Judy Martz
Encyclopedia
Judy Martz was the 22nd Governor of Montana, having served a single term from January 2, 2001, to January 3, 2005. Earlier, she was the Lieutenant Governor
under Marc Racicot
from 1997-2001. She was Montana's first female governor.
She is a member of the Republican Party
, former Olympic
skater (the 1964
speed skating
team), former Miss Rodeo Montana, and owner and operator, with her husband, of a garbage disposal
service in her hometown of Butte, Montana
.
In the Montana gubernatorial election of 2000, Martz defeated her Democratic
opponent, Mark O'Keefe, by a margin of 51 percent to 47 percent. Martz announced that she would not run for re-election as Governor in 2004.
Martz's first legislative session resulted in the http://www.ontheissues.org/Governor/Judy_Martz_Education.htm single largest increase in the education budget in Montana history and tax cuts intended to stimulate the stagnant state economy.
Martz had her fair share of scandals, off-color statements, and questionable activities while she was in office, many of which led to her low approval rating during the remaining years of her term as governor (which were as low as 20% at one point).
Her chief policy adviser, Shane Hedges, was involved in a drunk driving accident near Marysville, Montana
in August 2001, after which he went to Martz's residence, where she washed his clothes. House
Majority Leader Paul Sliter died in the accident. Martz's policy advisor promptly resigned and pled guilty to a charge of negligent homicide. Martz also was put under a state-wide microscope when a real estate deal between the Martzes and ARCO was uncovered. The Martz family had a ranch that adjoined another large parcel of land that was owned by the ARCO company, at that time ARCO sold that land at an allegedly low value to the Martz family. The state Democratic Party alleged that Martz had assisted ARCO in her position as Lieutenant Governor. The Montana Commissioner of Political Practices found that the allegations lacked merit.
Martz finished her time in office campaigning for President Bush in Ohio
, Arizona
, and other swing states, and http://www.billingsgazette.com/index.php?id=1&display=rednews/2004/11/10/build/state/30-govs-argue.inc sparring with incoming Democratic governor Brian Schweitzer
over transition of state government.
In September 2005 Martz was named chair of Montanans for Judge Roberts (Chief Justice nominee John Glover Roberts, Jr.) and spoke at a rally in support of Roberts with past and present statewide Republican officials such as ex-Congressman Rick Hill
.
.
Both Martz and Veith deny the similarity, with Martz stating, possibly partially tongue-in-cheek, "I'm a very modest person, no one would ever see me like that. My husband doesn't ever see me like that" (http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2003/09/05/news/mtregional/news06.txt, http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/09/05/national/main571920.shtml).
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,...
under Marc Racicot
Marc Racicot
Marc F. Racicot is a U.S. politician and lobbyist and member of the Republican Party. He was the governor of Montana from 1993 until 2001. After leaving office, Racicot worked as a lobbyist for the law firm Bracewell & Giuliani. His notable clients included Enron, Burlington Northern Santa Fe,...
from 1997-2001. She was Montana's first female governor.
She is a member of the Republican Party
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...
, former Olympic
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
skater (the 1964
1964 Winter Olympics
The 1964 Winter Olympics, officially known as the IX Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated in Innsbruck, Austria, from January 29 to February 9, 1964...
speed skating
Speed skating
Speed skating, or speedskating is a competitive form of ice skating in which the competitors race each other in traveling a certain distance on skates. Types of speed skating are long track speed skating, short track speed skating, and marathon speed skating...
team), former Miss Rodeo Montana, and owner and operator, with her husband, of a garbage disposal
Garbage disposal
A garbage disposal unit or waste disposal unit is a device, usually electrically powered, installed under a kitchen sink between the sink's drain and the trap which shreds food waste into pieces small enough—generally less than —to pass through plumbing.Garbage disposal units are widely used in...
service in her hometown of 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...
.
In the Montana gubernatorial election of 2000, Martz defeated her Democratic
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...
opponent, Mark O'Keefe, by a margin of 51 percent to 47 percent. Martz announced that she would not run for re-election as Governor in 2004.
Martz's first legislative session resulted in the http://www.ontheissues.org/Governor/Judy_Martz_Education.htm single largest increase in the education budget in Montana history and tax cuts intended to stimulate the stagnant state economy.
Martz had her fair share of scandals, off-color statements, and questionable activities while she was in office, many of which led to her low approval rating during the remaining years of her term as governor (which were as low as 20% at one point).
Her chief policy adviser, Shane Hedges, was involved in a drunk driving accident near Marysville, Montana
Marysville, Montana
Marysville is a small unincorporated community in Lewis and Clark County, Montana, United States. In the 1880s and 90's it was a bustling mining town of three thousand residents, and was the center of gold mining in Montana. A few buildings remain, including a baseball field with bleachers...
in August 2001, after which he went to Martz's residence, where she washed his clothes. House
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:...
Majority Leader Paul Sliter died in the accident. Martz's policy advisor promptly resigned and pled guilty to a charge of negligent homicide. Martz also was put under a state-wide microscope when a real estate deal between the Martzes and ARCO was uncovered. The Martz family had a ranch that adjoined another large parcel of land that was owned by the ARCO company, at that time ARCO sold that land at an allegedly low value to the Martz family. The state Democratic Party alleged that Martz had assisted ARCO in her position as Lieutenant Governor. The Montana Commissioner of Political Practices found that the allegations lacked merit.
Martz finished her time in office campaigning for President Bush in Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, and other swing states, and http://www.billingsgazette.com/index.php?id=1&display=rednews/2004/11/10/build/state/30-govs-argue.inc sparring with incoming Democratic governor 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...
over transition of state government.
In September 2005 Martz was named chair of Montanans for Judge Roberts (Chief Justice nominee John Glover Roberts, Jr.) and spoke at a rally in support of Roberts with past and present statewide Republican officials such as ex-Congressman 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:...
.
Trivia
In May 2003, Martz made it into the news, through no action of her own, because of a supposed similarity to the face and hair of one nude bordello dancer sculpted by Seattle artist Kristine Veith, and placed in a new development in downtown HelenaHelena, 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...
.
Both Martz and Veith deny the similarity, with Martz stating, possibly partially tongue-in-cheek, "I'm a very modest person, no one would ever see me like that. My husband doesn't ever see me like that" (http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2003/09/05/news/mtregional/news06.txt, http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/09/05/national/main571920.shtml).