Dave Freudenthal

Dave Freudenthal
31st Governor of Wyoming
In office
January 6, 2003  January 3, 2011
Preceded by Jim Geringer
Succeeded by Matt Mead
U.S. Attorney for the District of Wyoming
In office
1994–2001
President Bill Clinton
Preceded by Richard Stacy
Succeeded by Matt Mead
Personal details
Born David Duane Freudenthal
October 12, 1950
Thermopolis, Wyoming, U.S.
Political party Democratic
Spouse(s) Nancy Roan
Alma mater Amherst College
University of Wyoming
Religion Episcopal

David Duane "Dave" Freudenthal (/ˈfrdənθɑːl/;[1] born October 12, 1950) is an American politician who served as the 31st Governor of Wyoming from 2003 to 2011.

Biography

Education and early life

Freudenthal was born in Thermopolis, the seat of Hot Springs County in north central Wyoming, the seventh of eight children, and grew up on a farm north of town. He graduated in 1973 from Amherst College in Amherst, Massachusetts, with a bachelor's degree in economics. After graduating he joined the Department of Economic Planning and Development as an economist and later became the state planning director for Governor Edgar Herschler.

Freudenthal entered the University of Wyoming College of Law, receiving his law degree in 1980, and went into private practice.

Political career

In 1994, he was appointed United States Attorney for the District of Wyoming upon the recommendation of then-Governor Mike Sullivan. Freudenthal left the post of U.S. Attorney in May 2001.

Freudenthal was elected Governor of Wyoming on November 7, 2002. He was reelected to his second term on November 7, 2006, and announced on March 4, 2010, that he would not attempt to seek a third term as Governor.[2]

On April 2, 2008, Freudenthal endorsed Democrat Barack Obama of Illinois for the party's presidential nomination, having cited "Obama's style of leadership and openness to discussion." Obama won the Wyoming Democratic caucus by a 61.44-37.83 margin over then U.S. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York.

After retiring as Governor, Freudenthal joined the law firm of Crowell & Moring as Senior Counsel in the firm's Cheyenne, Wyoming office.[3]

Personal life

Freudenthal is married to Nancy D. Freudenthal, a native of Cody, who serves as a judge on the United States District Court for the District of Wyoming. They have four children: Donald, Hillary, Bret, and Katie.

Electoral history

Wyoming Gubernatorial Election - 2006
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Dave Freudenthal 135,516 69.89% + 19.93
Republican Ray Hunkins 58,100 29.97%
Wyoming Gubernatorial Election - 2002
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Dave Freudenthal 92,662 49.96%
Republican Eli Bebout 88,873 47.92%
Libertarian Dave Dawson 3,924 2.12%

Notes

  1. "Montana Pronunciation Guide". Ap.org. Retrieved 2010-09-04.
  2. "US News - Mar 04, 2010 - Wyoming Gov. Freudenthal won't seek third term". RealClearPolitics. 2010-03-04. Retrieved 2010-09-04.
  3. "Dave Freudenthal". Crowell & Moring. Retrieved 2012-07-10.

External links

Party political offices
Preceded by
John Vinich
Democratic nominee for Governor of Wyoming
2002, 2006
Succeeded by
Leslie Petersen
Political offices
Preceded by
Jim Geringer
Governor of Wyoming
January 6, 2003 – January 3, 2011
Succeeded by
Matt Mead