John Orman
Encyclopedia
John Orman was a politics professor at Fairfield University
in Fairfield, Connecticut
. He was the 1984 Democratic Party
nominee for the U.S. Congress seat in Connecticut's fourth district
, and briefly challenged Senator
Joseph Lieberman for the 2006 Democratic Senate
nomination. As of 2007, Orman was one of two people claiming to be the current chairman of the Connecticut for Lieberman
Party.
.
Orman's campaign generated support from bloggers across the country, but for a variety of reasons, he was never considered a serious threat to Lieberman. In September 2005, he announced he was withdrawing from the race because of a lack of money.
The end of Orman's campaign was followed by the campaign of businessman Ned Lamont
. When Lamont came to Fairfield University
in the spring of 2006, he told those in attendance that he was "picking up where John Orman left off." Lamont went on to upset Lieberman in the Democratic primary
in August, winning the party's nomination for the Senate seat with 52% of the vote, but lost the general election to Lieberman, who ran on the Connecticut for Lieberman party line.
On January 3, 2007, Connecticut Secretary of State Susan Bysiewicz
accepted a filing from Orman. Ted Bromely, a state elections attorney who worked for her office, said "If someone wanted to challenge it, they'd have to go to court."
On June 12, 2007, Orman called for Lieberman to resign from the Senate, describing the senator's rhetoric regarding military action against Iran
as "unilateral warmongering" that could lead to "World War III". Orman called for Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell
to appoint Susan Henshaw as Lieberman's replacement.
Orman was the author of four books on American politics. One of his books, "Celebrity Politics," gained national attention and was published in 2003 with Brown University
Professor Darrell West. He was also the faculty adviser to the Fairfield University
men's basketball team, and a frequent participant in stand-up comedy and hip-hop contests. He was frequently written about in a number of local publications, including The Fairfield Mirror
.
Orman wrote Helen Keller Speaks, a dramatic play and reading capturing the social activist views of Helen Keller
based on her documented speeches and letters between 1913 to 1919. The play was first performed on March 14, 2009 at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts
at Fairfield University
with actress January LaVoy
, one of Orman's former students, playing the role of Helen Keller.
Fairfield University
Fairfield University is a private, co-educational undergraduate and master's level teaching-oriented university located in Fairfield, Connecticut, in the New England region of the United States. It was founded by the Society of Jesus in 1942, and today is one of 28 member institutions of the...
in Fairfield, Connecticut
Fairfield, Connecticut
Fairfield is a town located in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. It is bordered by the towns of Bridgeport, Trumbull, Easton, Redding and Westport along the Gold Coast of Connecticut. As of the 2010 census, the town had a population of 59,404...
. He was the 1984 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...
nominee for the U.S. Congress seat in Connecticut's fourth district
Connecticut's 4th congressional district
Connecticut's 4th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Connecticut. Located in the southwestern part of the state, the district is largely suburban and consists of Bridgeport, the largest city in the state, and Stamford....
, and briefly challenged Senator
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
Joseph Lieberman for the 2006 Democratic Senate
United States Senate election in Connecticut, 2006
The 2006 United States Senate election in Connecticut was held on November 7, 2006. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Joe Lieberman lost the August 8th Democratic primary to Ned Lamont. Lieberman formed his own third party and won in the general election to a fourth term.-Democratic primary:The...
nomination. As of 2007, Orman was one of two people claiming to be the current chairman of the Connecticut for Lieberman
Connecticut for Lieberman
Connecticut for Lieberman is a Connecticut political party created by twenty-five supporters of Senator Joe Lieberman. The party was created to enable Lieberman to run for re-election following his defeat in the 2006 Connecticut Democratic primary...
Party.
1984 Congressional Race
Orman was the Democratic candidate for U.S. Representative from the Fourth Congressional District in 1984 against the popular incumbent Republican Stewart McKinney. He said he saw it as an opportunity to discuss national issues and represent a progressive constituency. After losing the election, he welcomed Rep. McKinney to his classroom to meet with his students.2006 Senate campaign
In March 2005, Orman announced that he would challenge Lieberman for the Democratic nomination, saying Lieberman was disloyal to the Democratic party and supported the foreign policy of President George W. BushGeorge W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
.
Orman's campaign generated support from bloggers across the country, but for a variety of reasons, he was never considered a serious threat to Lieberman. In September 2005, he announced he was withdrawing from the race because of a lack of money.
The end of Orman's campaign was followed by the campaign of businessman Ned Lamont
Ned Lamont
Edward Miner "Ned" Lamont, Jr. is a businessman and heir and most recently an unsuccessful candidate for the 2010 Democratic nomination for Governor of Connecticut. On May 22, 2010, Lamont received more than fifteen percent of the vote at the state Democratic convention, and appeared on the...
