- Judy Martz
Infobox Governor
name = Judy Martz
order = 22nd
office = Governor of Montana
term_start = 2001
term_end = 2005
lieutenant =
predecessor =Marc Racicot
successor =Brian Schweitzer
birth_date = Birth date and age|1943|7|28|mf=y
birth_place =Big Timber, Montana
death_date =
death_place =
party = Republican
spouse = Harry Martz
profession =
religion = ChristianJudy Martz (b.
July 28 1943 ,Big Timber, Montana ) is the formergovernor of theU.S. state ofMontana , having served a single term fromJanuary 2 ,2001 , toJanuary 3 ,2005 . Earlier, she was theLieutenant Governor underMarc Racicot from 1997-2001. She was Montana's first female governor.She is a member of the
United States Republican Party , former Olympic skater (the 1964speed skating team), former Miss Rodeo Montana, and owner and operator, with her husband, of agarbage disposal service in her hometown ofButte, Montana .In the gubernatorial election of 2000, Martz defeated her Democratic opponent, Mark O'Keefe, by a margin of 51 percent to 47 percent. Martz announced that she would not run for re-election as Governor in 2004.
Martz's first legislative session resulted in the [http://www.ontheissues.org/Governor/Judy_Martz_Education.htm] single largest increase in the education budget in Montana history and tax cuts intended to stimulate the stagnant state economy.
Martz had her fair share of scandals, off-color statements, and questionable activities while she was in office, many of which led to her low approval rating during the remaining years of her term as governor (which were as low as 20% at one point).
Her chief policy adviser, Shane Hedges, was involved in a drunk driving accident near
Marysville, Montana in August 2001, after which he went to Martz's residence, where she washed his clothes. House Majority Leader Paul Sliter died in the accident. Martz's policy advisor promptly resigned and pled guilty to a charge of negligent homicide. Martz also was put under a state-wide microscope when a real estate deal between the Martzes and ARCO was uncovered. The Martz family had a ranch that adjoined another large parcel of land that was owned by the ARCO company, at that time ARCO sold that land at an allegedly low value to the Martz family. The state Democratic Party alleged that Martz had assisted ARCO in her position as Lieutenant Governor. The Montana Commissioner of Political Practices found that the allegations lacked merit.Martz finished her time in office campaigning for President Bush in
Ohio ,Arizona , and other swing states, and [http://www.billingsgazette.com/index.php?id=1&display=rednews/2004/11/10/build/state/30-govs-argue.inc] sparring with incoming Democratic governorBrian Schweitzer over transition of state government.In September 2005 Martz was named chair of Montanans for Judge Roberts (Chief Justice nominee
John Glover Roberts, Jr. ) and spoke at a rally in support of Roberts with past and present statewide Republican officials such as ex-CongressmanRick Hill .Trivia
In May 2003, Martz made it into the news, through no action of her own, because of a supposed similarity to the face and hair of one nude bordello dancer sculpted by Seattle artist Kristine Veith, and placed in a new development in downtown Helena.
Both Martz and Veith deny the similarity, with Martz stating, possibly partially tongue-in-cheek, "I'm a very modest person, no one would ever see me like that. My husband doesn't ever see me like that" ( [http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2003/09/05/news/mtregional/news06.txt] , [http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/09/05/national/main571920.shtml] ).
Electoral history
*2000 Race for Governor
**Judy Martz (R), 51%
**Mark O'Keefe (D), 47%External links
* [http://www.billingsgazette.com/index.php?id=1&display=rednews/2005/09/07/build/state/35-roberts.inc Billings Gazette: Republicans back approval of Roberts]
* [http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/09/05/national/main571920.shtml CBS News: Bordello Gov. Judy]
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