Snowe, Olympia J. (1947–)

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Snowe, Olympia J. (1947–)

American politician. Born Olympia Jean Boucles, Feb 21, 1947, in Augusta, Kennebec Co., Maine; dau. of George Bouchles and Georgia (Goranites) Bouchles; University of Maine, BA, 1969; m. John R. McKernan Jr. (governor of Maine).

Served in Maine House of Representatives (1973–76), then Maine State Senate (1976–78); elected as a Republican to 96th US Congress (1978); reelected for 7 succeeding congresses (Jan 3, 1979–Jan 3, 1995) and served as co-chair of the Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues; elected to the US Senate (1994), the 1st Greek-American woman elected to the Senate; reelected (2000); chair of the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship; a leading moderate, focuses on building bipartisan consensus on key issues; known for her work on budget deficit reduction, fiscal issues, health care, domestic violence, women's issues and foreign affairs.