The Maine Press Association is preparing for a critical legislative session with a new attorney to represent Maine’s newspaper industry in the State House.

Michael Mahoney of Augusta-based Federle Mahoney joined with the MPA on Nov. 1. He represented the MPA and the Maine Daily Newspapers Publishers Association very effectively from 2002 to 2006, working on right-to-know reform and the successful effort to keep public notices in newspapers, among other issues.

Mahoney practiced law in Boston before joining Preti Flaherty in Portland in 2000, focusing on governmental relations and lobbying before the Legislature. In January 2007, he was named chief legal counsel to Gov. John Baldacci. In September 2008, Mahoney left the governor’s office to form Federle Mahoney along with Tom Federle, another former legal counsel to Baldacci.

Mahoney will offer brief advice for MPA members who have questions regarding libel issues or Maine’s Freedom of Access law. He can be contacted at 620-7020 or at mike@federlemahoney.com.

Members should no longer seek such advice from Preti Flaherty, whose contract with the MPA has ended. In making the change, the MPA thanked Preti Flaherty for its invaluable service over the last decade.