From the Scarborough, Cape Elizabeth, & South Portland “Current”:

SCARBOROUGH (Nov 28): At 23, Sean Flaherty is one of the youngest legislators in the state, and he says he hopes to use his youth, energy and knowledge of technology to move Scarborough and Maine in a positive direction.

“Scarborough was a great place to grow up,” said Flaherty, a Democrat, who unseated veteran legislator John McDonough for the House District 127 seat. “I’d like to see the good growth the town has experienced stabilized, and while I know I can’t do everything I want to in this first term, I will work hard to complete what I can.”

Flaherty’s list of important issues includes keeping Scarborough’s marsh and beaches clean, encouraging Maine’s government to use more technology while conducting sessions, and fighting for increased funding for schools.

“More money should be going to our kids and not top-level administrators. That’s important to me,” Flaherty said.

He said he wants to have a chance to reform the school consolidation plan, specifically by eliminating the budget referendum required of every district.

He has applied to serve on the Utlities and Energy Committee, the Business Research and Economic Development Committee and the Natural Resources Committee.

“As a freshman legislator going in, it might be difficult to get on those committees, but I’ll see,” he said.

Flaherty is single, works part time doing general office work at Pond Cove Mill and is a youth swim instructor. He said that in order to accomplish anything in his first term, he will need to work tirelessly.

He’s no stranger to hard work: During his campaign, he said, he knocked on nearly 2,000 doors, trying to meet with voters face-to-face through “old-fashioned” campaigning.

His mother, Heidi Flaherty, said that work ethic was instilled in her son early on. “Sean began swimming for Scarborough at a young age and even when he was little, he wasn’t your typical kid,” she said. “He swam distance events and dedicated himself to swimming to become the best he could at it.”

At Scarborough High School, from which he graduated in 2003, he never lost a head-to-head race while swimming distance events. He also found success while competing nationally through Coastal Aquatics, a Maine-based traveling swim team.

During that time, he managed to practice three hours a day, meet his school obligations and work in a social life.

“It was difficult and I didn’t sleep a lot,” he joked. “I think those experiences helped prepare me for this venture.”

Flaherty won a sports scholarship to George Washington University in Washington, D.C. He swam a few seasons for the team, but left the squad to focus on academics. He graduated in 2007 with a dual degree in history and political science.

Flaherty has always been passionate about politics, his mother said. She noted that his grandfather, Walter Hansen, a history teacher and secondary-school administrator, played a large role in her son’s life. The two spent a lot of time together as Sean grew up, discussing history and politics.

Flaherty served in various student government roles in his four years at Scarborough High School. “That taught me a lot,” Flaherty said.

After receiving his degree from George Washington University, Flaherty returned to Maine and decided to take his chances at a House seat, rather than serving first on the Town Council or the town Planning Board.

His decision to run didn’t surprise his former Scarborough High swimming coach, Tim Kipp.

“He was a great kid and a very determined kid,” Kipp said. “He was a hard worker and intense, and he got a lot of kids to go along with him. He was definitely a born leader.”

Flaherty said he might return to school someday and get a graduate degree, or run for state Senate, but that isn’t his priority right now.

“I’ve got a job to do now,” he said. “There is a lot of work to be done in Augusta and I want to focus my energy on helping my constituents and doing what is best for them.”

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