Biography
Educated at the University of California, Berkeley, where he earned both bachelor's and master's degrees, Bliss made his career as a middle school and high school teacher, before moving to university administration. He worked at California State University, Sacramento, and San Francisco State University before moving to Maine. He was formerly employed as the Director of Career Services and Professional Life Development at the University of Southern Maine.
Bliss was first elected to the Maine House of Representatives in November 2000, winning 58% of the general election vote in South Portland's 24th district. Re-elected in 2002, his district was renumbered the 122nd in time for the 2004 election, when he secured re-election with 67% of the vote. He won by a similar margin in 2006.
Term limits prevented him from seeking a fifth House term in 2008. Instead, he was a candidate for the Maine Senate in the 7th district, which includes Cape Elizabeth, South Portland and part of Scarborough. The incumbent — Sen. Lynn Bromley — was also forced out by term limits. In the primary election on June 10, 2008, Bliss faced former state representative Ed Kelleher and defeated him by 63% to 37%. He faced Republican John F. Ridge in the November general election and won easily. He ran for re-election in 2010, winning narrowly in a race that went to a recount. His original lead of 64 votes was widened to 75 votes in the recount: Bliss polled 9,172 to his Republican opponent's 9,097.
Bliss is openly gay and has three children. He and his partner have been together since 1999. He has long been involved with charitable and community organizations, including the AIDS Project, the Equity Institute of Maine, the South Portland Citizens for Justice, and the Maine Lesbian/Gay Political Alliance (now known as EqualityMaine). He also served as Treasurer of the Cumberland County Democratic Committee.
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