John McKernan Junior

John McKernan junior (right) with his wife Olympia Snowe (left) next to George W. and Laura Bush (center) in December 2002

John Rettie "Jock" McKernan Jr. (born May 20, 1948 in Bangor , Maine ) is an American politician ( Republican Party ). He was Governor of Maine from 1987 to 1995 . He also represented his state as a member of the US House of Representatives .

Early years and political advancement

John McKernan graduated from Dartmouth College and subsequently served in the National Guard between 1970 and 1973 . He then studied law at the University of Maine Law School . He was admitted to the bar in 1974.

McKernan began to be politically active while he was still a student. Between 1972 and 1976 he was an MP in the Maine House of Representatives . Between his political offices he worked as a lawyer. In 1976 McKernan was a delegate to the Republican National Convention in Kansas City . Between 1983 and 1987 he represented his state in Congress .

Governor of Maine

In 1986 McKernan was elected as a Republican candidate for the new governor of Maine. He received 39.9 percent of the vote to defeat the Democrat James E. Tierney, who reached 30.1 percent. The remaining votes were split between two independent applicants. McKernan took up his new office on January 7, 1987 and was able to exercise it until January 5, 1995, where he was re-elected in 1990. This time he received 46.7 percent of the vote, the Democrat Joseph Brennan - his predecessor in office - 44.1 percent.

After the end of his tenure, he continued to work for the Republican Party. He supported the presidential campaigns of George W. Bush and John McCain . Since September 2003, he has been Chairman of the Board of Education Management Corporation . John McKernan is married to US Senator Olympia Snowe .

Web links

• John McKernan in the National Governors Association (English)
• John McKernan in the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress (English)