Chet Culver
| Chet Culver | |
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41st Governor of Iowa
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office January 12, 2007 |
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| Lieutenant | Patty Judge |
| Preceded by | Tom Vilsack |
| Succeeded by | Terry Branstad (Elect) |
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29th Secretary of State of Iowa
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| In office January 15, 1999 – January 12, 2007 |
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| Governor | Tom Vilsack |
| Preceded by | Paul Pate |
| Succeeded by | Michael Mauro |
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| Born | January 25, 1966 Washington, D.C., United States |
| Political party | Democratic Party |
| Spouse(s) | Mariclare Culver |
| Residence | Terrace Hill |
| Alma mater | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Drake University |
| Profession | Teacher |
| Religion | Presbyterianism |
Chester John "Chet" Culver (born January 25, 1966) is the 41st and current Governor of Iowa, having won the 2006 election. He was also elected as the Federal Liaison for the Democratic Governors Association for 2008-2009.
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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. in education in 1988. Later, he received an M.A. in teaching from Drake University in 1994.[1]
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.[2](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.[3] 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.[4] Culver said lifting the ban will "give hope to those suffering from diseases such as cancer, diabetes, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's."
The original legislation (Iowa Code 707B) was incorrectly described as a ban on embryonic stem (ES) cell research, when in fact the ban was limited to restrictions on human therapeutic and reproductive cloning. The legislation declared "This section shall not restrict areas of scientific research not specifically prohibited." All existing human ES cell lines were created without the use of any form of cloning and for that reason the legislation did not have any legal impact on any form of ES cell research not directly related to therapeutic cloning. Human therapeutic cloning, which in theory is the production of human ES cells from a cloned embryo, has never been accomplished. For that reason, the 2007 repeal of the ban on human therapeutic cloning had no impact on any form of current ES cell research in the state of Iowa.
Culver proposed spending $12.5 million to establish a stem cell research center at the University of Iowa.[5] NPR called it a "Key Moment in the Stem Cell Debate."[4]
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.[6] A year later, Culver and other state elected officials expressed "outrage" at the slow pace of disbursement of federal funding to affected areas.[7][8] 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..."[9]
In 2010, Culver proposed a $40 million "disaster relief fund"[10] and declared March 2010 "Flood Awareness Month."[11]
Alternative energy
Culver touts Iowa as the leading alternative "energy capitol of the world."[12] 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."[13]
Campaign history
Culver'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 by nearly 100,000 votes, winning 54% of the vote to Nussle's 44.6%, with minor party candidates getting 1.4%.
Culver 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. [14]
Electoral history
| Iowa Gubernatorial Election, 2010 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
| Democratic | Chet Culver | 481,590 | 43.16 | -10.8 | |
| Republican | Terry Branstad | 589,828 | 52.86 | +8.2 | |
| 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 | 1,747,714 | ||||
| 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.[15]
Culver's father, John Culver, is a former U.S. Senator from Iowa.
References
- ↑ Governor Chester J. 'Chet' Culver (IA). Project Vote Smart.
- ↑ http://www.nationaljournal.com/almanac/2008/people/ia/iagv.php
- ↑ Office of Governor Chet Culver.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "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
- Governor Chet Culver and Lt. Governor Patty Judge official Iowa government site
- 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
- Appearances on C-SPAN programs
- Issue positions and quotes at On The Issues
- Campaign contributions at FollowTheMoney.org
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Paul Pate |
Secretary of State of Iowa 1999–2007 |
Succeeded by Michael Mauro |
| Preceded by Tom Vilsack |
Governor of Iowa 2007–present |
Incumbent |
| United States order of precedence | ||
| Preceded by Joe Biden as Vice President |
Order of Precedence of the United States Within Iowa |
Succeeded by Mayor of city in which event is held |
| Succeeded by Otherwise Nancy Pelosi as Speaker of the House of Representatives |
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| Preceded by Rick Perry as Governor of Texas |
Order of Precedence of the United States Outside Iowa |
Succeeded by Jim Doyle as Governor of Wisconsin |
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