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Linda McCulloch

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Linda McCulloch
McCulloch in 2014
20th Secretary of State of Montana
In office
January 5, 2009 – January 2, 2017
GovernorBrian Schweitzer
Steve Bullock
Preceded byBrad Johnson
Succeeded byCorey Stapleton
15th Superintendent of Public Instruction of Montana
In office
January 1, 2001 – January 5, 2009
GovernorJudy Martz
Brian Schweitzer
Preceded byNancy Keenan
Succeeded byDenise Juneau
Member of the Montana House of Representatives
from the 70th district
In office
January 2, 1995 – January 1, 2001
Preceded byRobert J. Pavlovich
Succeeded byHolly Raser
Personal details
Born (1954-12-21) December 21, 1954 (age 69)
Springfield, Ohio, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
EducationUniversity of Montana,
Missoula (BA, MA)

Linda McCulloch (born December 21, 1954) is an American politician who is formerly the secretary of state of Montana. She was the first woman to serve in that post.[1] She left her previous post as state superintendent of public instruction due to term limits, which she also reached as Secretary of State.

Political career

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McCulloch is a Democrat and was elected to the office in November 2008 and took office in January 2009. She defeated Republican Brad Johnson. McCulloch previously served as state superintendent of public instruction from 2000 to 2008, before reaching the term limit. From 1995 to 2000, she had been a representative in the Montana House of Representatives.[2]

McCulloch's initial campaign was based on increasing voter participation and supporting state businesses.[3] Early in her first term, McCulloch oversaw a project to update the records system for 40,000 boxes of the state's stored documents from a 1978 mainframe to modern software, based on her background as a school librarian, in order to allow web-based communication between businesses and the Secretary of State.[3] She also backed legislation to update state notary documentation and requirements.[4]

McCulloch supported online voter registration in Montana throughout both of her terms,[3][5] with the caveat of requiring a valid Montana ID to register online.[5]

In 2016, the Montana Secretary of State's Office added increased satellite offices in reservation areas to improve voting access after a 2012 tribal suit over equitable voting access, which McCulloch viewed as a start for improving access. Community leaders and county election officials also pressed the need for more publicity over the new voting offices to increase turnout. The Office also saw increases in absentee voting during this same time period.[6] McCulloch opposed a measure to remove same-day voter registration in Montana, which Montana citizens also ultimately voted against.[7]

McCulloch won re-election in 2012 for another 4-year term. She was ineligible to run again in 2016 due to term limits, and was succeeded by Republican Corey Stapleton.[2]

She currently serves on the Board of Advisors of Let America Vote, an organization founded by former Missouri Secretary of State Jason Kander that aims to end voter suppression.[8]

Personal life

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McCulloch was born in Springfield, Ohio, and grew up in South Charleston, Ohio. She graduated from Southeastern High School, and attended OSU. In 1982, she received her BA in Elementary Education from the University of Montana, followed in 1990 by her MA in Elementary Education from the same institution.[2] She has previously worked as a paraprofessional teacher, substitute teacher, school librarian, and teacher.[9] She is divorced.[2]

Electoral history

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Montana House of Representatives 70th District Election, 1994
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Linda McCulloch 1,771 50.66
Republican Tim Sayles 1,725 49.34
Montana House of Representatives 70th District Election, 1996
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Linda McCulloch (inc.) 2,689 62.48
Republican Drew Lesofski 1,486 34.53
Libertarian E. L. Bernosky 129 3.00
Montana House of Representatives 70th District Election, 1998
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Linda McCulloch (inc.) 2,053 60.26
Republican Hal Schaible 1,354 39.74
Montana Superintendent of Public Instruction Democratic Primary Election, 2000
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Linda McCulloch 31,572 34.39
Democratic Gail Gray 31,508 34.32
Democratic Mike Schwinden 28,739 31.30
Montana Superintendent of Public Instruction Election, 2000
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Linda McCulloch 206,941 53
Republican Elaine Sollie Herman 162,069 41
Reform Larry Foust 22,952 6
Montana Superintendent of Public Instruction Democratic Primary Election, 2004
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Linda McCulloch (inc.) 75,504 86.49
Democratic Clarence Kimm, Sr. 11,797 13.51
Montana Superintendent of Public Instruction Election, 2004
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Linda McCulloch (inc.) 246,204 56.89
Republican Bob Anderson 186,338 43.06
Montana Secretary of State Election, 2008
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Linda McCulloch 233,717 49.32
Republican Brad Johnson (inc.) 228,412 48.20
Constitution Sieglinde Sharbono 11,722 2.47
Montana Secretary of State Election, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Linda McCulloch (inc.) 245,024 51.41
Republican Brad Johnson 214,976 45.10
Libertarian Roger Roots 16,622 3.49

References

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  1. ^ State of Montana. "About the Montana Secretary of State". Archived from the original on 20 September 2012. Retrieved 30 November 2012.
  2. ^ a b c d "The Voter's Self Defense System". Vote Smart. Retrieved 2022-01-23.
  3. ^ a b c Vander Veen, Chad (2010-07-26). "Montana Secretary of State Linda McCulloch Discusses Records Management, E-Voting". GovTech. Retrieved 2022-01-23.
  4. ^ ANDERSON, WILLIAM A. "Secretary McCulloch leaves behind legacy of leadership and accomplishment for Montana's 20,000 notaries". Missoulian. Retrieved 2022-01-23.
  5. ^ a b KECI Staff (2015-01-28). "Secretary of State wants online voter registration in Montana". KECI. Retrieved 2022-01-23.
  6. ^ Cates-Carney, Corin (2016-06-06). "Low Turnout At Reservation Satellite Voting Offices Ahead Of Primaries". Montana Public Radio. Retrieved 2022-01-23.
  7. ^ "Montanans Vote To Keep Same-Day Voter Registration". Montana Public Radio. 2014-11-05. Retrieved 2022-01-23.
  8. ^ "Advisors". Let America Vote. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
  9. ^ "Who is Montana's Linda McCulloch?". Big Sky Words. Retrieved 2022-01-23.
[edit]
Political offices
Preceded by Superintendent of Public Instruction of Montana
2001–2009 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Secretary of State of Montana
2009–2017 		Succeeded by
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