Legislative Forum

• 8:30 – 9:00 am: Registration & Continental Breakfast
• 9:00 – 9:10 am: Welcome
• 9:10 – 10:00 am: Keynote Speaker | Kirk Bado
• 10:00 – 10:30 am: Q & A With Kirk Bado
• 10:45 am – 11:45 am: Speaker | Dr. Ron Schmidt
• 12:00 – 1:00 pm: Lunch & Silent Auction Conclusion
• 1:00 – 2:00 pm: Speaker | Don Carrigan
• 2:00 – 2:45 pm: Political Capital led by Cat Proulx and Andy Dennis
• 2:45 – 3:00 pm: MCU PAC Awards & Event Conclusion

Kirk Bado, Editor of The Hotline

Our League is pleased to announce Kirk Bado as our keynote speaker. Bado is the editorial force behind National Journal’s campaign coverage, leading political reporting, editing the publication’s twice-daily newsletters, and overseeing a team covering races across the country. Through his daily Spotlight column, he puts breaking political news into context, offering forward-looking analysis that has made him a trusted voice on elections and Washington.

Represented exclusively by Leading Authorities speakers bureau, Bado brings firsthand campaign trail experience and deep political insight to audiences nationwide. Before joining National Journal, he reported for the Nashville Tennessean, USA Today, Reuters, and the Arizona Republic. He is also a contributor to the 2026 Almanac of American Politics and has appeared as an elections expert on C-SPAN, NewsNation, and WTOP Radio.

Dr. Ron Schmidt, Chair of the Political Science Department at the University of Southern Maine

Dr. Ron Schmidt is Chair of the Political Science Department at the University of Southern Maine, where he teaches courses in American politics and political theory. His most recent book is Reading Politics with Machiavelli.

Dr. Schmidt will explore Maine's role in the broader American political landscape as the nation heads toward the upcoming elections. His will examine whether the state's political culture remains distinct from national trends, how it has evolved over time, and what Maine's elections may reveal about the direction of the country as a whole.

Don Carrigan, Political Reporter at NEWS CENTER Maine

Don Carrigan has been a fixture in Maine political journalism for decades, serving as NEWS CENTER Maine’s State House bureau chief, earning a reputation as one of the most trusted reporters on government and public affairs.

Drawing on his long career in journalism and public service, Carrigan will reflect on how the Maine Legislature has changed over time, the growing partisanship he's witnessed, particularly in recent years, and what those shifts have meant for policymaking and political discourse in Augusta.

Andy Dennis, Head of Grassroots and State Policy at America’s Credit Unions

Andy Dennis serves as the Head of Grassroots and State Policy, overseeing all federal and state grassroots activities for America's Credit Unions. He was formerly the Associate Director for State Outreach with the Credit Union National Association. Dennis formerly advised Fortune 500 clients and large advocacy associations on their political reputation in Congress with National Journal. In his current role, Dennis assists credit union leagues with state-issue campaigns, develops assets for legislative activities, and promotes grassroots engagement programs. He currently manages the Member Activation Program (MAP), Project Zip Code (PZC), advocacy trainings, and several state-issue campaigns.

Cat Proulx, Senior Manager of Marketing and Culture at Beekeeper Group

As Senior Manager of Marketing and Culture at Beekeeper Group, Cat Proulx is passionate about creating environments for meaningful connection. She develops the company’s culture by organizing Beekeeper’s internal and external events, managing the company’s external communications and partnerships, and leading Beekeeper’s Culture Committee.

Dennis and Proulx will lead attendees through Political Capital, an interactive advocacy strategy game designed to show how the legislative process really works. Participants will work through a legislative scenario, make choices about which advocacy tactics to use, and see how factors like grassroots engagement, lobbying, media, and other strategies can influence the outcome. Political Capital is designed to help advocates better understand what matters to lawmakers and their staff and how different advocacy approaches can shape legislation.

Help Make Our Auction at Legislative Forum a Success!

We hope you will join us in September and kindly consider donating an item to our auction lineup. Popular past items include themed baskets, tech items (e.g. noise-cancelling headphones), concert/sporting event tickets, and more. Your support helps make this fundraiser a success!

While it is requested that donated items be brought to the event day-of, we understand that won't be possible for everyone. Please note in your donation form whether your credit union will bring it to the Forum or whether it will be mailed to the League beforehand. All donations must be received prior to the auction starting.

The state PAC plays a vital role in helping us stand with friends of credit unions running for office and in keeping the credit union message front and center. Through the support generated by fundraisers like our Silent Auction, we can continue building relationships with policymakers and advancing issues important to Maine's credit unions. Thank you for considering a donation.

If you have any questions about our auction or upcoming event, please contact Ethan Barber, at ebarber@mainecul.org.