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EspañolJIM DOUGLAS
:''For the guitarist, see Jim Douglas (guitarist).''
'James H. "Jim" Douglas' (born May 13, 1951) is an American politician from the U.S. state of Vermont. Douglas is a Republican and currently the Governor of Vermont. The governor's principal workplace is at The Pavilion, and during the legislative session the governor often works at a ceremonial office at the Vermont State House. Governor Douglas is a Freemason.[1]
Douglas was born in Springfield, Massachusetts. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Middlebury College in Middlebury, Vermont, where he had been active in the College Republicans. At Middlebury College, Douglas was a Russian Studies major, and still speaks Russian, even using these skills in establishing a sister-city relationship with Karelia, Russia.[1]
In November 1972, Douglas was elected to the Vermont House of Representatives, where he became the House Majority Leader during his third two-year term at the age of 25. He left the Vermont General Assembly in 1979, afterwards serving as a top aide to Governor Richard A. Snelling. Douglas was elected Secretary of State in November 1980, a post which he held until 1992. That year he sought election to the U.S. Senate, but was defeated by Democratic incumbent Patrick Leahy. In November 1994 he was elected State Treasurer, after receiving the endorsement of both major parties.
In the 2002 gubernatorial election to succeed five-term Governor Howard Dean, Douglas defeated Democratic Lieutenant Governor Doug Racine, 45 to 42 percent. Although the Vermont constitution requires that the state legislature select the governor if no candidate receives over 50% of the votes Racine said that the person who gets the most votes should win the election. Said Racine, "I think Vermonters would feel cheated if the person elected didn't get the most votes." [2] Douglas took a different view saying, "The Legislature should exercise its constitutional responsibility to make its decision. If [the Constitutional] framers wanted the person with the most votes to win automatically, they should have framed it that way.” [3]
Though neither candidate won 50% of the vote, Racine honored his pledge and conceded to Douglas,[2][3] after which Douglas was officially selected by the legislature as required by the state constitution.
Douglas won reelection to a second two-year term in 2004, defeating Democrat Peter Clavelle, 59 to 38 percent.
Main articles: Vermont gubernatorial election, 2006
In early 2005, Douglas announced that he would not run against Democratic-leaning Independent Jim Jeffords in the 2006 Senate race. In April 2005, Jeffords announced that he would not seek re-election, which led to speculation that Douglas would throw his hat into the ring against Vermont independent socialist Congressman Bernie Sanders, who had announced his candidacy for the seat. On April 30, Douglas announced again that he would not seek Jeffords' seat, and simultaneously announced that he would run for re-election for governor in 2006. Many pundits believed that Douglas was the only Republican who could possibly defeat Sanders, and his decision to run for governor effectively handed the open Senate seat to Sanders.
Douglas was reelected governor on Nov. 7th, 2006 with 57% of the vote.
On May 22, 2007, Governor Douglas signed a landmark civil rights bill banning discrimination on the basis of gender identity by employers, financial institutions, housing, public accommodations, and other contexts.[4] Douglas had previously vetoed a similar bill in 2006.[5]
★ '2006 Vermont Gubernatorial Election'
★
★ James H. Douglas (R) (inc.), 56.3%
★
★ Scudder Parker (D), 41.1%
★
★ Cris Ericson (I), 0.9%
★ '2004 Vermont Gubernatorial Election'
★
★ James H. Douglas (R) (inc.), 58.7%
★
★ Peter Clavelle (D), 37.9%
★ '2002 Vermont Gubernatorial Election'
★
★ James H. Douglas (R), 44.9%
★
★ Doug Racine (D), 42.4%
★
★ Cornelius Hogan (I), 9.7%
1. Well-Known Vermont Masons
2. Remsen, Nancy. "Douglas claims win: Racine concedes close election." Burlington Free Press, November 7, 2002
3. "Vt. gov's race settled by concession." United Press International, November 7, 2002
4. Acts and Resolves of the 2007-2008 session of the Vermont General Assembly, Act 41 (S.51). The text of this act is available here.
5. H.865 from the 2005-2006 legislative session. The text of the bill as passed by the General Assembly is available here.
