born and raised near Gore, Oklahoma. He was married to Amanda Rowe for 32 years, until she died in 2013. He has four children and lives in Portland, Maine.