Martha Rainville (née Trim, born April 9, 1958 , New London, Connecticut) is a former Vermont National Guard Adjutant General, and retired Air Force Major General. In 2006 she ran as the Republican candidate for Vermont's at-large congressional district. She was defeated by Democratic candidate Peter Welch.
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After graduating from the Chamberlain-Hunt Academy (1975), Rainville received a Bachelor of Arts in Education from the University of Mississippi (1979). Following graduation, she entered the United States Air Force, and was a 1979 Distinguished Graduate of the United States Air Force Officer Basic Military Training Program at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. She served on active duty from 1978–1984, then transferred to the 174th Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, New York Air National Guard, Syracuse, N.Y. She also served in the Air Force Reserve in Minneapolis, Minn. and the Vermont Air National Guard before becoming the adjutant general of the State of Vermont in March 1997.[1] The position of adjutant general carried with it the rank of Major General.
In 2005, Rainville began consulting with members of the Republican and Democratic parties regarding a possible run for the U.S. House of Representatives or the U.S. Senate. She was courted by members of both parties. It was later rumored that Rainville was prepared to throw her hat into the House race as a Democrat on the condition that no other Democrats ran. Senate President Peter Welch, a Democrat, had already declared that he was a candidate. Rainville announced her candidacy in the early spring of 2006 as a Republican, stressing government reform, ethics, homeland security, a strong national defense, and unqualified support for President George W. Bush’s policy in the Iraq War.
Rainville’s campaign, though a positive one, made some early gaffes and struggled to get off the ground. A plagiarizing scandal (originally documented by Julie Waters, a Vermont blogger) involving one of her staffers resulted in a drop in the polls.[2] She signed a Clean Campaign Pledge in which she vowed to not attack her opponent Welch, and condemned negative TV ads by third parties in the race.
A strong national anti-Republican wave, based partially on dwindling support for the post-invasion Iraqi occupation, combined with a desire to restore an oversight role to the Congress, made winning the seat an uphill battle. On Election Day, Welch was elected with a 9 percent lead. It was Rainville’s first run for office.
There was discussion in the state, to the effect, that if Rainville had caucused with the Democrats (even as an independent) she may have fared better. However, Senator Jim Jeffords summed this up “I must advise that while I think Martha Rainville is a talented leader, I feel very strongly that the country will be better served with Democrats gaining control of the House of Representatives in the 110th Congress. Therefore, for this election, I believe Peter Welch is a better choice for Vermont.”[3]
Rainville is the daughter of the late Nick and Lucille Trim of Port Gibson, Mississippi. Martha Rainville resides in Virginia and has three children. She is divorced, but is now married to Paul McHale, a former Assistant Secretary of Defense[4] and member of the Democratic Party.
After her defeat in the U.S. House race to Peter Welch, Rainville was appointed to FEMA as a case studies specialist, who makes recommendations on how to best respond to domestic disasters in the United States. Rainville assumed her role at FEMA on April 16, 2007.[5]
| Preceded by Donald E. Edwards |
Vermont Adjutant General 1997–2006 |
Succeeded by Michael Dubie |