MEET LAURIE
Hello! I'm Laurie Osher. In addition to representing Orono in the Maine State House, I am a small business owner, soil scientist, and active advocate. This fall, I am seeking re-election to the State House, where I hope to continue the work I've started.
Over the last decade and in my time as a Representative, I've advocated in support of legislation to protect the climate, fully fund schools, recognize the civil rights of LGBTQ people, provide healthcare for all, grant workers the right to earn leave, restore tribal sovereignty, and provide services for adults with disabilities. If re-elected as Orono’s Representative to the Maine House, I will continue to bring my perspective, experience, vision, and persistence to the work of implementing policies that make Maine a better and more just place to live.
​
Read on below to learn more about me! For more information about my work in the legislature, see here.
.png)
WHERE I COME FROM
Raised in Philadelphia, my dedication to community service was shaped early by my parents—a school teacher turned real estate agent and a pediatrician. Following the example of their own immigrant parents, they instilled a deep tradition of public service in their four children, leading local boards, organizing fundraising efforts, and demonstrating the impact of civic leadership.
​
For my family, community wasn't just a concept; it was a daily practice. We spent our youth at our local community-owned ice rink, where my parents served on the board and my siblings and I competed regionally in hockey and figure skating. Balancing sports, the arts, and academics, I discovered my own passion for leadership early on, frequently being elected by my peers to representative roles.
​
As a teenager, a cycling trip brought me up the coast of Maine, eventually leading me right through Bar Harbor and into Bangor. That first visit made a lasting impression, sparking a deep admiration for the state and kindling a lifelong dream to one day make Maine my permanent home.
BECOMING A SCIENTIST
My journey into public service began with a fascination for the land. After high school, I spent a year working on a Kibbutz in Israel, which inspired me to pursue a degree in soil science and international agriculture at Cornell University. My career took me across the globe and across the U.S.—from conducting agricultural research in the Amazon and Ecuador to working as a soil and watershed scientist for the USDA Forest Service in Alaska, Colorado, and California.
​
During the late 1980s, I saw firsthand how federal land management policies failed to account for climate change and carbon storage. Determined to bridge the gap between science and policy, I earned a PhD in Soil Science from UC Berkeley, focusing my research on how land management impacts global carbon cycles.
​
In 1999, I moved to Orono for a faculty position at UMaine. After nine years at the university, I transitioned into the private sector, launching Osher Environment Systems to help building owners increase energy efficiency and lower heating costs. Most recently, I served at the Eastern Maine Development Corporation, where I assisted local communities in building climate resilience. I am running for state legislature to bring this blend of scientific expertise, business experience, and community dedication to Augusta.
FAMILY LIFE IN MAINE
In the summer of 2001, my twins, Noam and Zivi, were born at Eastern Maine Medical Center. From their early days at The Sharing Place to attending Asa Adams Elementary, they grew up immersed in the local community, eventually finding a passion for the performing arts. By age six, they were performing on stage with the Penobscot Theatre Company (PTC), beginning a childhood filled with school sports, local arts, and community events like Orono Artsapalooza.
​
Supporting my sons' passions naturally led to deep civic and business involvement. I volunteered making costumes for PTC youth productions, and after launching my energy efficiency business, I donated consulting and weatherization services to help make the historic Bangor Opera House more energy efficient. Later, when the boys were in high school, I stepped up to serve as the treasurer for OSCAr (Orono Schools Coalition for the Arts).
​
Though Noam and Zivi have since graduated and successfully stepped into adulthood, my commitment to our local cultural institutions remains as strong as ever. It truly takes a village to raise children, and I am profoundly grateful for the friends, teachers, and neighbors here in Orono who became our chosen family. I am forever proud to have raised my family in this vibrant, supportive community.
ADVOCACY AND LEGISLATION
Over the last decade, I have been a steadfast advocate for policies that protect our climate, fully fund public schools, secure civil rights for LGBTQ+ individuals, expand healthcare, grant earned leave for workers, and support adults with disabilities. This advocacy is rooted in years of community leadership, including serving on the board of Congregation Beth El and as president of Maine Interfaith Power & Light (MEIPL), where I represented the organization on the Maine Environmental Priorities Coalition to champion stronger environmental policies in Augusta. I also continue to actively volunteer with vital organizations like Equality Maine, the Health Equity Alliance, the Maine People’s Alliance, and the Maine Small Business Coalition.
Since my election in 2020 as Orono’s State Representative, I have brought a voice for just, evidence-based policy to the State House. Drawing directly on my professional background, I served on the Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry Committee and was the lead sponsor of LD 937, a key piece of legislation mandating recommendations to incentivize carbon storage in Maine soils.
Beyond my committee work, I have championed critical quality-of-life and justice initiatives. I supported legislation to establish the state's first ALS incidence registry to advance medical research, cosponsored crucial bills to hold perpetrators accountable and protect survivors of sexual misconduct on college campuses, and remain a staunch ally for tribal sovereignty—voting to ensure clean drinking water for the Passamaquoddy at Sipayik (LD 906) and to restore self-governance rights (LD 1626).
As Orono’s Representative, I will continue to bring scientific perspective, business experience, and persistent leadership to the work of building a stronger, fairer Maine for all of us.
For more details on my legislative record and where I stand on the issues, click here.
