AUGUSTA -- Rep. Pat Flood isn't your stereotypical politician.

He's quiet, almost seems a little shy.

He really, really didn't want the newspaper to write a story about him.

"Nothing happens here because of one person," he said after the House adjourned one recent day. "It's all teamwork here. The thing I wanted to bring to this place more than anything is collaboration."

Flood, who represents Readfield and Winthrop, is a Republican member of the Appropriations Committee. He asks polite, yet pointed, questions of bureaucrats who explain state spending.

In a building that divides people along party lines, Flood is one person who is not afraid to talk to the other side. As public hearings start Monday on the proposed $6.1 billion two-year budget, Flood will play a leading role in the negotiations that take place, asking questions and working for consensus on divisive issues.

"He's so studious," said Sen. Bill Diamond, D-Windham, chairman of the Appropriations Committee. "He won't stop asking questions until he totally understands something."

Beyond that, Diamond praised Flood for his character.

"He's the gentleman's gentleman," Diamond said. "He's a man of outstanding character. He's considerate. He's hardworking. All of the things I'd want my brother to be, if I had a brother."

Flood, 57, was first elected in November 2004 and a month later, retired from his job in forest management at International Paper. His legislative service got off to a quick start when he was appointed to a committee that designed a plan to increase state spending on schools in an effort to lower property taxes.

That first full year as a legislator, 2005, Flood didn't sponsor any bills, preferring instead to learn the ropes. This year, his fifth as a lawmaker, he's sponsoring nine measures and lobbied for a rule change to limit the number of bills considered by the Legislature each year.

Ultimately, the committee that determines the rules of the Legislature decided not to put in place a strict limit on the number of bills. Instead, it wrote a letter asking legislative leaders to be notified when a legislator puts in more than 15 bills.

Flood sees it as a reasonable compromise and gave credit to Sen. Lisa Marrache, D-Waterville, for coming up with the idea.

But he's got two more avenues to pursue to reduce the cost of government.

One is a constitutional amendment to reduce the size of the Legislature. The other is an effort to reduce the number of days the Legislature is in session.

Flood is one of a handful of legislators who are seeking to reduce the number of representatives and senators who come to Augusta. His idea is to cut the House from 151 to 115 and the Senate from 35 to 31.

It's a good time for lawmakers to consider this type of move, because it's almost time for the district lines to be redrawn, which happens every 10 years.

Yet Flood knows the bill is a long shot.

As a constitutional amendment, it needs support from two-thirds of the Legislature and then it goes to a citizen vote. Many similar bills have been rejected by lawmakers in recent years.

Flood thinks if he can get it out of the Statehouse, the public will enthusiastically support a smaller Legislature.

"I have not spoken to a citizen, other than one, who thought a smaller Legislature was a bad idea," he said.

When it comes to reducing the number of days the Legislature meets, Flood wants to cut 10 days from the first year and five from the second.

Of all the things he's worked on, Flood said the most important has been additional state money for wastewater improvements.

Not exactly sexy.

But Flood -- who also enjoys the tedium of studying the state budget line by line -- isn't out to run for governor. He's not looking to make big headlines.

"He is somebody that loves the work of the Legislature," said House Minority Leader Josh Tardy, R-Newport. "He's here for all the right reasons. He wants to make government better."

Susan Cover -- 620-7015

scover@centralmaine.com