Donald Ardell

{{Short description|American politician}} {{Update|date=December 2024|reason=Update with results from December 2024 election}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Donald Ardell | term_start = December 7, 2022 | term_end = | predecessor = Tiffany Roberts-Lovell | successor = | state_house = Maine | district = 6th | education = Bachelor of Arts | alma_mater = State University of New York at Plattsburgh | birth_date = | birth_place = | death_date = | death_place = | profession = Criminal investigator | party = Republican | spouse = Corazon Ardell<ref>{{Cite web |title=Maine House of Representatives |url=https://legislature.maine.gov/house/house/MemberProfiles/Details/1457 |access-date=2024-02-22 |website=legislature.maine.gov}}</ref> | children =4 }} '''Donald Ardell''' is an American politician who has served as a member of the Maine House of Representatives from the 6th district. He assumed office on December 7, 2022. A Republican, he represents communities in Aroostook County, including Monticello, Mars Hill, and Mapleton. Before becoming a politician, he was a federal agent and criminal investigator.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ardell Donald – Maine House Republicans |url=https://mainehousegop.org/members/ardell-donald/ |access-date=2024-02-22 |website=mainehousegop.org}}</ref>

==Electoral history== Ardell was elected on November 8, 2022, in the 2022 Maine House of Representatives election. He assumed office on December 7, 2022. He is serving in the 131st and 132nd Maine Legislatures. Ardell serves on the Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee and the Engrossed Bills Committee.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Maine State House District 6 |url=https://themainemonitor.org/maine-state-house-district-6/ |access-date=2026-05-05 |website=The Maine Monitor |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Political career == In the Maine House, Ardell has been active on issues affecting his district. In 2023, he opposed a gun-control bill, describing it as “unconstitutional” and saying it “disrespects the rights of our constituents.” He co-sponsored LD 716 in 2025, which would restrict coyote hunting to a six-month season and increase fines, and supported LD 439, a 2025 measure allowing youth with junior hunting licenses or 18-year-old secondary-school students to hunt on Sundays during the appropriate season.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kobin |first=Billy |date=2023-06-13 |title=Maine Democrats fail in initial try to push gun control through House |url=https://www.bangordailynews.com/2023/06/13/politics/maine-gun-control-bill-fail/ |access-date=2026-05-05 |website=Bangor Daily News |language=en-US}}</ref> In November 2024, Ardell joined other Aroostook legislators in urging the Libra Foundation and Pineland Farms to keep the Presque Isle Nordic Heritage Outdoor Center open.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Harris |first=Julie |date=2025-03-02 |title=These 2 bills could change how Mainers hunt |url=https://www.bangordailynews.com/2025/03/02/politics/state-politics/these-2-bills-could-change-how-mainers-hunt-joam40zk0w/ |access-date=2026-05-05 |website=Bangor Daily News |language=en-US}}</ref> He also backed a 2025 bill providing tax credits to potato processors in Aroostook County to support local jobs, working alongside Sen. Trey Stewart and other Republican lawmakers.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brewer |first=Paula |date=2024-11-29 |title=Aroostook legislators make plea to keep Presque Isle ski center open |url=https://www.bangordailynews.com/2024/11/29/aroostook/aroostook-business/aroostook-legislators-make-plea-to-keep-presque-isle-ski-center-open/ |access-date=2026-05-05 |website=Bangor Daily News |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Biography== Ardell resides in Monticello, Maine.

Before entering politics, he had a long career in federal law enforcement as a '''special agent and criminal investigator''' from approximately 1996 to 2021. His work included service with agencies such as the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service, U.S. Customs Service, and Homeland Security Investigations, as well as collaboration with the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency. He also served internationally, including an assignment in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Ardell is a retired federal law enforcement officer. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in fine arts and criminology from the State University of New York at Plattsburgh in 1995.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Donald Ardell |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Donald_Ardell |access-date=2024-02-22 |website=Ballotpedia |language=en}}</ref>

He is married to Corazon Ardell and has four children.

== References == {{Reflist}}{{s-start}} {{s-par|us-me-hs}} {{s-bef | before =Tiffany Roberts-Lovell }} {{s-ttl | title = Member of the Maine House of Representatives | years = 2022–present }} {{s-aft | after = ''incumbent'' }} {{s-end}} {{Maine House of Representatives}} {{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ardell, Donald}} Category:Republican Party members of the Maine House of Representatives Category:Living people Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:State University of New York at Plattsburgh alumni Category:21st-century members of the Maine Legislature Category:People from Monticello, Maine