WINTERPORT — Dr. Charles F. Pattavina, D-Winterport, announced his candidacy for Senate District 11, which serves Waldo County, according to a May 31 press release. 

He is concerned about a wide range of issues, the release noted, and “commits to representing the interests of the people of Waldo County as well as anyone can.”

Important issues, to him, include: civility in politics (and everyday life), climate change (and how addressing it can help us have a booming economy), health care for all, income inequality and tax fairness, affordable broadband access, water rights and more.

“Unfortunately, it now looks like Maine will still be addressing COVID-19 and the economic damage well into the next legislative session — and perhaps beyond — due to the failure of national leaders to manage this event,” the release stated.

Dr. Pattavina attended Boston College High School, majored in physics at Boston College and completed medical school at Boston University with the aid of a U.S. Navy scholarship. 

He served on active duty in the Philippines and in Newport Rhode Island.  He then went to work as a staff emergency physician at the Miriam Hospital in Providence, on the Brown University faculty, later becoming the Medical Director and Physician in Chief of the Division then eventually the Department of Emergency Medicine at Miriam until about the year 2000 when running for reelection to the board of the American College of Emergency Physicians.

A little over 12 years ago, he was recruited to modernize and build up the emergency department at St. Joseph Hospital. During that time he became very involved in the Maine Medical Association and served as its president from 2016 to 2018.

After ten years here, and accomplishing what the hospital needed, he changed to clinical work, now per diem and also working every week helping people recover from opioids at a local clinic open to all, per the release. 

Throughout his career he has held leadership positions in medical staffs, hospitals and professional organizations, including the national board of the American College of Emergency Physicians and most recently as President of the Maine Medical Association from 2016 to 2018, and always involved in federal, state and local advocacy.

“I think it’s important Dr. Pattavina be elected to the Maine Senate. I have seen him create compromise and develop effective solutions to problems that could have become unmanageable in the healthcare arena,” said Belfast resident John D. Gage, M.D. “The ability to create effective and reasonable policies requires the ability to educate and work with all parties. Having worked with Dr. Pattavina, I’m very comfortable with the fact that he is going to be able to teach other members of the Maine Senate what they need to know and bring them together to make effective and reasonable policies. I am delighted to be supporting and working for his campaign.”