Peter Shumlin
Peter Shumlin | |
|---|---|
 Shumlin in November 2010. | |
| 81st Governor of Vermont | |
| Assumed office January 6, 2011 | |
| Lieutenant | Phillip Scott |
| Preceded by | Jim Douglas |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Peter Elliott Shumlin March 24, 1956 Brattleboro, Vermont, United States |
| Political party | Democratic Party |
| Spouse | Deborah Shumlin |
| Residence | The Pavilion |
| Alma mater | Wesleyan University |
| Profession | Teacher Businessperson |
Peter Elliott Shumlin[1] (born March 24, 1956) is the 81st and current Governor of Vermont. He represented the Windham Vermont Senate District for 8 terms (1992–2002, 2006–2011). He was elected the Governor in the 2010 election.[2][3]
Early life, education and career
Shumlin went to high school at the Buxton School, and he graduated from Wesleyan University in 1979.[4] Shumlin served on the Putney Selectboard in the 1980s and helped found Landmark College, which is located in Putney. The college was created to help people with learning disabilities gain a college education. Shumlin's father, George, a third generation American, was Jewish and descended from immigrants from Russia; Shumlin's mother, Kitty, is an immigrant who grew up in a Protestant family.[5][6]
Vermont Legislature
Shumlin was appointed by Democratic Gov. Madeleine Kunin to fill a vacancy in the Vermont House of Representatives from 1990 through 1992 in Putney. In 1992, he was elected to the State Senate and was soon elected Senate Minority Leader by his caucus. In 1994, Shumlin led his Senate caucus to win back control of the Senate and became President Pro Tempore.
In 2002, Shumlin won the Democratic nomination for Lieutenant Governor, but placed second to Republican Brian Dubie of Essex in a 3-way race that included Progressive Anthony Pollina of Middlesex.
From 2003 to 2006, Shumlin returned to the family business, Putney Student Travel, an educational firm that allows students in middle and high school to travel to foreign countries, learn about different cultures and prepare for college. In 2006, Shumlin ran for his old seat in the State Senate upon the retirement of Senator Rod Gander, who served in the Senate from 2002 to 2006. Upon his return to the State Senate, Shumlin was once again elected Senate President Pro Tempore.
2010 Vermont Governor campaign
On November 16, 2009, Shumlin announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination for Governor of Vermont in 2010.[7] Shumlin placed first in the 5-way August 24, 2010 Democratic primary with 18,276 votes (24.48%), but second-place finisher Doug Racine, with 18,079 votes (24.22%), requested a recount.[8] The recount confirmed Shumlin as the winner. On November 2, 2010, Shumlin was elected Governor, receiving 117,561 votes to 113,227 for Republican Brian Dubie.
Political stance
Shumlin is a prominent opponent of the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Plant which is suing to enable use of the 20-year extension to its operating license.[9] Two days after Shumlin was elected governor, the owners of the plant put it up for sale.[10]
Shumlin is adamantly pro-choice, drawing a contrast between himself and his Republican gubernatorial opponent Brian Dubie, who would not answer the question of whether or not he would cut funding for low-income abortions when pressed by Shumlin during the two candidates' televised debates.[11] He held a pro-choice rally two days prior to the election, prompting his opponent to host a pro-jobs rally on the same day to draw a contrast between the two candidates' priorities.[12]
On April 26, 2011, Governor Shumlin appeared on The Rachel Maddow Show via telephone where he discussed health care reform in his state. He said he believes in health care for all and stressed repeatedly "health care as a right, not a privilege".
On May 26, 2011, "Vermont became the first state to lay the groundwork for single-payer health care...when [Governor Shumlin] signed an ambitious bill aimed at establishing universal insurance coverage for all residents".[13]
On August 17, 2011, Governor Shumlin became the first sitting governor in the United States to preside over a same-sex wedding ceremony.[14]
References
- ^ http://election.townhall.com/election-2010/state/vt/candidate/peter-elliott-shumlin
- ^ http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20110102/NEWS03/110101012/The-Shumlin-era-dawns-this-week-in-Montpelier
- ^ Remsen, Nancy; Hallenbeck, Terri (November 3, 2010). "Dubie concedes in Vermont governor's race". The Burlington Free Press. Retrieved November 3, 2010.
{{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ Peter Shumlin, Project Vote Smart
- ^ http://vermontdailybriefing.com/?p=588
- ^ http://shumlinforgovernor.com/meet-peter/
- ^ "Peter Shumlin to run for governor". Burlington (Vt.) Free Press. November 16, 2009.
- ^ "Shumlin wins; Racine calls for recount". Burlington (Vt.) Free Press. August 27, 2010.
- ^ "Vermont Yankee Nuclear Plant Owner Entergy Sues State To Stay Open". Retrieved 2011-08-11.
- ^ Matthew W. Wald. Vermont Nuclear Plant Up for Sale The New York Times, November 4, 2010.
- ^ http://vtdigger.org/2010/10/25/shumlin-campaign-dubie-cant-give-a-straight-answer/
- ^ http://blogs.burlingtonfreepress.com/politics/2010/10/24/2-rallies-coincide-in-burlington-for-peter-shumlin-brian-dubie/
- ^ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/26/vermont-health-care-reform-law-single-payer_n_867573.html
- ^ Curran, John (August 17, 2011). "Vermont governor presides over lesbians' marriage". The Boston Globe.
External links
- Governor Peter Shumlin official Vermont government site
- Peter Shumlin for Governor official campaign site
- Template:GovLinks
- Vermont Governor Shumlin Moves to Create Single-Payer Healthcare System - video report by Democracy Now!
