Governor Jim Douglas has been serving the people of Vermont for more than 30 years. Elected to the Vermont House of Representatives straight out of college, Governor Douglas rose through the leadership ladder quickly, being selected by his peers as Assistant Majority Leader in his second term and as Majority Leader in his third term at the young age of 25. Governor Douglas retired from the Legislature in 1979 to become a top aide to Gov. Richard Snelling. 

In 1980, Governor Douglas was elected Secretary of State, a post he would hold until 1992, winning re-election 5 times and receiving the nomination of both parties on three occasions.
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Governor Jim Douglas and Dorothy

In 1992, Governor Douglas was the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate against Sen. Patrick Leahy.  Despite being outspent 6-1, he lost only narrowly.  With his election as State Treasurer in 1994, again receiving the nomination of both parties and winning with 94% of the vote, Governor Douglas continued his service to Vermonters.  He went on to win re-election to the State Treasurer’s post every two years by wide margins. As State Treasurer, Governor Douglas implemented programs that returned millions of dollars in assets to their rightful owners – property and money that would otherwise have been lost in the bureaucratic abyss. Governor Douglas helped keep Vermont’s fiscal house in order by checking the government’s free-spending impulses. As a result of Governor Douglas’ work, Vermont’s bond rating came to be the best in New England, and one of the best in the nation.

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Governor Douglas' First Term

Elected to his first term as Governor in 2002, Governor Jim Douglas went on to lead one of the most successful legislative bienniums in history. The 2003-2004 legislative biennium was characterized by extraordinary cooperation, unyielding progress, and broad bipartisan support of the Governor's agenda. 

In addition to passing two balanced and compassionate budgets that maintained Vermont's historic commitment to fiscal restraint, the legislature took many actions to strengthen the Vermont economy. Among other accomplishments were the passage of the $105 million Jobs Bill, permit reform, millions more invested in economic development and workforce training, a minimum wage increase, tax credits invested to create of over 2,000 new jobs, and workers' compensations reforms. 

In addition, steps were taken to improve Vermont's transportation infrastructure by increasing funding to repair scarred roads and bridges by 56 percent, and to kick-start critical infrastructure projects like the Bennington Bypass, the Missisquoi Bay Bridge, and the Circ Highway. With the Governor's leadership, the legislature also reformed Act 60 in ways that helped alleviate the stifling burden of property taxes. 

In keeping with Governor Douglas’ view that the economy and environment are codependent, the Douglas Administration worked with the legislature to pass a long-awaited renewable energy bill to promote the use of alternatives, and established the Vermont Renewable Energy Acquisition Authority to pursue the hydroelectric dams on the Connecticut and Deerfield rivers. Governor Douglas’ Clean and Clear Water Action Plan was implemented and fully funded and, as requested by the Governor in his State of the State address, a bipartisan consensus on stormwater legislation was reached. Governor Douglas also opposed several federal government initiatives that would have weakened environmental regulations. 

In support of the family farm, Governor Douglas and legislature worked together to provide farmers with emergency relief and seed money, establish the farm viability program, support agri-tourism initiatives, and eliminate the property tax on farm buildings in the Current Use program. In 2004 Governor Douglas followed up by reaching agreement with the Legislature on the seed labeling law, strengthening Vermont's right to farm law, and establishing water quality improvement standards for farms. 

In the area of education, significant strides were made in protecting children and strengthening the systems of public education. The legislature passed racial harassment and bullying prevention bills, a higher education investment tax credit for low and middle-income families saving for college, and provided enhanced financial support for public colleges. 

Governor Douglas also worked with the General Assembly to advance his health care agenda. Action was taken to implement the Governor's DETER program designed to address Vermont's substance abuse problem, his Chronic Care Initiative comprising efforts to reduce the costs of prescription drugs, and to protect low and middle-income seniors with long-term care insurance from having to spend all of their hard earned resources before becoming eligible for Medicaid. The Legislature also supported the Governor’s Fit and Healthy Kids Initiative, a program to help teach children the value of good nutrition and regular exercise so they might live healthy lives, perform better in school, and avoid costly and debilitating chronic diseases as adults. 

Governor Douglas’ Second Term

In seeking reelection, Governor Jim Douglas sought to continue his cooperative efforts with the legislature to address critical issues in Vermont. Governor Douglas proposed, for example, a series of health insurance reforms designed to increase access to affordable health insurance, empower individuals with more direct control over their care, and help keep Medicaid solvent and available for the most vulnerable Vermonters. Governor Douglas also sought to continue to closely examine the issue of long-term care for elderly and disabled Vermonters. He also pledged to work for greater school choice, recognizing that the opportunity to choose a school that best meets one's child's needs should not be a privilege reserved only for the wealthy. 

Vermont voters from across demographic and political spectrums were pleased with their Governor's leadership and reelected Governor Douglas by a wide margin. The election results were a clear and definitive message: Vermonters want moderate, bi-partisanship leadership that will bring realistic and responsible solutions to the challenges that face our state. 

Delivered at the half-way mark in Governor Douglas’ second term, the Governor's 2006 State of the State address focused on the need to make Vermont more affordable for Vermonters. Governor Douglas outlined a four point Affordability Agenda designed to ease the financial burdens on working Vermonters who are struggling to live, work and raise a family in our state. Jim's proposals for more affordable health care, college scholarships for our young people, increased property tax relief, and the development of more affordable housing were met with enthusiastic support all around the state. 

As of this writing, Governor Douglas continues to work diligently to advance the Affordability Agenda, responsible health insurance reforms, and other steps necessary to ensure a bright future for Vermont. In once again seeking reelection as Governor of Vermont, Governor Douglas is traveling the state stressing the need for fiscal responsibility, better paying jobs, access to affordable health care for all Vermonters, a clean environment and a quality education for Vermont’s children. 

Over the course of his career, Governor Jim Douglas has received more votes than any other person in Vermont history – a testament to his appeal to voters of all political stripes. With your help he will be back next year working to advance common-sense reforms and fiscal responsibility. Governor Douglas hopes he can count on your support in this effort. 

Governor Douglas is a 30 year resident of Middlebury.  He and his wife of 31 years, Dorothy, have two children, Matthew and Andrew.