Maine governor says he’s moving to Florida

Outgoing Maine Gov. Paul LePage (R) said Monday that he plans to move to Florida for tax purposes when he leaves office next year, regardless of who is elected to replace him.

LePage also said while speaking with reporters that he is “done with politics,” according to the Portland Press Herald. He made the comments on the eve of Maine’s gubernatorial election between Democrat Janet Mills and Republican Shawn Moody.

{mosads}“I’ll be a resident of Florida if Janet Mills wins, I can promise you that,” LePage said. “I’ll also be in Florida if Shawn Moody wins because I am going to retire and go to Florida. I am done with politics. I have done my eight years. It’s time for somebody else.”

LePage also said that he has spoken with a “couple of universities” in Florida about the possibility of teaching there. The governor already owns a home in Florida, he added.

“I’ll tell you very, very simply: I have a house in Florida. I will pay no income tax and the house in Florida’s property taxes are $2,000 less than we were paying in Boothbay,” LePage said. “At my age, why wouldn’t you conserve your resources and spend it on family [rather] than spend it on taxes?”

LePage also said Monday that he would wish whoever is elected to replace him well, the Press Herald reported. 

“If the people of Maine elect Janet Mills, then the people of Maine have spoken and she will be the governor. And I wish her very well,” LePage said. “If Shawn Moody wins – who I hope wins – I wish him very well.”

A poll last week showed Mills with an 8-point edge over Moody ahead of the election, but the race is seen as competitive. Election handicappers at The Cook Political Report rate the race as a toss-up.