John Patrick Williams
Encyclopedia
John Patrick "Pat" Williams (b. October 30, 1937, Helena, Montana
) is a former Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives
from the state of Montana
during the years 1979–1997.
Williams attended the University of Montana in Missoula, William Jewell College
and the University of Denver
, Colorado, earning a B.A. In 1961–1969 he was a member of the National Guard
in Colorado and Montana and was a teacher
in Butte, Montana
.
in District 23 of Silver Bow County
, winning reelection in 1968. During the years 1969–1971 he served as the executive assistant to Montana Representative John Melcher
. Williams was a member of the Governor's Employment and Training Council from 1972 to 1978 and served on the Montana Reapportionment Commission from 1972 to 1973.
In 1974 Williams ran an unsuccessful primary election campaign against now Senator Max Baucus
for the Democratic Party nomination for Montana's U.S. House 1st District Representative. Baucus would win the November elections defeating Republican Dick Shoup. In 1978 Williams ran a successful primary campaign against Dorothy Bradley
to win the Democratic nomination for the 1st District of Montana. In November Williams defeated Republican Jim Waltermire in one of Montana's largest door-to-door campaigns, and winning 57% percent of the vote, getting elected to the 96th U.S. Congress.
. Williams narrowly won with 51% of the vote. In 1994 he was elected to his ninth and final term, defeating Cy Jamison with 49% of Montana's votes. He chose not to run for reelection in 1996; Republican Rick Hill
defeated Bill Yellowtail
to become Montana's new U.S. Representative that year.
lands. Williams also campaigned on higher taxes for large corporations and cutting defense spending to lower the federal deficit.
, where he is currently an instructor at the University of Montana.
Williams is Senior Fellow and Regional Policy associate at the Center for the Rocky Mountain West and he serves on the Boards of Directors for the National Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges, the National Association of Job Corps, and The President's Advisory Commission for Tribal Colleges. Williams was on the board of directors of the Student Loan Marketing Association, the now disbanded GSE subsidiary of U.S.A. Education (Sallie Mae). Williams also writes newspaper columns on occasion. Williams' wife Carol was elected to a seat in the Montana House of Representatives
in 1999 and later to a seat in the Montana State Senate. She currently serves as Minority Leader in that body.
Williams is currently an organizer of the new progressive policy institute Western Progress.
Helena, Montana
Helena is the capital city of the U.S. state of Montana and the county seat of Lewis and Clark County. The 2010 census put the population at 28,180. The local daily newspaper is the Independent Record. The Helena Brewers minor league baseball and Helena Bighorns minor league hockey team call the...
) is a former Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from the state of Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
during the years 1979–1997.
Williams attended the University of Montana in Missoula, William Jewell College
William Jewell College
William Jewell College is a private, four-year liberal arts college of 1,100 undergraduate students located in Liberty, Missouri, U.S. It was founded in 1849 by members of the Missouri Baptist Convention and other civic leaders, including Robert S. James, a Baptist minister and father of the...
and the University of Denver
University of Denver
The University of Denver is currently ranked 82nd among all public and private "National Universities" by U.S. News & World Report in the 2012 rankings....
, Colorado, earning a B.A. In 1961–1969 he was a member of the National Guard
United States National Guard
The National Guard of the United States is a reserve military force composed of state National Guard militia members or units under federally recognized active or inactive armed force service for the United States. Militia members are citizen soldiers, meaning they work part time for the National...
in Colorado and Montana and was a teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
in Butte, Montana
Butte, Montana
Butte is a city in Montana and the county seat of Silver Bow County, United States. In 1977, the city and county governments consolidated to form the sole entity of Butte-Silver Bow. As of the 2010 census, Butte's population was 34,200...
.
Political career
In 1966 Williams was elected to the Montana House of RepresentativesMontana House of Representatives
The Montana House of Representatives is, with the Montana Senate, one of the two houses of the Montana Legislature. Composed of 100 members, the House elects its leadership every two years.-Composition of the House:...
in District 23 of Silver Bow County
Silver Bow County, Montana
-National protected areas:*Beaverhead National Forest *Deerlodge National Forest -Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 34,606 people, 14,432 households, and 8,933 families residing in the county. The population density was 48 people per square mile . There were 16,176 housing units at...
