Jim Douglas

Infobox Governor
name= Jim Douglas


caption= Douglas and EEOC chairwoman Cari M. Dominguez
imagesize=200px
nominee2=Governor of Vermont
election_date2=November 4, 2008]
runningmate2=Brian Dubie
opponent2=Gaye Symington (D)
incumbent2=Jim Douglas
election_date2=November 4, 2008
order=80^th
office= Governor of Vermont
term_start= January 9, 2003
lieutenant= Brian Dubie
predecessor= Howard Dean
party= Republican
birth_date= birth date and age|1951|06|21
birth_place= Springfield, Massachusetts
death_date=
death_place=
spouse= Dorothy Foster Douglas
alma_mater= Middlebury College
profession= Congressional assistant
residence= Middlebury, Vermont
religion=United Church of Christ

James H. "Jim" Douglas (born June 21, 1951) is an American politician from the U.S. state of Vermont. Douglas is a Republican and currently the Governor of Vermont. The governor's principal workplace is at The Pavilion, and during the legislative session the governor often works at a ceremonial office at the Vermont State House. Governor Douglas is a Freemason. [cite web|url=http://www.vtfreemasons.org/inaction/douglas.htm|title=Well-Known Vermont Masons]

Douglas was born in Springfield, Massachusetts. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Middlebury College in Middlebury, Vermont, where he had been active in the College Republicans. At Middlebury College, Douglas was a Russian Studies major, and still speaks Russian, even using these skills in establishing a sister-city relationship with Karelia, Russia. [http://www.vermont.gov/tools/whatsnew2/index.php?topic=GovPressReleases&id=776&v=Article]

Initial political career

In November 1972, Douglas was elected to the Vermont House of Representatives, where he became the House Majority Leader during his third two-year term at the age of 25. He left the Vermont General Assembly in 1979, afterwards serving as a top aide to Governor Richard A. Snelling. Douglas was elected Secretary of State in November 1980, a post which he held until 1992. That year he sought election to the U.S. Senate, but was defeated by Democratic incumbent Patrick Leahy. In November 1994 he was elected State Treasurer, after receiving the endorsement of both major parties.

Governor of Vermont

In the 2002 gubernatorial election to succeed five-term Governor Howard Dean, Douglas defeated Democratic Lieutenant Governor Doug Racine, 45 to 42 percent. He had then written his novel about the reelection 'Don't sweat the small Stuff' which had gotten three awards in achievement for best writing from politicians and was awarded best in class legislator writing. Douglas does still write about his achievements as he goes through his term. The Vermont constitution requires that the state legislature select the governor if no candidate receives over 50% of the votes. Because neither candidate won 50% of the vote, Douglas was officially selected by the legislature as required by the state constitution.

Douglas won reelection to a second two-year term in 2004, defeating Democrat Peter Clavelle, 59 to 38 percent.

Governor Jim Douglas also attended the 150th Anniversary Convention of Theta Chi Fraternity at Norwich University in June 2006.

2006 election

In early 2005, Douglas announced that he would not run against Democratic-leaning independent Jim Jeffords in the 2006 Senate race. In April 2005, Jeffords announced that he would not seek re-election, which led to speculation that Douglas would throw his hat into the ring against Vermont independent democratic socialist Congressman Bernie Sanders, who had announced his candidacy for the seat. On April 30, Douglas announced again that he would not seek Jeffords' seat, and simultaneously announced that he would run for re-election for governor in 2006. Many pundits believed that Douglas was the only Republican who could possibly defeat Sanders, and his decision to run for governor effectively handed the open Senate seat to Sanders.

Douglas was reelected governor on Nov. 7th, 2006 with 57% of the vote.

Third Term

On May 22, 2007, Governor Douglas signed a landmark civil rights bill banning discrimination on the basis of gender identity by employers, financial institutions, housing, public accommodations, and other contexts. [Acts and Resolves of the 2007-2008 session of the Vermont General Assembly, Act 41 (S.51). The text of this act is available [http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/legdoc.cfm?URL=/docs/2008/acts/ACT041.HTM here] .] Douglas had previously vetoed a similar bill in 2006. [H.865 from the 2005-2006 legislative session. The text of the bill as passed by the General Assembly is available [http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/legdoc.cfm?URL=/docs/2006/bills/passed/H-865.HTM here] .]

2008 election

Douglas decided to stand for re-election, and is expected to run unopposed in the Republican primary on September 9, 2008. His Democratic challenger is Vermont Representative and House Speaker Gaye Symington.

Electoral history

* 2006 Vermont Gubernatorial Election
** James H. Douglas (R) (inc.), 56.3%
** Scudder Parker (D), 41.1%
** Cris Ericson (I), 0.9%
* 2004 Vermont Gubernatorial Election
** James H. Douglas (R) (inc.), 58.7%
** Peter Clavelle (D), 37.9%
* 2002 Vermont Gubernatorial Election
** James H. Douglas (R), 44.9%
** Doug Racine (D), 42.4%
** Cornelius Hogan (I), 9.7%

Notes

External links

* [http://www.vermont.gov/governor/ Vermont Governor Jim Douglas] official state site
* [http://www.nga.org/portal/site/nga/menuitem.29fab9fb4add37305ddcbeeb501010a0/?vgnextoid=5118224971c81010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD National Governors Association - Vermont Governor James H. Douglas] biography
*"Follow the Money" - Jim Douglas
** [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?si=200646&c=432288 2006] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=71322 2004] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=10874 2002] Governor campaign contributions
** [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=54243 2000] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=53844 1998] Treasurer campaign contributions
* [http://www.ontheissues.org/Jim_Douglas.htm On the Issues - Jim Douglas] issue positions and quotes
* [http://www.vote-smart.org/bio.php?can_id=WVT38757 Project Vote Smart - Governor James H. 'Jim' Douglas (VT)] profile