How does a former Wiscasset Newspaper reporter become a senior policy advisor to the governor of Maine? Well, if you are Tom Abello, an experienced environmental leader for nearly two decades, it’s really not that hard to understand. Abello, 45, of Edgecomb was named as Gov. Janet Mills' senior policy advisor on environmental and transportation issues.

For 19 years, Abello worked for the Nature Conservancy in New Hampshire, Minnesota and Maine advocating for protecting natural resources and wildlife. He recently served as the local organization’s director of external affairs. Following Mills’ election, Abello was notified by a member of the Governor-elect’s transition team that he was under consideration for a senior advisor’s post. Former Nature Conservancy board member and current volunteer Barbara Trafton submitted his name to Mills’ staff for consideration.

In 2009, Abello returned home to work on local environmental issues at the Maine Nature Conservancy chapter. Trafton served on its board from 2004 to 2014. In 2009, Trafton served as the board’s capital campaign chairman and saw Abello display his vast knowledge of environmental issues. Trafton also described him as a natural leader with a knack for bringing people together. “Having worked with him, I’ve been impressed with him being a wonderful and thoughtful person. And I thought, he’d be a wonderful addition to the governor’s office,” she said.

Trafton is especially impressed with Abello’s political accumen. She credits him with putting together a diverse group for supporting a water bond referendum. The coalition included Nature Conservancy, Sportsmen Alliance of Maine, Maine Chamber of Commerce, and Associated General Contractors of Maine. The bond paid for replacing damaged and deteriorating culverts across the state. “A lot of people talk about working across the aisle, but Tom really does,” Trafton said. “When people heard about his candidacy Republicans and Democrats alike supported him.”

Trafton’s suggestion earned Abello a meeting with Gov. Mills and her Chief of Staff Jeremy Kennedy. The meeting went well, and Abello said he "was lucky to get the position.” Abello liked Mills’ sense of humor and described her as a very interesting person. “She has a great dry sense of humor and I like that she knows a little bit about a lot of things I’m interested in,” he said. “For the areas I cover, natural resources and transportation, she has either been there or aware of a particular spot. So it leads to a lot of really good conversations.”

Abello’s passion for nature began as a young boy. Growing up in Edgecomb, his father regularly took the family canoeing around the state. Abello vividly remembers trips to Saint John, Machias and Sheepscot rivers. His father also owns an Edgecomb wood lot where Abello learned about proper forest management practices.

In his advisor’s role, Abello believes how the state manages its transportation system has a major impact on environmental issues. He described Maine as having among the best natural resources in the country. Abello described his role as advising her on maintaining a clean environment and strong economy. “Maine is really lucky we have some of the best natural resources in the country. Our core brand is the quality of life here. We have a rich tradition in natural resource industries fishing, farming and forestry. And the Governor wants a policy which enhances economic opportunity and at the same time which conserves those resources.”

Prior to his 19 years working on environmental issues, Abello was a journalist. His family moved to Edgecomb in 1975, and in 1992, he graduated from Wiscasset High School. He received a cross country and track and field scholarship to attend Fordham University in the Bronx, New York. In 1996, Abello graduated with a degree in communications and returned home to Edgecomb.  His first journalism job was with The Wiscasset Newspaper. “I worked there for 10 months right out of college. It was a great experience because you learn so much going to all those selectmen, school and planning board meetings,” he said.

His next job was in Lake Saranac, New York working as a general assignment reporter for the Adirondack Daily Enterprise. While covering a multitude of municipal board meetings, he began reporting about environmental issues mainly dealing with the Adirondack Park Agency in upstate New York. “I really liked writing about environmental issues. For me, it really was the best of both worlds,” he said.

But Abello grew tired of covering fires and automobile accidents. “I didn’t like asking people how they felt after these tragedies so I looked for something else,” he said. He found a communications job for the Nature Conservancy New Hamphsire chapter. Another Nature Conservancy job later became available in Minnesota, before he returned home.

In 2009, Abello and his wife Heather and daughters Hannah and Charlotte bought a plot of land in Edgecomb from Tom’s father and built a home. Abello’s work focus shifted from public relations to public policy in Maine. Six years ago, he also found time to serve on the local school committee. As a kid, Abello attended the old Edgecomb Eddy School on Cross Point Road. He remembers teacher Miss Miller, who later became Lisa Clark, the school’s former principal. He also had Dawn Garey who still teaches at the new school.

“It was really a great school. I remember even on the coldest days being outside saying the Pledge of Allegiance. Sledding down the hill was also a memorable experience,” he said. “It was also a bit unorthodox of an education with Mr. Albright bringing in road kill to look at and talk about.”

So a former Wiscasset Newspaper reporter is now working on influencing policy in Augusta, as a senior environmental and transportation advisor, and in Edgecomb, he is influencing education as chairman of the local school board.