★ Vermont Governor Jim Douglas 'official state site'
★ National Governors Association - Vermont Governor James H. Douglas biography
★ Follow the Money - Jim Douglas 2006 campaign contributions
★ On the Issues - Jim Douglas issue positions and quotes
★ Project Vote Smart - Governor James H. 'Jim' Douglas (VT) profile
'James H. "Jim" Douglas' (born May 13, 1951) is an American politician from the U.S. state of Vermont. Douglas is a Republican and currently the Governor of Vermont. The governor's principal workplace is at The Pavilion, and during the legislative session the governor often works at a ceremonial office at the Vermont State House. Governor Douglas is a Freemason.[1]
Douglas was born in Springfield, Massachusetts. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Middlebury College in Middlebury, Vermont, where he had been active in the College Republicans. At Middlebury College, Douglas was a Russian Studies major, and still speaks Russian, even using these skills in establishing a sister-city relationship with Karelia, Russia.[1]
| Contents |
| Initial political career |
| Governor of Vermont |
| 2006 election |
| Second Term |
| Electoral history |
| Notes |
| External links |
Initial political career
In November 1972, Douglas was elected to the Vermont House of Representatives, where he became the House Majority Leader during his third two-year term at the age of 25. He left the Vermont General Assembly in 1979, afterwards serving as a top aide to Governor Richard A. Snelling. Douglas was elected Secretary of State in November 1980, a post which he held until 1992. That year he sought election to the U.S. Senate, but was defeated by Democratic incumbent Patrick Leahy. In November 1994 he was elected State Treasurer, after receiving the endorsement of both major parties.
Governor of Vermont
In the 2002 gubernatorial election to succeed five-term Governor Howard Dean, Douglas defeated Democratic Lieutenant Governor Doug Racine, 45 to 42 percent. Although the Vermont constitution requires that the state legislature select the governor if no candidate receives over 50% of the votes Racine said that the person who gets the most votes should win the election. Said Racine, "I think Vermonters would feel cheated if the person elected didn't get the most votes." [2] Douglas took a different view saying, "The Legislature should exercise its constitutional responsibility to make its decision. If [the Constitutional] framers wanted the person with the most votes to win automatically, they should have framed it that way.” [3]
Though neither candidate won 50% of the vote, Racine honored his pledge and conceded to Douglas,[2][3] after which Douglas was officially selected by the legislature as required by the state constitution.
Douglas won reelection to a second two-year term in 2004, defeating Democrat Peter Clavelle, 59 to 38 percent.
2006 election
Main articles: Vermont gubernatorial election, 2006
In early 2005, Douglas announced that he would not run against Democratic-leaning Independent Jim Jeffords in the 2006 Senate race. In April 2005, Jeffords announced that he would not seek re-election, which led to speculation that Douglas would throw his hat into the ring against Vermont independent socialist Congressman Bernie Sanders, who had announced his candidacy for the seat. On April 30, Douglas announced again that he would not seek Jeffords' seat, and simultaneously announced that he would run for re-election for governor in 2006. Many pundits believed that Douglas was the only Republican who could possibly defeat Sanders, and his decision to run for governor effectively handed the open Senate seat to Sanders.
Douglas was reelected governor on Nov. 7th, 2006 with 57% of the vote.
Second Term
On May 22, 2007, Governor Douglas signed a landmark civil rights bill banning discrimination on the basis of gender identity by employers, financial institutions, housing, public accommodations, and other contexts.[4] Douglas had previously vetoed a similar bill in 2006.[5]
Electoral history
★ '2006 Vermont Gubernatorial Election'
★
★ James H. Douglas (R) (inc.), 56.3%
★
★ Scudder Parker (D), 41.1%
★
★ Cris Ericson (I), 0.9%
★ '2004 Vermont Gubernatorial Election'
★
★ James H. Douglas (R) (inc.), 58.7%
★
★ Peter Clavelle (D), 37.9%
★ '2002 Vermont Gubernatorial Election'
★
★ James H. Douglas (R), 44.9%
★
★ Doug Racine (D), 42.4%
★
★ Cornelius Hogan (I), 9.7%
Notes
1. Well-Known Vermont Masons
2. Remsen, Nancy. "Douglas claims win: Racine concedes close election." Burlington Free Press, November 7, 2002
3. "Vt. gov's race settled by concession." United Press International, November 7, 2002
4. Acts and Resolves of the 2007-2008 session of the Vermont General Assembly, Act 41 (S.51). The text of this act is available here.
5. H.865 from the 2005-2006 legislative session. The text of the bill as passed by the General Assembly is available here.
External links
★ Vermont Governor Jim Douglas 'official state site'
★ National Governors Association - Vermont Governor James H. Douglas biography
★ Follow the Money - Jim Douglas 2006 campaign contributions
★ On the Issues - Jim Douglas issue positions and quotes
★ Project Vote Smart - Governor James H. 'Jim' Douglas (VT) profile
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