John Bohlinger
Encyclopedia
John Bohlinger, Jr. is the current Lieutenant Governor of Montana
. Bohlinger for lieutenant governor ran as a Republican
on a bipartisan
ticket
headed by Democrat
Brian Schweitzer
. Schweitzer and Bohlinger were elected governor and lieutenant governor in the 2004 election
and both were reelected in the 2008 election
.
in 1936 to John and Aileen Bohlinger. In 1941, the family moved to Billings, Montana
where his parents operated a women's apparel store, Aileen's.
While enrolled at Billings Senior High School, Bohlinger enlisted in the United States Marine Corps Reserve
. He went on to the University of Montana where he became a member of the Sigma Chi
fraternity
, and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in business. The Marine Corps called him to service after his sophomore year and he completed his university career after completing his service with the Marine Corps. Bohlinger spent the next 33 years as a small businessman working in the family clothing business. He was the husband of Bette Cobetto, who died of cancer on January 9, 2006. Bohlinger married Karen Seiler in Helena on January 12, 2008.
and was then twice elected to the Montana State Senate. He resigned his Senate seat as he assumed the office of Lieutenant Governor.
On the 2004 gubernatorial ticket, Bohlinger, a Republican
, joined with Brian Schweitzer, a Democrat
. There was no precedent in Montana where the candidates on a gubernatorial ticket belonged to different parties. The ticket prevailed, and Bohlinger was inaugurated as Lieutenant Governor of Montana on January 3, 2005. The Schweitzer-Bohlinger team was reelected to a second term on November 4, 2008.
Lieutenant Governor of Montana
Lieutenant Governor of Montana is an official in the state of Montana that ranks just below the Governor of Montana. The current lieutenant governor is John Bohlinger.-List of Lieutenant Governors:* John E. Rickards, Republican,...
. Bohlinger for lieutenant governor ran as a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
on a bipartisan
Bipartisanship
Bipartisanship is a political situation, usually in the context of a two-party system such as the United States, in which opposing political parties find common ground through compromise. The adjective bipartisan can refer to any bill, act, resolution, or other political act in which both of the...
ticket
Ticket (election)
A ticket refers to a single election choice which fills more than one political office or seat. For example, in the U.S., the candidates for President and Vice President run on the same "ticket", because they are elected together on a single ballot question rather than separately.A ticket can also...
headed by Democrat
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...
Brian Schweitzer
Brian Schweitzer
Brian David Schweitzer is an American politician from the U.S. state of Montana. Schweitzer is its 23rd and current governor, serving since January 2005. Schweitzer currently has one of the highest approval ratings among governors in the nation, with polls regularly showing a rating of above 60...
. Schweitzer and Bohlinger were elected governor and lieutenant governor in the 2004 election
Montana gubernatorial election, 2004
The 2004 Montana gubernatorial election took place on 2 November 2004 for the post of Governor of Montana. Democrat Brian Schweitzer defeated Montana Secretary of State Republican Bob Brown.-Democratic primary:...
and both were reelected in the 2008 election
Montana gubernatorial election, 2008
The 2008 Montana gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 2008 to elect the governor and lieutenant governor of the U.S. state of Montana. Incumbent governor Brian Schweitzer, a Democrat who was elected to his first four-year term in 2004, was elected to a second term with 65.5 per cent of...
.
Early life, education, and military and business career
Bohlinger was born in Bozeman, MontanaBozeman, Montana
Bozeman is a city in and the county seat of Gallatin County, Montana, United States, in the southwestern part of the state. The 2010 census put Bozeman's population at 37,280 making it the fourth largest city in the state. It is the principal city of the Bozeman micropolitan area, which consists...
in 1936 to John and Aileen Bohlinger. In 1941, the family moved to Billings, Montana
Billings, Montana
Billings is the largest city in the U.S. state of Montana, and is the principal city of the Billings Metropolitan Area, the largest metropolitan area in over...
where his parents operated a women's apparel store, Aileen's.
While enrolled at Billings Senior High School, Bohlinger enlisted in the United States Marine Corps Reserve
United States Marine Corps Reserve
The Marine Forces Reserve is the reserve force of the United States Marine Corps. It is the largest command in the U.S...
. He went on to the University of Montana where he became a member of the Sigma Chi
Sigma Chi
Sigma Chi is the largest and one of the oldest college Greek-letter secret and social fraternities in North America with 244 active chapters and more than . Sigma Chi was founded on June 28, 1855 at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio when members split from Delta Kappa Epsilon...
fraternity
Fraternities and sororities
Fraternities and sororities are fraternal social organizations for undergraduate students. In Latin, the term refers mainly to such organizations at colleges and universities in the United States, although it is also applied to analogous European groups also known as corporations...
, and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in business. The Marine Corps called him to service after his sophomore year and he completed his university career after completing his service with the Marine Corps. Bohlinger spent the next 33 years as a small businessman working in the family clothing business. He was the husband of Bette Cobetto, who died of cancer on January 9, 2006. Bohlinger married Karen Seiler in Helena on January 12, 2008.
Political career
Bohlinger served three terms in 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:...
and was then twice elected to the Montana State Senate. He resigned his Senate seat as he assumed the office of Lieutenant Governor.
On the 2004 gubernatorial ticket, Bohlinger, a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
, joined with Brian Schweitzer, a Democrat
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...
. There was no precedent in Montana where the candidates on a gubernatorial ticket belonged to different parties. The ticket prevailed, and Bohlinger was inaugurated as Lieutenant Governor of Montana on January 3, 2005. The Schweitzer-Bohlinger team was reelected to a second term on November 4, 2008.
External links
- Bohlinger biography
- Schweitzer Bohlinger official campaign site