Ed Flanagan

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Sen. Ed Flanagan


Member of the Vermont Senate
from the Chittenden County district
Incumbent
Assumed office 
January 2005

In office
January 1993 – January 2001
Preceded by Alexander V. Acebo
Succeeded by Elizabeth M. Ready

Born December 18, 1950 (1950-12-18) (age 59)
Political party Democratic
Spouse(s) Isaac Lustgarten
Residence Burlington, Vermont
Website edflanagan.org

Edward S. Flanagan, commonly known as Ed Flanagan, is an American politician from Vermont. Since January 2005, he has served as a Vermont State Senator.

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[edit] Biography

Flanagan graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a B.A. in history/political science in 1973, and earned a J.D. from Harvard University in 1976. Beginning in 1977, Flanagan served in the Carter Administration as a policy analyst under Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare Joseph Califano, before returning to the private practice of law in Vermont.

Flanagan served as Vermont's State Auditor from 1993 through 2001, becoming the first openly gay, statewide-elected official in the United States. Flanagan was the Democratic nominee in the U.S. Senate contest in 2000, becoming the first openly gay individual to be nominated by a major party as a candidate for the United States Senate. In that election, Flanagan was defeated by incumbent U.S. Senator Jim Jeffords. His U.S. Senate campaign, like many of his campaigns before and since, won the backing of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund.

In 2002, Flanagan made a bid for the Democratic nomination for State Treasurer but was defeated by Senator Jeb Spaulding, who went on to win the office.

In 2004, Flanagan returned to public life and was elected to the Vermont State Senate, representing the Chittenden senate district. He is a resident of Burlington, Vermont.

In November 2005, he was seriously injured in a car accident during a period of particularly bad weather. Having spent six months in hospital, he returned to the statehouse in early May 2006 and expressed his desire to get back to work. On July 8, 2006, Flanagan announced his candidacy for a second term in the Vermont Senate. Democratic National Chairman Howard Dean attended his announcement. Ed Flanagan was subsequently reelected.

On December 4, 2006 Flanagan had a second car accident when his car went off the road as he was turning onto I-89 in South Burlington, Vermont.

Ed Flanagan lives with his long-term partner Isaac Lustgarten. He now serves as one of five openly gay members of the Vermont Legislature, alongside representatives Bill Lippert (D-Hinesburg), Suzi Wizowaty (D-Burlington), Steve Howard (D-Rutland), and Jason Lorber (D-Burlington).[1]

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Preceded by
Alexander V. Acebo
Vermont Auditor of Accounts
1993 - 2001
Succeeded by
Elizabeth M. Ready