Jack Cashman brings a “can do” attitude and problem solving skills to the DECD.

Several weeks ago, a prominent member of the Biddeford-Saco business community struck up a conversation after a meeting. He asked my reaction to the nomination by Gov. John E. Baldacci of Jack Cashman to head the Department of Economic and Community Development.

An overwhelming number of political and business leaders have opined that Cashman’s appointment is a solid and shrewd move. As I told the inquiring businessman, he is a good choice and knows a lot about business.

During the Legislature’s Economic and Community Development Committee’s confirmation hearing last week, which I attended, Sen. Kevin L. Shorey, R-Calais, acknowledged that Cashman was “the right person at the right time” to head the DECD.

The Old Town native was warmly received by the Committee, which unanimously endorsed his appointment.

Cashman skillfully fielded dozens of questions about his views, both past and present, concerning his economic development philosophy and priorities.

I must admit, I was surprised and impressed by the number and diverse background of supporters who spoke in favor of the governor’s nominee.

Representatives of the Forest Products Industry, including John Williams of the Maine Pulp and Paper Association and prominent attorney John Delahanty representing Georgia-Pacific Corp., shared antidotes as to Cashman’s effectiveness in handling the recent closure announcements and cut-back crises. It was an impressive endorsement.

Cashman told the Committee he would make tourism, job creation and job retention the top priority for DECD, which has a $12 million annual budget and a staff of less than 50.

On paper, Cashman has an impressive resume. A 1973 graduate of the University of Maine with a degree in business administration, he has had a successful career in developing and marketing real estate and selling and servicing insurance.

He followed his father’s footsteps and served on the Old Town City Council for eight years during the 1970s. He served in the state House from 1982 to 1992, and as chairman of the powerful Taxation Committee.

Cashman is a longtime friend of Gov. Baldacci and the Baldacci family. He served as an early and close advisor to Baldacci’s gubernatorial campaign and transition team.

Since January, Cashman has served as senior legislative and policy advisor for the governor.

There’s a lot more to Jack Cashman than what the resume states.

No one who has ever held this position possesses the unique blend of municipal, legislative, executive, public policy, political and business experience. Cashman does not fit your typical mold of a bureaucrat department head.

At the urging of his close friends and advisors, he flirted with the idea of running for governor in 1993, but said he “didn’t have it in my belly ” and was concerned about the effect on his family. He deferred to his friend, former Gov. Joseph Brennan.

He will readily and candidly admit that he purposely took a needed break from the constant demands of balancing his family, business and politics. His family always came first, so he chose to put his political career on hold for a while. When his two sons graduated from college, he was coaxed back into the political arena and become involved in the inner circle of Baldacci’s assent to the Blaine House.

When he was offered the position as a top aide, he only gave the governor a commitment to assist him during the transitional first year. He has now made a much longer commitment in his new expanded role to help him succeed as governor.

After just a few days at the job, it became apparent that Cashman hadn’t missed a beat in his 10-year sabbatical from the state House.

Although I knew him vaguely as a classmate at UMO and in political circles, I must concede I questioned his politics when he arrived at the state House.

He was not the stereotypical youthful liberal, lockstep ideologue Democratic legislator who always had to be politically correct.

There was a lot more. His modest, traditional blue-collar roots laid a solid foundation that has served him well in life.

Much to the chagrin of his legislative contemporaries, he took a more conservative position on social issues and wasn’t afraid to use his business background to address business development issues. He became a self-educated expert in tax policy.

He was an outspoken, proactive legislator. Cashman wasn’t afraid to mix it up with political king makers, such as John Martin, Joe Brennan and Jock McKernan.

His sarcastic wit sometimes might have been confused by some with insensitivity. But that is not the case. He could play partisan hardball with the best, but preferred to be a consensus builder. He even has Republican friends.

He has a “can do” attitude and is a problem-solver who doesn’t have the patience for excuses. He is demanding on himself and expects the same efforts from his friends and colleagues.

Those who know him well, and I believe I do, see a different side when he reminisces about his childhood, his family and his Irish roots. He has visited Ireland, the home of his ancestors dozens of times, and has established life long relationships. Ireland is his respite as well as his long distance runs in the morning.

He is a talented guitarist and singer whose diverse repertoire ranges from traditional Irish music to his favorite, Bob Dylan. He occasionally performs solo and also with a group of old friends.

He can read music as well as a financial statement. He is loyal to his friends and respects their opinions. He has many good friends, but his best friend is his wife, Betty, who he has known since his teens.

He is back wearing suits, starched shirts and suspenders. Gone for now are the worn jeans, running shoes and sweatshirts.

Jack Cashman is back in Augusta doing the people business. Maine will be a better place because of him.

Barry Hobbins is a Saco attorney and political analyst who was a state representative, state senator and chair of the Maine Democratic Party. He can be reached by writing to him at Hobbins & Gardner, LLC, 110 Main St., Suite 1508, Saco, ME 04072-2895, or by e-mail at [email protected].