Since Maine became a state in 1820, 70 men have served as governor. Only one, Frederick Robie, was from Gorham. Shawn Moody is hoping to make that two. Moody defeated three other Republican primary candidates on June 12 and will face Democrat Janet Mills and two independent candidates, Alan Caron and Terry Hayes, in the November election.
Moody, a life-long Gorham resident, opened his first auto body repair shop in 1978 during his senior year at Gorham High School. He gives credit to his hometown neighbors for the help and encouragement in building a successful business. Moody’s Collision Center now has 11 locations in the Portland area as well as Lewiston and Augusta, and 175 employees who own 34% of the business.
Photo courtesy of Shawn Moody“Gorham has been good to us over the years,” he said. Moody believes “small business people are part of the essence and culture of small towns,” and thinks “Gorham is a role model for small towns in Maine.”
Moody and his wife Chrissi have four grown children and have lived in the same house for more than 30 years. He believes people “want to stay in their hometown,” and he would like to develop an “entry strategy” that would encourage Mainers who have left to return to Maine to live and work.
Although he has not held elective office, Moody has been active in local organizations and was appointed to the University of Maine System and the Maine Community College System boards of trustees by Governor LePage.
Never having joined a political party, he ran for governor as an independent in 2010 and received only 5% of the vote. He joined the Republican Party in 2017 based on his experience in 2010. “This is a two party system,” he said.
Eighty-three percent of Gorham voters who cast Republican primary ballots chose Shawn Moody over the other candidates. Moody is hoping that his hometown message will resonate with Mainers across the state in November.