Diane Russell
Diane Marie Russell (born August 9, 1976) is an American politician who serves in the Maine House of Representatives. She is a member of the Democratic Party.
Political career
When Russell first ran for the State House in 2008, she was working as a cashier at a local convenience store. She currently serves on the Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee and the Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee. Russell has sponsored a bill that would fully legalize and tax the sale of marijuana.
In 2011, The Nation magazine named her "Most Valuable State Representative" on its annual Progressive Honor Roll.
In 2011, Russell introduced a bill to legalize marijuana in Maine. The bill, LD 1453, was voted down in committee (3-8) in March and down by the House of Representatives in June.
After being re-elected in 2012, Russell again introduced a similar bill to legalize marijuana in 2013. It is co-sponsored by Republican Rep. Aaron Libby.
In November 2012, Russell unsuccessfully sought the Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives position, losing out in a Democratic Party caucus vote to Mark Eves of York County.
Personal life
Russell is a native of Woodstock, Maine, and is a graduate of Leavitt Area High School. She received a B.A. in media studies from the University of Southern Maine. She has also worked as a public relations consultant.
