[1] Brennan was a commissioner on the Federal Maritime Commission during the Clinton, George W. Bush, and Obama administrations.

When he was District Attorney, his Munjoy Hill house was shot up, with bullets landing by his infant daughter.

As governor, Brennan launched education reforms, pressed for tough highway safety measures, and helped to establish the Finance Authority of Maine.

Senator George J. Mitchell and future Governor of Maine Janet T. Mills,[4] whom Brennan appointed as the first female district attorney in the New England region.

[11][12][4] In 1986, Brennan ran for the U.S. House in Maine's 1st congressional district and defeated Republican Rollin Ives with 53% of the vote.

[14] He ran again in 1994, losing to Independent Angus King, but placing second, ahead of Republican Susan Collins.

[17] In 1999, President Bill Clinton nominated Brennan to serve as a commissioner on the Federal Maritime Commission, a small independent agency that regulates shipping between the U.S. and foreign countries.