Dave Freudenthal
Dave Freudenthal | |
---|---|
31st Governor of Wyoming | |
In office January 6, 2003 – January 3, 2011 | |
Preceded by | Jim Geringer |
Succeeded by | Matt Mead |
United States Attorney for the District of Wyoming | |
In office 1994–2001 | |
President | Bill Clinton |
Preceded by | Richard Stacy |
Succeeded by | Matt Mead |
Personal details | |
Born | David Duane Freudenthal October 12, 1950 Thermopolis, Wyoming, U.S. |
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse | Nancy Roan |
Alma mater | Amherst College University of Wyoming |
David Duane Freudenthal (/ˈfriːdənθɔːl/;[1] born October 12, 1950) is an American attorney, economist, and politician who served as the 31st Governor of Wyoming from 2003 to 2011.
Biography
Education and early life
Dave Freudenthal born in Thermopolis, the seat of Hot Springs County in north central Wyoming, the seventh of eight children, and grew up on a farm north of town. He graduated in 1973 from Amherst College in Amherst, Massachusetts, with a bachelor's degree in economics. After graduating he joined the Department of Economic Planning and Development as an economist and later became the state planning director for Governor Edgar Herschler.
Freudenthal entered the University of Wyoming College of Law, receiving his law degree in 1980, and went into private practice.
Political career
In 1994, he was appointed United States Attorney for the District of Wyoming upon the recommendation of then-Governor Mike Sullivan. Freudenthal left the post of U.S. Attorney in May 2001.
Freudenthal was elected Governor of Wyoming on November 5, 2002. He was reelected to his second term on November 7, 2006, beating his opponent by nearly 40%. Freudenthal announced on March 4, 2010 that he would not attempt to seek a third term as governor.[2]
Despite being a Democrat in one of the most Republican states in the country (John McCain had won 65% of the vote in the previous presidential election[3]), Freudenthal remained consistently popular with his constituents throughout his tenure. As governor he often took rather conservative positions, leading to squabbles with federal officials and environmental groups.[4] His two terms also oversaw an enormous energy boom and surpluses in government revenue, although later on Freudenthal called for cuts to state agencies as growth slowed.[5] In fact, Freudenthal and his eventual Republican successor, Matt Mead, notably held similar positions on various issues.[6]
On April 2, 2008, Freudenthal endorsed Democrat Barack Obama of Illinois for the party's presidential nomination, having cited "Obama's style of leadership and openness to discussion." Obama won the Wyoming Democratic caucus by a 61.44-37.83 margin over then U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton of New York.
After retiring as governor, Freudenthal briefly worked at the law firm of Crowell & Moring as Senior Counsel in the firm's now-defunct Cheyenne, Wyoming office.[7]
Personal life
Freudenthal is married to Nancy D. Freudenthal, a native of Cody, who serves as a judge on the United States District Court for the District of Wyoming. They have four children: Donald, Hillary, Bret, and Katie.
Electoral history
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Dave Freudenthal | 135,516 | 69.89% | + 19.93 | |
Republican | Ray Hunkins | 58,100 | 29.97% |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Dave Freudenthal | 92,662 | 49.96% | ||
Republican | Eli Bebout | 88,873 | 47.92% | ||
Libertarian | Dave Dawson | 3,924 | 2.12% |
Notes
- ^ "Montana Pronunciation Guide". Ap.org. Archived from the original on June 7, 2010. Retrieved September 4, 2010.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "US News - Mar 04, 2010 - Wyoming Gov. Freudenthal won't seek third term". RealClearPolitics. March 4, 2010. Retrieved September 4, 2010.
- ^ https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/15/AR2009021501918.html
- ^ http://trib.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/outgoing-wyoming-gov-dave-freudenthal-credits-success-to-family-co/article_8d7553bd-07d3-5554-88e4-54352dc8a0fb.html
- ^ https://www.realclearpolitics.com/news/ap/us_news/2010/Mar/04/wyoming_gov__freudenthal_won_t_seek_third_term.html
- ^ http://trib.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/outgoing-wyoming-gov-dave-freudenthal-credits-success-to-family-co/article_8d7553bd-07d3-5554-88e4-54352dc8a0fb.html
- ^ "Dave Freudenthal". Crowell & Moring. Archived from the original on August 24, 2012. Retrieved July 10, 2012.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help)
External links
- 1950 births
- American Episcopalians
- Amherst College alumni
- Governors of Wyoming
- Living people
- People from Hot Springs County, Wyoming
- State cabinet secretaries of Wyoming
- United States Attorneys for the District of Wyoming
- University of Wyoming College of Law alumni
- Wyoming Democrats
- Democratic Party state governors of the United States