. When Lamont came to Fairfield University
Fairfield University
Fairfield University is a private, co-educational undergraduate and master's level teaching-oriented university located in Fairfield, Connecticut, in the New England region of the United States. It was founded by the Society of Jesus in 1942, and today is one of 28 member institutions of the...
in the spring of 2006, he told those in attendance that he was "picking up where John Orman left off." Lamont went on to upset Lieberman in the Democratic primary
Primary election
A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
in August, winning the party's nomination for the Senate seat with 52% of the vote, but lost the general election to Lieberman, who ran on the Connecticut for Lieberman party line.
Connecticut for Lieberman Chairmanship
On November 15, 2006, Orman changed his party registration from "Democratic" to "Connecticut for Lieberman" and submitted "party rules" to the office of the Secretary of the State. Some of the new rules Orman adopted for the Connecticut for Lieberman party included:On January 3, 2007, Connecticut Secretary of State Susan Bysiewicz
Susan Bysiewicz
Susan Bysiewicz served as Secretary of the State of Connecticut from 1999 to 2011. She was briefly a candidate for Governor of Connecticut in 2010, before dropping out to run for Connecticut Attorney General. She was disqualified from running for the office by the Connecticut Supreme Court and...
accepted a filing from Orman. Ted Bromely, a state elections attorney who worked for her office, said "If someone wanted to challenge it, they'd have to go to court."
On June 12, 2007, Orman called for Lieberman to resign from the Senate, describing the senator's rhetoric regarding military action against Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
as "unilateral warmongering" that could lead to "World War III". Orman called for Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell
M. Jodi Rell
Mary Jodi Rell is a Republican politician and was the 87th Governor of the U.S. state of Connecticut from 2004 until 2011. She was the Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut under Governor John G. Rowland, who resigned during a corruption investigation. Rell is Connecticut's second female Governor,...
to appoint Susan Henshaw as Lieberman's replacement.
Other activities
A member of the Fairfield University faculty from 1978 until his death, Dr. Orman was a former Teacher of the Year and was serving as chair of the Department of Politics at the time of his death.Orman was the author of four books on American politics. One of his books, "Celebrity Politics," gained national attention and was published in 2003 with Brown University
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
Professor Darrell West. He was also the faculty adviser to the Fairfield University
Fairfield University
Fairfield University is a private, co-educational undergraduate and master's level teaching-oriented university located in Fairfield, Connecticut, in the New England region of the United States. It was founded by the Society of Jesus in 1942, and today is one of 28 member institutions of the...
men's basketball team, and a frequent participant in stand-up comedy and hip-hop contests. He was frequently written about in a number of local publications, including The Fairfield Mirror
Fairfield Mirror
The Fairfield Mirror is the student newspaper of Fairfield University in Fairfield, Connecticut. It is financially and editorially independent of the University, and publishes weekly on Wednesday during the academic year with additional issues during commencement and orientation...
.
Orman wrote Helen Keller Speaks, a dramatic play and reading capturing the social activist views of Helen Keller
Helen Keller
Helen Adams Keller was an American author, political activist, and lecturer. She was the first deafblind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree....
based on her documented speeches and letters between 1913 to 1919. The play was first performed on March 14, 2009 at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts
Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts
There is also a Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts at St. Bonaventure University in St. Bonaventure, New York.The Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts is the major center of theatre and the arts at Fairfield University located in Fairfield, Connecticut. The Center includes events such as popular...
at Fairfield University
Fairfield University
Fairfield University is a private, co-educational undergraduate and master's level teaching-oriented university located in Fairfield, Connecticut, in the New England region of the United States. It was founded by the Society of Jesus in 1942, and today is one of 28 member institutions of the...
with actress January LaVoy
January LaVoy
January LaVoy is an American actress, most recognized as Noelle Ortiz on the ABC daytime drama One Life to Live. LaVoy will make her Broadway debut in the Broadway premiere of the play Enron at The Broadhurst Theatre on April 27, 2010.-Credits:LaVoy played the character Risa in the 2007 Lucille...
, one of Orman's former students, playing the role of Helen Keller.
Personal life
On July 5, 2009, Orman died at his home from a heart attack. In the days following his death, thousands of former friends and students commemorated Orman at Fairfield University and in the surrounding area.Books
- Celebrity Politics (Prentice Hall, 2004)
- Presidential Accountability: New and Recurring Problems (Greenwood Press, 1990)
- Comparing Presidential Behavior: Carter, Reagan, and the Macho Presidential Style (Greenwood Press, 1987)