Gov. LePage names acting DHHS commissioner following Mayhew's departure
Gov. Paul R. LePage announced Friday the appointment of Ricker Hamilton, who has been serving deputy commissioner of programs at the Department of Health and Human Services, as acting commissioner of the state's largest agency.
Hamilton replaces Mary Mayhew, who had served as DHHS commissioner since 2011. Mayhew’s last day was Friday, just two days after LePage announced her resignation. DHHS has an annual budget of over $3.4 billion and more than 3,400 employees.
Mayhew’s departure marks the third high-level departure from the LePage administration this spring, with Janine Bisaillon-Cary stepping down as the state’s director of international trade and as president of the Maine International Trade Center earlier this month and Jeanne Paquette resigning in late April as commissioner of the Maine Department of Labor to accept a position at the University of Southern Maine.
In naming Ricker as acting commissioner of DHHS, LePage cited the depth of experience he brings to the position, including 40 years in management, program development, strategic planning and social work in programs that provide services for children and families, substance abuse, mental health, sexual assault and domestic violence, aging and disability and acute psychiatric care.
“He has been actively involved in reforming welfare, improving services for the truly needy and bringing fiscal responsibility and accountability to a department that was plagued by massive shortfalls under previous administrations,” LePage said in a news release. “Ricker will provide a wealth of experience and a steady hand to guide DHHS as the department continues to improve and reform the programs that are vital to so many Mainers.”
As deputy commissioner of programs at DHHS since 2013, Hamilton has managed and directed the Offices of Aging and Disability Services, Child and Family Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services, Dorothea Dix Psychiatric Center and Riverview Psychiatric Center. He also served as program administrator for adult protective services at DHHS and as an instructor at the Maine Criminal Justice Academy, where he developed a curriculum on elder abuse.
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LePage also announced the appointment of Alec Porteous as DHHS’s chief operating officer and chief financial officer. Porteous joined the LePage Administration as deputy commissioner of finance in May 2014.
“Alec has a diverse background in the private and government sectors and has been integral in guiding the department to stable financial footing,” LePage said. “He will continue to be a strong, reform-minded leader within the department.”
Porteous previously worked as a policy advisor for Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher in Washington, D.C., on Wall Street reforms and the Consumer Protection Act. He also worked as an associate at Lehman Brothers/Barclays Capital to provide strategic and financial advice to clients, including Procter & Gamble, Hormel and Unilever.
Prior to joining DHHS, Porteous was vice president at Harpswell Capital Advisors in New Gloucester. He also served from 2011 to 2013 as state office representative in Portland for U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and as her campaign finance director during her 2013 reelection campaign.
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