Norman H. McAllister
Norm McAllister | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Vermont Senate from the 21st district | |
| Assumed office January, 2013 | |
| Preceded by | Randy Brock |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 3, 1951 Windsor, Vermont, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Lena Mae McAllister (1951-2013) |
| Children | Norman Jr., Heath, Tara |
| Residence(s) | Franklin, Vermont, U.S. |
| Alma mater | AS in Agricultural Studies Vermont Technical College |
| Website | McAllister's Senate website |
Norman H. McAllister (born 1951) is an American politician who is a suspended member of the Vermont Senate. He represents the Alburgh-Franklin district in Northwest Vermont. He was elected to the state legislature in 2002, and suspended in 2015 after being arrested on sexual assault charges.
Legislative career
McAllister was elected to the Vermont House in 2002 and to the Senate in 2012, attracting little media attention as a legislator.[1] In the House, McAllister sat on the Health and Human Services Committee, and was instrumental in reforming Vermont's child custody laws to make it easier for at-risk children to be placed in the custody of their relatives, rather than the state.[2] A lifelong dairy farmer, Mcallister was one of only two senators to oppose Vermont's bill to require labeling of genetically modified food in 2014.[3] He was appointed assistant minority leader of the Senate Republican caucus in 2014.[4]
Criminal allegations
In May 2015, McAllister was accused of three felony counts of sexual assault and three misdemeanors of prohibited acts, the charges arising from what police describe as a sex-for-rent scheme involving several unwilling tenants.[5] On June 1st, 2015, one of the three women listed as victims in the sex crime cases was reported dead of natural causes.[6] The trial was delayed on February 5, 2016.[7]
McAllister has admitted to having sex with two of his accusers and acknowledged in a phone conversation recorded in police affidavits that "I was forcing you to do something you didn't want to do"; however, he maintains that he is innocent and that the relationships were consensual.[1] After McAllister refused repeated calls to resign from the legislature, he was suspended by a 20-10 vote of the Senate Rules Committee, and his subsequent request for reinstatement was rejected.[8] McAllister's family and other longtime tenant have defended him, stating that the allegations are false.[1]
References
- ^ a b c Davis, Mark (2015-10-14). "Awaiting Sex-Assault Trial, Norm McAllister Says He's the 'Victim' - Politics - Vermont's Independent Voice". Seven Days. Retrieved 2016-03-29.
- ^ Etnier, Carl (2012-05-08). "Leaving the Golden Dome: State reps who won't be back". VTDigger. Retrieved 2016-03-29.
- ^ Heintz, Paul (2014-04-16). "Label to Table: An 'Organic' Movement Leads Vermont Senate to Require GMO Labeling - Fair Game - Vermont's Independent Voice". Seven Days. Retrieved 2016-03-29.
- ^ Galloway, Anne (2014-12-15). "Inside the Golden Bubble: Caucus jocularity belies tough game ahead in Montpelier". VTDigger. Retrieved 2016-03-29.
- ^ Paris Achen, Zach Despart and Adam Silverman (2015-05-08). "Records outline sex assault case against senator". Burlington Free Press. Retrieved 2016-03-29.
- ^ Mike Donoghue. "Victim dead in senator's sexual assault case". Burlington Free Press. Retrieved 2015-06-01.
- ^ Staci DaSilva. "Trial Delayed for Suspended State Senator Norm McAllister". mychamplainvalley.com. Retrieved 2016-02-05.
- ^ Heintz, Paul (2016-03-09). "Senate Panel to Reject McAllister Request for Reinstatement - Off Message - Vermont's Independent Voice". Seven Days. Retrieved 2016-03-29.