After four years leading the citizens lobbying group Common Cause, Chellie Pingree stepped down as CEO on Feb. 10 to consider a run for the U.S. Congress to represent her home state of Maine. Not new to politics, Pingree served eight years in the Maine State Senate, including four years as majority leader. In 2002, she unsuccessfully challenged incumbent U.S. Sen. Susan M. Collins (R-Maine) in the general election. Pingree’s departure from Common Cause allows her time to explore running for U.S. Rep. Tom Allen’s (D-Maine) seat, which he is considering vacating to challenge to Sen. Collins in 2008. “I think the political opportunity has come up, they come up unexpectedly,… Read More