Jim Douglas

For the guitarist, see Jim Douglas (guitarist).

Jim Douglas

Douglas and EEOC chairwoman Cari M. Dominguez

80th Governor of Vermont IncumbentAssumed office
January 9, 2003 Lieutenant Brian DubiePreceded by Howard DeanBorn May 13, 1951(1951-05-13) (age 57)
Springfield, MassachusettsPolitical party RepublicanSpouse Dorothy Foster Douglas Profession Congressional assistantReligion United Church of Christ

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]

1 Initial political career
2 Governor of Vermont
3 2006 election
4 Third Term
5 Electoral history
6 Notes
7 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. He had then wrote his novel about the reelection 'Don't sweat the small Stuff' which had gotten three awards in achievment for best writing from politians and was awarded best in class legislator writing. Douglas does still write about his achievments as he goes through his term. The Vermont constitution requires that the state legislature select the governor if no candidate receives over 50% of the votes. Because neither candidate won 50% of the vote, 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 article: 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 democratic 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.

Third 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.[2] Douglas had previously vetoed a similar bill in 2006.[3]

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

^ Well-Known Vermont Masons.
^ 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.
^ 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

Preceded by
James Guest Vermont Secretary of State
1981–1993 Succeeded by
Donald Hooper Preceded by
Paul Ruse Vermont Treasurer
1995–2003 Succeeded by
Jeb Spaulding Preceded by
Howard Dean Governor of Vermont
2003 – present Incumbent