From 1993 to 2003 she was the executive director and chief legislative lobbyist for the Maine Women's Lobby and its sister organization, the Maine Women's Policy Center, where she lobbied for bills concerning "health care, reproductive rights, economic security, discrimination, and education" for women [REF].
Governor John Baldacci nominated Fortman to be the next commissioner of the Maine Department of Labor in April 2003 [REF].