Chet Culver

Chet Culver
File:Chet Culver inauguration.jpg
41st Governor of Iowa
Incumbent
Assumed office January 12, 2007
Lieutenant	Patty Judge
Preceded by	Tom Vilsack
Personal details
Born	(1966-01-25) January 25, 1966 Washington, D.C.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Mariclare Culver
Profession	Teacher

Chester John "Chet" Culver (born January 25 1966) is the current Governor of the U.S. state of Iowa, having recently won the 2006 election. His assumption of office marks the first time that Democrats have simultaneously controlled both the executive and legislative branches of Iowa's state government since the 1965–1967 session of the Iowa Legislature. Culver is also the first Democratic governor in Iowa since Clyde L. Herring in 1937 to be elected to succeed another Democrat.

Background

Chet Culver is the son of former U.S. Senator John Culver, who represented Iowa from 1975-1981 in the Senate. Chet Culver was born in Washington, D.C. and attended Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School in suburban Maryland, graduating in 1984. After graduation Culver attended college at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg, Virginia on a football scholarship, where he earned a B.A. in political science. Culver then worked as a lobbyist for two years in 1989 and 1990. The clients of the lobbying firm which employed Culver during this time included the Iowa Trial Lawyers Association, Iowa Beef Processors, and Des Moines University.[1]

Culver studied at Drake Law School before earning a masters degree in education from Drake University. Culver taught high school in Des Moines, Iowa prior to election as Secretary of State in 1998.

He currently resides in West Des Moines, Iowa with his wife Mariclare Thinnes Culver and their two children, Clare Honour and John William. He attends Central Presbyterian church in West Des Moines, where he serves as a church elder.

2006 gubernatorial race

Main article: Iowa gubernatorial election, 2006

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 with 54% of the vote while Nussle won 44%, and minor party candidates won 2%. Culver received the endorsement of Planned Parenthood. [2] Nussle proposed a complete ban on abortion without any exceptions.

References

• Beaumont, Thomas. "Culver, Blouin battle for labor backing", Des Moines Register, 2/28/2006. (Retrieved 2/28/2006)

External links

• Iowa Governor Chet Culver official state site
• National Governors Association - Iowa Governor Chet Culver biography
• Follow the Money - Chet Culver & Patty Judge 2006 campaign contributions
• On the Issues - Chet Culver issue positions and quotes
• Project Vote Smart - Governor Chester J. 'Chet' Culver (IA) profile