Paul N. Poirier

Paul N. Poirier (born September 30, 1948) is an American politician from Vermont who served several terms in the Vermont House of Representatives.

Early life and start of career Poirier was born in Lewiston, Maine on September 30, 1948. He was educated at private schools in Maine and Norwich University, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in 1970 and a Master of Education degree in history and government in 1973.

After college, Poirier became a social studies and physical education teacher at Spaulding High School in Barre. In addition, he was the coach of the varsity ice hockey team, which won the 1980 Division 1 state championship, Spaulding's first title in nearly 20 years. (Wright had become Speaker with the support of Democrats and a small number of Republicans.) When Democrats attained the majority in 1987, Poirier became majority leader, and served until 1989. Poirier won the Democratic nomination in a close contest over Peter Welch and James A. Guest. The general election was a three-way contest between Poirier, Republican candidate Peter Smith, and Independent Bernie Sanders. Smith won with a plurality, taking 41.2 percent of the vote to 37.5 for Sanders and 18.9 for Poirier. Sanders' strong showing proved a harbinger; in 1990, he ran again, and defeated Smith 56 percent to 39.5.

Continued career After his House campaign, Poirier continued his career as the manager of Community Relations for the Green Mountain Power company, a position he accepted while still serving in the Vermont House, and later worked for Vermont Protection and Advocacy as the public advocate for patients at the Vermont State Hospital and inmates at the Chittenden Correctional Facility.

From 1991 to 1997 he was a member of the Environmental Commission for District 5, which includes Barre City.

Poirier was again elected to the Barre City Council in 2008, and also became a member of the board of trustees for the Aldrich Public Library.

In 2018, Poirier was defeated for reelection in his two-member district, with the two Democratic nominees, incumbent Tommy Walz and former Barre Mayor Peter Anthony finishing ahead of him. During the campaign, Poirier made headlines for confronting city council member Brandon Batham at a council meeting. Batham, a staff member for the Vermont Democratic Party, endorsed Poirier's opponents in an online post that identified Batham as a city council member. In addition to objecting to what he said were Batham's misrepresentations of his record, Poirier criticized Batham for identifying himself as a council member, since municipal offices in Barre are officially nonpartisan.

In addition to his Vermont House and city council service, Poirier served as president of the Green Mountain United Way and executive director of the Turning Point Center of Central Vermont, a substance abuse recovery facility.

Family Poirier is married to Lesley (McLeod) Poirier, and they are the parents of two grown children, Aimee and Jeffrey.