Martha Layne Collins

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Martha Collins (1986)

Martha Layne Collins (born December 7, 1936 in Baghdad , Shelby County , Kentucky ) is an American politician and former governor of the state of Kentucky.

Early years and political advancement

Martha Collins graduated from the University of Kentucky and then worked as a teacher in Louisville and Woodford Counties . She has been politically active for the Democratic Party since 1971 . That year she was Governor Wendell Ford's campaign assistant . Later she continued to support her party's respective candidates at both state and federal level. In 1984, during her tenure as governor, she was chairwoman of the Federal Democratic Party Congress. Between 1975 and 1979 she was employed by the Kentucky Supreme Court. In 1979 she was elected lieutenant governor .

Kentucky governor

For the gubernatorial elections of 1983 she was nominated as a candidate by her party. She managed to win the election against the future US Senator Jim Bunning with 54.6% of the vote. This made her the first and so far only woman to be elected governor of Kentucky. In terms of all US states, she was only the third woman to be elected governor. Her term of office began on December 13, 1983 and ended on December 8, 1987. During this time, she campaigned for an improvement in education policy. She succeeded in persuading the Japanese car company Toyota to set up a plant in Georgetown . This created many jobs not only at the car plant itself, but also at the supplier companies. Collins has also served on several joint southern committees for the development of trade and economics.

Another résumé

At the end of her term, Martha Collins served as President of St. Catharine College for six years . She also held other leadership positions at various schools and universities in Kentucky. She no longer ran for public office. She currently serves on the boards of Georgetown College and Eastman Kodak .

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