- Chet Culver
-
Chet Culver 
41st Governor of Iowa In office
January 12, 2007 – January 14, 2011Lieutenant Patty Judge Preceded by Tom Vilsack Succeeded by Terry E. Branstad 29th Secretary of State of Iowa In office
January 15, 1999 – January 12, 2007Governor Tom Vilsack Preceded by Paul Pate Succeeded by Michael Mauro Personal details Born January 25, 1966
Washington, D.C., United StatesPolitical party Democratic Party Spouse(s) Mariclare Culver Alma mater Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Drake UniversityProfession Teacher Religion Presbyterianism Chester John "Chet" Culver (born January 25, 1966) was the 41st Governor of Iowa, from 2007 to 2011. He was also elected as the Federal Liaison for the Democratic Governors Association for 2008-2009. He founded the Chet Culver Group, an energy sector consulting firm, in 2011.[1]
Contents
Early life and education
Culver was born in Washington, D.C. Culver attended Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School in Bethesda, Maryland before attending Virginia Tech on a football scholarship. He earned a B.A. degree in political science in 1988. Later, he received a M.A.degree in Teaching from Drake University in 1994.[2]
Political career
After college, Culver moved to Iowa and worked as a staff member for the state Democratic Party. He worked with Bonnie Campbell on her 1990 campaign for state attorney general, serving as field director. Culver previously worked as a lobbyist under the guidance of Campbell's husband. From 1991 to 1995, Culver worked as a consumer and environmental advocate in the attorney general's office. After completing his master's degree, he took a job as a teacher in Des Moines. Working first at Roosevelt High School and then Hoover High School, he taught government and history. Culver coached sophomore football and eighth grade boys basketball during his tenure.[3](subscription required)
In 1998, Culver ran for Iowa Secretary of State and won. At the age of 32, he was the youngest current Secretary of State in the nation. He was reelected to a second term in 2002 by a large margin. While serving at this post, he created the Iowa Student Political Awareness Club, which attempts to get students motivated to participate in politics when they reach voting age.[4] During his tenure, Culver received accolades for modernizing the office, increasing voter registration, and ensuring voter accessibility for people with disabilities.
Culver's 2006 election as Governor marked the first time that Democrats simultaneously controlled both the executive and legislative branches of Iowa's state government since the 1965–1967 session of the Iowa General Assembly. Culver is also the first Democratic governor in Iowa since Nelson G. Kraschel in 1937 to be elected to succeed another Democrat.
Issue positions
Stem cell research
One of Culver's first initiatives was to sign legislation easing limits on types of stem cell research in Iowa. "The new legislation allows medical researchers to create embryonic stem cells through cloning. While allowing for further research, it prohibits reproductive cloning of humans." according to National Public Radio.[5] Culver said lifting the ban will "give hope to those suffering from diseases such as cancer, diabetes, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's."
Culver proposed spending $12.5 million to establish a stem cell research center at the University of Iowa.[6] NPR called it a "Key Moment in the Stem Cell Debate."[5]
2008 Floods
A September 2008 poll of Iowans found 60% supporting Culver's handling of the major floods that struck Iowa and much of the mid-west.[7] A year later, Culver and other state elected officials expressed "outrage" at the slow pace of disbursement of federal funding to affected areas.[8][9] In August 2008, the Des Moines Register wrote that "Iowa Gov. Chet Culver was acting as lobbyist in chief for Iowa's flood relief effort..."[10]
In 2010, Culver proposed a $40 million "disaster relief fund"[11] and declared March 2010 "Flood Awareness Month."[12]
Alternative energy
Culver touts Iowa as the leading alternative "energy capital of the world".[13] He started a "power fund" to assist with that effort. The Associated Press wrote that "Gov. Chet Culver has bet much of his political future on alternative energy. The power fund was a centerpiece of his campaign for governor, and he managed to push the program through the Legislature. Lawmakers have allocated $49.6 million for the effort over the last two years."[14]
Campaign history
Main article: Iowa gubernatorial election, 2006Culver's main opponents for the Democratic nomination were former director of the Iowa Department of Economic Development Mike Blouin and seven-term State Representative Ed Fallon. Secretary of Agriculture Patty Judge was also running for the nomination, but after she withdrew from the race, she gave her support to Culver and became his running mate. Culver won the Democratic primary with 39% of the vote.
Culver faced Republican Congressman Jim Nussle of Manchester, who was unopposed in the Republican primary, in the general election. On November 7, 2006, Culver defeated Nussle in the general election, winning 54% of the vote to Nussle's 44.6%, with minor party candidates getting 1.4%.