, winning reelection in 1968. During the years 1969–1971 he served as the executive assistant to Montana Representative John Melcher
John Melcher
John Melcher is an American politician of the Democratic Party who represented Montana as a member of the United States House of Representatives, and as a United States Senator from 1977 until 1989.-Early life:...
. Williams was a member of the Governor's Employment and Training Council from 1972 to 1978 and served on the Montana Reapportionment Commission from 1972 to 1973.
In 1974 Williams ran an unsuccessful primary election campaign against now Senator Max Baucus
Max Baucus
Max Sieben Baucus is the senior United States Senator from Montana and a member of the Democratic Party. First elected to the Senate in 1978, as of 2010 he is the longest-serving Senator from Montana, and the fifth longest-serving U.S...
for the Democratic Party nomination for Montana's U.S. House 1st District Representative. Baucus would win the November elections defeating Republican Dick Shoup. In 1978 Williams ran a successful primary campaign against Dorothy Bradley
Dorothy Bradley
Dorothy Bradley was a U.S. politician from Montana. She was elected as the only woman in the Montana House of Representatives, where she served eight terms...
to win the Democratic nomination for the 1st District of Montana. In November Williams defeated Republican Jim Waltermire in one of Montana's largest door-to-door campaigns, and winning 57% percent of the vote, getting elected to the 96th U.S. Congress.
Re-elections
In 1980 Williams won reelection against Jack McDonald with 61% of the vote; in 1982 against Bob Davies with 60%; in 1984 against Gary Carlson with 67%; in 1986 against Don Allen with 62%, 1988 against Jim Fenlason with 61%; in 1990 against Brad Johnson. In 1992 Montana lost its second seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, leaving Williams to campaign against fellow incumbent Ron MarleneeRon Marlenee
Ronald Charles "Ron" Marlenee is a Republican politician who served in the United States House of Representatives from the U.S. state of Montana from January 3, 1977 to January 3, 1993.He was born in Scobey, Montana....
. Williams narrowly won with 51% of the vote. In 1994 he was elected to his ninth and final term, defeating Cy Jamison with 49% of Montana's votes. He chose not to run for reelection in 1996; Republican Rick Hill
Rick Hill
Richard "Rick" Hill is a former Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from Montana. He is currently a candidate for Governor of Montana in 2012.-Background:...
defeated Bill Yellowtail
Bill Yellowtail
Bill Yellowtail is an American politician from Wyola, Montana. He is a 1971 graduate of Dartmouth College where he earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Geography and Environmental Studies...
to become Montana's new U.S. Representative that year.
Platforms
Pat Williams played a pivotal role in the preservation of Wilderness Areas, aiming to protect current wilderness from the Wilderness Act of 1964 and extend the Act to cover further National ForestUnited States National Forest
National Forest is a classification of federal lands in the United States.National Forests are largely forest and woodland areas owned by the federal government and managed by the United States Forest Service, part of the United States Department of Agriculture. Land management of these areas...
lands. Williams also campaigned on higher taxes for large corporations and cutting defense spending to lower the federal deficit.
Recent history
After leaving congress in 1997 Williams returned to Montana and has become a part of several projects and organizations, mostly in Missoula, MontanaMissoula, Montana
Missoula is a city located in western Montana and is the county seat of Missoula County. The 2010 Census put the population of Missoula at 66,788 and the population of Missoula County at 109,299. Missoula is the principal city of the Missoula Metropolitan Area...
, where he is currently an instructor at the University of Montana.
Williams is Senior Fellow and Regional Policy associate at the Center for the Rocky Mountain West and he serves on the Boards of Directors for the National Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges, the National Association of Job Corps, and The President's Advisory Commission for Tribal Colleges. Williams was on the board of directors of the Student Loan Marketing Association, the now disbanded GSE subsidiary of U.S.A. Education (Sallie Mae). Williams also writes newspaper columns on occasion. Williams' wife Carol was elected to a seat in the Montana House of Representatives
Montana House of Representatives
The Montana House of Representatives is, with the Montana Senate, one of the two houses of the Montana Legislature. Composed of 100 members, the House elects its leadership every two years.-Composition of the House:...
in 1999 and later to a seat in the Montana State Senate. She currently serves as Minority Leader in that body.
Williams is currently an organizer of the new progressive policy institute Western Progress.