AUGUSTA — Auburn Mayor Jonathan LaBonte is joining state government.

Republican Gov. Paul LePage announced Wednesday he was appointing LaBonte as director of the Governor’s Office of Policy and Management. The office was created to replace the State Planning Office.

LaBonte will take over for former state lawmaker Richard Rosen, who was appointed acting commissioner of the Maine Department of Administrative and Financial Services.

LePage said LaBonte “has a deep understanding of municipal, county and state budgets, and he is not afraid to propose bold and innovative solutions that protect the taxpayer, but continue to provide services more efficiently and with less cost. We appreciate his out-of-the-box thinking, and we welcome his knowledge and his enthusiasm for moving the state forward.”

LaBonte is in his second term as mayor and is executive director of the Androscoggin Land Trust. He also has served as an Androscoggin County commissioner. 

He is a graduate of the University of Maine and holds a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering. He took graduate courses in public administration and governance at UMaine.

LaBonte said he would continue on as mayor but would leave the land trust and several other local boards on which he serves.

“It’s been a fairly quick-moving appointment,” LaBonte said. He said his interest in streamlining and making government more efficient and responsive fits well with the state job.  

LaBonte is seen as a moderate Republican who often offers measured and reflective views on the issues facing the Twin Cities. He said he didn’t believe his personality would conflict with LePage’s.

“The governor and I have different personalities, and I don’t think there are other people who have the governor’s personality. Nor do I find many people who have mine,” LaBonte said. “But we both have the same interests around efficient and effective government, and if I can bring some of those skill sets to bear on the analysis side, then that’s a skill I can offer.”

The chance to serve the state of Maine and the governor was one he couldn’t turn down, LaBonte said.

“When a governor calls and asks you to join their team, that’s a unique opportunity,” he said.

LaBonte said he did not believe his appointment had anything to do with election-year politics.

“If there’s anything political about this, it is the governor was eager to see this office created and is looking to see work delivered out of it,” LaBonte said.

LaBonte will begin his new job June 16.

sthistle@sunjournal.com