Paul Mills: In ‘First Franco,” Rooks tells the story of a groundbreaking Mainer Rumford’s Albert Beliveau Sr. became the first Franco American named to the Maine Supreme Court and one of the first Catholics to occupy the position. By Paul Mills Share Citizens of Franco-American descent comprise fully one-fourth of Maine’s population, the largest share of any state in the country. They have achieved prominence in public life that now straddles both sides of the political divide. Democrats such as Congressman Michael Michaud, Senate President Duke Dutremble and House Speaker John Martin along with Republicans such as Gov. Paul LePage, Federal Appellate Judge Conrad Cyr, and Senate President Michael Thibodeau are but a few that come to mind.