Main article: Iowa gubernatorial election, 2010Culver ran unsuccessfully for reelection with incumbent lieutenant governor Patty Judge. He was challenged by Republican former four-term governor Terry Branstad, who was running with State Senator Kim Reynolds. [15]
Electoral history
Iowa Gubernatorial Election, 2010 Party Candidate Votes % ±% Republican Terry Branstad 589,828 52.86 +8.2 Democratic Chet Culver (incumbent) 481,590 43.16 -10.8 Iowa Party Jonathan Narcisse 20,747 1.28 n/a Libertarian Eric Cooper 14,293 1.28 +0.7 Socialist Workers David Rosenfeld 2,730 0.24 +.04 Petition James Hughes 3,846 0.34 n/a Write-in n/a 2,717 0.24 n/a Majority 108,238 Turnout 1,047,714 Republican gain from Democratic Swing Iowa Gubernatorial Election 2006 Party Candidate Votes % ±% Democratic Chet Culver 565,657 54.0 +1.7 Republican Jim Nussle 466,757 44.6 +0.1 Green Wendy Barth 7,722 0.7 -0.7 Libertarian Kevin Litten 5,621 0.5 -0.8 Socialist Workers Mary Martin 1,957 0.2 n/a Majority 98,900 9.4 Turnout 1,052,005 Democratic hold Swing Personal life
He is a Presbyterian and has served as an elder. He is married to Mariclare Culver, who is Roman Catholic. In contrast to his wife who supported John Edwards, on February 7, 2008 in Omaha, Nebraska, he endorsed Barack Obama as the Democratic nominee in the 2008 presidential election.[16]
Culver's father, John Culver, is a former U.S. Senator from Iowa.
References
- ^ Chet Culver Group (2011). Home page. Retrieved May 16, 2011.
- ^ Governor Chester J. 'Chet' Culver (IA). Project Vote Smart.
- ^ http://www.nationaljournal.com/almanac/2008/people/ia/iagv.php
- ^ Office of Governor Chet Culver.
- ^ a b "Key Moments in the Stem-Cell Debate". NPR. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5252449. Retrieved Jul. 14, 2010.
- ^ POSTED: 3:56 pm CST January 25, 2007 (Jan. 25, 2007). "Culver Calls For Bill Lifting Embryonic Stem Cell Research Ban - Omaha News Story - KETV Omaha". Ketv.com. http://www.ketv.com/news/10845659/detail.html. Retrieved Jul. 14, 2010.
- ^ "Iowa Poll: Do flood prevention work now, 63% say | desmoinesregister.com". The Des Moines Register. September 21, 2008. http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20080921/NEWS09/809210335/Iowa-Poll--Do-flood-prevention-work-now--63--say. Retrieved Jul. 14, 2010.
- ^ "Chet Culver (D) - WhoRunsGov.com/The Washington Post". Whorunsgov.com. July 9, 2010. http://www.whorunsgov.com/Profiles/Chet_Culver. Retrieved Jul. 14, 2010.
- ^ anger floods
- ^ culver
- ^ "Iowa floods 2010". Des Moines Register. http://www.desmoinesregister.com/section/FLOODING/Flooding. Retrieved Jul. 14, 2010.
- ^ "Flood Awareness Month ~ Rebuild Iowa Office". Rio.iowa.gov. http://www.rio.iowa.gov/flood_awareness.html. Retrieved Jul. 14, 2010.
- ^ Todd Dorman (Jan. 13, 2007). "Culver makes big energy push". Qctimes.com. http://qctimes.com/news/local/article_8b429507-b12e-5597-8aa3-07a8461338fb.html. Retrieved Jul. 14, 2010.
- ^ Glover, Mike (May 24, 2009). "TH - Iowa-Illinois-Wisconsin Article". Thonline.com. http://www.thonline.com/article.cfm?id=244407. Retrieved Jul. 14, 2010.
- ^ Boshart, Rod (November 3, 2010). "Terry Branstad 'ready to lead the charge' as Iowa's governor". The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier. http://wcfcourier.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_ab3d3d26-e6ff-11df-a491-001cc4c03286.html. Retrieved November 3, 2010.
- ^ "Iowa Gov. Culver Says he Will Endorse Obama". Time Magazine. February 7, 2008. http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1711075,00.html. Retrieved Oct. 25, 2008.
External links
- Chet Culver and Patty Judge official campaign site
- Biography at the National Governors Association
- Biography, interest group ratings, public statements, vetoes and campaign finances at Project Vote Smart
- Biography at WhoRunsGov.com at The Washington Post
- Issue positions and quotes at On the Issues
- Campaign contributions at FollowTheMoney.org
- Appearances on C-SPAN programs
Political offices Preceded by
Paul PateSecretary of State of Iowa
1999–2007Succeeded by
Michael MauroPreceded by
Tom VilsackGovernor of Iowa
2007–2011Succeeded by
Terry BranstadGovernors of Iowa 
Territorial (1838–1846) 
State (since 1846) Briggs · Hempstead · Grimes · Lowe · Kirkwood · Stone · Merrill · Carpenter · Kirkwood · Newbold · Gear · Sherman · Larrabee · Boies · Jackson · Drake · Shaw · Cummins · Garst · Carroll · Clarke · Harding · Kendall · Hammill · Turner · Herring · Kraschel · Wilson · Hickenlooper · Blue · Beardsley · Elthon · Hoegh · Loveless · Erbe · Hughes · Fulton · Ray · Branstad · Vilsack · Culver · BranstadSecretaries of State of Iowa 
Categories:- 1966 births
- American Presbyterians
- Drake University alumni
- Governors of Iowa
- Iowa Democrats
- Living people
- People from Bethesda, Maryland
- People from Washington, D.C.
- Secretaries of State of Iowa
- Virginia Tech Hokies football players
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