Thomas W. Costello

Infobox_Governor


name = Thomas W. Costello
|caption = Photograph of Thomas Costello
office = Seeking Lt. Governor of Vermont
successor =
birth_date = bda|1945|7|8
birth_place= Rutland, Vermont|Rutland, Vermont]
death_date =
death_place=
profession = Lawyer
party = Democrat
footnotes =

Thomas Costello (born July 8, 1945) is a candidate for the office of Lieutenant Governor of Vermont. He is a member of the Democratic party.

Early life

Costello was raised in Rutland by his parents, Bartley and Catherine Costello. Costello graduated from Mount St. Joseph's High School in 1963 before attending Saint Michael's College in Burlington. Following his graduation from Saint Michael's College in 1968, Costello received a law degree from Boston University Law School in 1974. [http://www.twcostellolaw.com/attorneys/tcostello.html] He has four brothers, including Admiral Barry M. Costello.

ervice in Vietnam

From 1968 through 1971 Costello was an officer (First Lieutenant) in the United States Marine Corps and served in the Vietnam Conflict. He was in combat and received a Bronze Star with a Combat V for valor and a Purple Heart. Mr. Costello served in the period between his graduation from Saint Michaels and his enrollment at Boston University Law School. [http://www.twcostellolaw.com/attorneys/tcostello.html]

Career in Law

Costello has practiced law since he graduated law school. He practiced at Webber & Costello in Rutland from 1974 until 1980, when he moved to Brattleboro and practiced with Elliot Barber at Barber & Costello. He worked at Barber & Costello from 1980 until 1983 when he left to start his own firm, Costello Law Offices, where he practices to this day. [http://www.twcostellolaw.com/]

Mr. Costello is admitted to practice in the State of Vermont, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts, and is admitted in the Federal District Court for the District of Vermont, the Federal Appeals Court for the Second Circuit, the Federal District Court for the District of New Hampshire (pro hac vice), the Federal Appeals Court for the First Circuit (pro hac vice), and the United States Supreme Court. [http://www.twcostellolaw.com/attorneys/tcostello.html] Mr. Costello has argued and prevailed in many cases before the Vermont Supreme Court that have resulted in the revision or refinement of Vermont law. [http://www.twcostellolaw.com/areas.html]

Costello served on the Vermont Advisory Committee of Civil Rules from 1988 until 1991 and on the Special Committee on Judicial Retention and Confirmation in 1990. [http://www.twcostellolaw.com/attorneys/tcostello.html] He served on Vermont's Judicial Nominating Committee from 1998-2002. [http://www.twcostellolaw.com/attorneys/tcostello.html] He is a member of the Windham County and Vermont State Bar Associations, the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, and the Vermont Trial Lawyers Association. [http://www.twcostellolaw.com/areas.html] . He served on the Vermont Trial Lawyers Association Board of Governors from 1990 through 1997. [http://www.twcostellolaw.com/attorneys/tcostello.html]

Career in Governmental Service

Costello's political career began as a representative in the Vermont House of Representatives for Rutland City in 1976. Costello served until 1980 when he moved to Brattleboro. [http://www.twcostellolaw.com/attorneys/tcostello.html] Costello served three additional terms in the legislature from 1994 through 2000 representing the Town of Brattleboro.

During his five terms in the House, Costello was the Chair of the Judiciary Committee (from 1994 though 1998) and Chair of the Committee on General, Housing & Military affairs (from 1999 through 2000). [http://www.twcostellolaw.com/attorneys/tcostello.html] He also served on a Special Legislative Committee investigating Vermont State Police practices (which resulted in the creation of an internal affairs unit to investigate police misconduct). [http://www.twcostellolaw.com/attorneys/tcostello.html]

One of the highlights of Costello's term in the House was his 1997 chairmanship of a committee that reviewed what at the time was a novel issue - the deregulation of Vermont's electric industry. Although Governor Howard Dean and the Senate endorsed the idea, Costello led tri-partisan special committee which took testimony, hired analysts, and eventually voted to reject the legislation. Had Vermont deregulated, Vermont's electric companies would have been purchased by the famed energy trading company of Texas, Enron, and Vermont would have been exposed to the same issues that plagued other deregulated states like the California electricity crisis. [http://www.greenmountaindaily.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=3062]

Career in Public Service

Costello has been involved in public service since his early days as a lawyer. He served on the Boards of Directors of the Rutland Free Library from 1977 through 1980, the Rutland Mental Health Association from 1978 through 1980 and Vermont State Colleges from 1977-1979.

Costello was the President of the Morningside Emergency Shelter in Brattleboro from 1986-1988 (he was on the board of directors since 1982). From 1983 through 1989, he was the President of Vermont & Irish Kids, Inc. (a service aimed at developing understanding between Irish Protestants and Irish Catholics by bringing children from both sides to Vermont). He was the President of Brattleboro Area Habitat for Humanity from 1989 through 1995.

2008 Election

Costello announced that he will run for Lieutenant Governor on July 7, 2008. [http://www.reformer.com/ci_9814787?IADID=Search-www.reformer.com-www.reformer.com] . On September 9, 2008 Costello faced off against Nate Freeman, a local businessman from Northfield, in the Democratic Primary. Amid a very low turn out Costello topped Freeman with approximately 61% of the vote to Freeman's 39%. [http://www.rutlandherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080910/NEWS04/809100379] . Costello now has the much tougher challenge of opposing Republican incumbent Brian Dubie in the general election.

External links

*cite web |url=http://www.tomcostelloforvt.com/index.html |title=Campaign Website |publisher=Thomas W. Costello |date=July 22, 2007
*cite web |url=http://www.twcostellolaw.com/attorneys/tcostello.html |title=Biography |publisher=Thomas W. Costello |date=August 27, 2007
*cite web |url=http://www.reformer.com/ci_9814787?IADID=Search-www.reformer.com-www.reformer.com |title=Announcement of Candidacy|publisher=Brattleboro Reformer |date=July 8, 2008
*cite web |url=http://www.facebook.com/pages/Thomas-W-Costello/30480724195 |title=Facebook Supporter Page|publisher=Thomas W. Costello |date=August 27, 2007