Sixteen Democratic women graduated from Emerge Maine’s seventh campaigntraining program March 30.

Emerge Maine’s class of 2013 is comprised of 16 women who work as local leaders, business owners, parents, students, union members and professionals across Maine.

The graduating class includes, locally, Robin Beck of Livermore Falls, Vanessa Bell of Topsham, Nicolle Carbone of Topsham, Kristina Egan of Freeport and Melanie Sachs of Freeport.

“Dozens of our alumnae have been elected to office, or have served as campaign staff,” Emerge Maine Executive Director Katie Mae Simpson said. “As of 2012, we have nine alumnae in the Legislature.

“Our program works,” she said. “We’re confident that this training has prepared these women to run strong and effective campaigns.”

Emerge Maine — one of 12 programs supported by Emerge America — has prepared 120 Democratic women for public office in Maine, the group said in a news release, using a “rigorous six-month training program aimed at increasing the number of Maine women serving in state, local and county offices.”

In 2006, Maine joined Arizona, California, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Mexico and Wisconsin in creating a state-run organization that offers the Emerge training program to women.

Graduation was held at the Rines Auditorium in the Portland Public Library. State Sen. Emily Cain, D-Orono, was the keynote speaker.