Gaye Symington
Encyclopedia
Gaye R. Symington is the former Speaker of the Vermont
House of Representatives
, the lower house of the Vermont General Assembly
. She was the 2008 Democratic nominee for the 2008 Vermont gubernatorial election
against incumbent Republican Governor Jim Douglas
and Independent Anthony Pollina
.
Symington is married to Chuck Lacy, movie producer and former president of Ben and Jerry's ice cream. The couple have three teenage children. Symington attended Williams College
as an undergraduate, and holds a master's degree in business administration from Cornell University
.
district until 2009. As a freshman legislator, she served on the Ways and Means Committee. After the 2002 legislative elections, Symington was elected House Minority Leader in 2003 by her Democratic caucus and led the Vermont Democratic House Campaign (VDHC) in recruitment of Democratic candidates for the House of Representatives in 2004. The Democrats retook the House of Representatives in the 2004 legislative races after four years in the minority.
In January 2005, Symington was unanimously elected Speaker of the House, becoming the second woman to hold the position. In the 2006 elections, the Democratic Party
increased its majority in the chamber. There were now enough Democrats, Progressives, and independents in the Vermont House to overturn a gubernatorial veto. Symington won re-election to the post in 2007 without opposition.
against incumbent Republican Governor Jim Douglas
and Independent Anthony Pollina
. Symington finished third in the election with 69,534 votes for 21.7% of the vote. Symington's campaign was adversely affected when it was discovered she did not fully disclose her family's income. The campaign also failed to capture the endorsements of several major unions, including the state's three largest (State Employees Association, AFL-CIO, and the Vermont's National Education Association affiliate) which endorsed Pollina.
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
House of Representatives
Vermont House of Representatives
The Vermont House of Representatives is the lower house of the Vermont General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Vermont. The House comprises 150 members. Vermont legislative districting divides representing districts into 66 single-member districts and 42 two-member...
, the lower house of the Vermont General Assembly
Vermont General Assembly
The Vermont General Assembly is the legislative body of the U.S. state of Vermont. The Legislature is formally known as the "General Assembly," but the style of "Legislature" is commonly used, including by the body itself...
. She was the 2008 Democratic nominee for the 2008 Vermont gubernatorial election
Vermont gubernatorial election, 2008
The 2008 Vermont gubernatorial election took place on November 4, 2008. Incumbent governor Jim Douglas won reelection. The gubernatorial primary took place on September 9, 2008.-Polling:-Dates and deadlines:*July 21, 2008—Filing...
against incumbent Republican Governor Jim Douglas
Jim Douglas
James H. Douglas is an American politician from the U.S. state of Vermont. A Republican, he was elected the 80th Governor of Vermont in 2002 and was reelected three times with a majority of the vote...
and Independent Anthony Pollina
Anthony Pollina
Anthony Pollina is a Progressive American politician, who has run several times for elected office in the state of Vermont.-1984 US Congressional Election:...
.
Symington is married to Chuck Lacy, movie producer and former president of Ben and Jerry's ice cream. The couple have three teenage children. Symington attended Williams College
Williams College
Williams College is a private liberal arts college located in Williamstown, Massachusetts, United States. It was established in 1793 with funds from the estate of Ephraim Williams. Originally a men's college, Williams became co-educational in 1970. Fraternities were also phased out during this...
as an undergraduate, and holds a master's degree in business administration from Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
.
Vermont House of Representatives
First elected to the House in 1996 as a Democrat, Symington represented the Chittenden-8Chittenden-8 Vermont Representative District, 2002-2012
The Chittenden-8 Representative District is a two member state Representative district in the U.S. state of Vermont. It is one the 108 one or two member districts into which the state was divided by the redistricting and reapportionment plan developed by the Vermont General Assembly following the...
district until 2009. As a freshman legislator, she served on the Ways and Means Committee. After the 2002 legislative elections, Symington was elected House Minority Leader in 2003 by her Democratic caucus and led the Vermont Democratic House Campaign (VDHC) in recruitment of Democratic candidates for the House of Representatives in 2004. The Democrats retook the House of Representatives in the 2004 legislative races after four years in the minority.
In January 2005, Symington was unanimously elected Speaker of the House, becoming the second woman to hold the position. In the 2006 elections, the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
increased its majority in the chamber. There were now enough Democrats, Progressives, and independents in the Vermont House to overturn a gubernatorial veto. Symington won re-election to the post in 2007 without opposition.
2008 Governor campaign
In 2008, Symington announced she would not seek re-election to the House of Representatives. In May 2008 she announced she would seek the Democratic nomination for the 2008 Vermont gubernatorial electionVermont gubernatorial election, 2008
The 2008 Vermont gubernatorial election took place on November 4, 2008. Incumbent governor Jim Douglas won reelection. The gubernatorial primary took place on September 9, 2008.-Polling:-Dates and deadlines:*July 21, 2008—Filing...
against incumbent Republican Governor Jim Douglas
Jim Douglas
James H. Douglas is an American politician from the U.S. state of Vermont. A Republican, he was elected the 80th Governor of Vermont in 2002 and was reelected three times with a majority of the vote...
and Independent Anthony Pollina
Anthony Pollina
Anthony Pollina is a Progressive American politician, who has run several times for elected office in the state of Vermont.-1984 US Congressional Election:...
. Symington finished third in the election with 69,534 votes for 21.7% of the vote. Symington's campaign was adversely affected when it was discovered she did not fully disclose her family's income. The campaign also failed to capture the endorsements of several major unions, including the state's three largest (State Employees Association, AFL-CIO, and the Vermont's National Education Association affiliate) which endorsed Pollina.
External links
- Project Vote Smart – Representative Gaye Symington (VT) profile
- Follow the Money – Gaye Symington
- 2005 Vermont House biographies