Scudder Parker
Encyclopedia
Scudder Parker is a Democratic
politician from Vermont
.
Parker grew up on a dairy farm in a region of Vermont known as the Northeast Kingdom
. Parker attended Union Theological Seminary
, and became an ordained minister, like his father and grandfather. Early in his political career, Parker became the first Democrat to ever win a Vermont State Senate seat in the northeastern region of Vermont. He served in the State Senate from 1981 to 1988. In the Senate, Parker served as chair of the Finance Committee, a position that put Parker in a prominent position in writing the state's budget. Later, Parker served as chair of the Vermont Democratic Party
. He was Director of the Energy Efficiency Division of the Vermont Department of Public Service from January 1990 to February 2003.
in the November 2006 Vermont gubernatorial election. He was assured that nomination when no other Democrat filed by the July 16, 2006 deadline.
Parker started his campaign in the fall of 2005, visiting counties in Vermont and staying there for several days at a time, getting to know the locals. In the summer of 2006, his campaign staff tripled in number, bringing on full-time field, finance, and communications directors, as well as several support staffers. His fundraising efforts resulted in $110,000 in donations in the month of July 2006.
The Parker campaign had several banner issues, including energy
, education
, health care
, and economic development
. Parker was seen as a technocrat and released series of position papers on energy in support of a wide spectrum of renewable and sustainable energy sources
Parker's bid for the office governor ended on election night, November 6, 2006. The Republican Incumbent James Douglas defeated Parker. Douglas won 56% of the vote to Parker's 41%.
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...
politician from Vermont
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...
.
Parker grew up on a dairy farm in a region of Vermont known as the Northeast Kingdom
Northeast Kingdom
The Northeast Kingdom is a term used to describe the northeast corner of the U.S. state of Vermont, comprising Essex, Orleans and Caledonia Counties and having a population of 62,438. In Vermont, the written term "NEK" is often used. The term is attributed to the late George D. Aiken, former...
. Parker attended Union Theological Seminary
Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York
Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York is a preeminent independent graduate school of theology, located in Manhattan between Claremont Avenue and Broadway, 120th to 122nd Streets. The seminary was founded in 1836 under the Presbyterian Church, and is affiliated with nearby Columbia...
, and became an ordained minister, like his father and grandfather. Early in his political career, Parker became the first Democrat to ever win a Vermont State Senate seat in the northeastern region of Vermont. He served in the State Senate from 1981 to 1988. In the Senate, Parker served as chair of the Finance Committee, a position that put Parker in a prominent position in writing the state's budget. Later, Parker served as chair of the Vermont Democratic Party
Vermont Democratic Party
The Vermont Democratic Party is the affiliate branch of the United States Democratic Party in the state of Vermont. The party advocates progressivism, American liberalism and social democracy in the Vermont government. It holds the governorship and the majority in both houses of the state legislature...
. He was Director of the Energy Efficiency Division of the Vermont Department of Public Service from January 1990 to February 2003.
Race for governor, 2006
In 2005, Parker announced his intention to run for the Democratic Party nomination to challenge Governor Jim DouglasJim 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...
in the November 2006 Vermont gubernatorial election. He was assured that nomination when no other Democrat filed by the July 16, 2006 deadline.
Parker started his campaign in the fall of 2005, visiting counties in Vermont and staying there for several days at a time, getting to know the locals. In the summer of 2006, his campaign staff tripled in number, bringing on full-time field, finance, and communications directors, as well as several support staffers. His fundraising efforts resulted in $110,000 in donations in the month of July 2006.
The Parker campaign had several banner issues, including energy
Energy
In physics, energy is an indirectly observed quantity. It is often understood as the ability a physical system has to do work on other physical systems...
, education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
, health care
Health care
Health care is the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease, illness, injury, and other physical and mental impairments in humans. Health care is delivered by practitioners in medicine, chiropractic, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, allied health, and other care providers...
, and economic development
Economic development
Economic development generally refers to the sustained, concerted actions of policymakers and communities that promote the standard of living and economic health of a specific area...
. Parker was seen as a technocrat and released series of position papers on energy in support of a wide spectrum of renewable and sustainable energy sources
Parker's bid for the office governor ended on election night, November 6, 2006. The Republican Incumbent James Douglas defeated Parker. Douglas won 56% of the vote to Parker's 41%.
On the issues
Parker's positions on notable issues:- AgricultureAgricultureAgriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
- In favor of federal aid to help farmers recover from the 2006 crop loss. - EducationEducationEducation in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
- Proposed to raise education taxes while cutting education spending, something unique among administrations nationwide. - EnergyEnergyIn physics, energy is an indirectly observed quantity. It is often understood as the ability a physical system has to do work on other physical systems...
- Incentives for new energy solutions. Reduce dependence on fossil fuels and nuclear energy. Create a plan to move Vermont to a more clean, stable and self-reliant energy future. - Health careHealth careHealth care is the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease, illness, injury, and other physical and mental impairments in humans. Health care is delivered by practitioners in medicine, chiropractic, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, allied health, and other care providers...
- In favor of health care reform. Removing health care employment restrictions. Lowering costs while offering it to more individuals. - HousingHouseA house is a building or structure that has the ability to be occupied for dwelling by human beings or other creatures. The term house includes many kinds of different dwellings ranging from rudimentary huts of nomadic tribes to free standing individual structures...
- Develop housing plans at the local area. Supporting town and regional planning commissions for clear, improved and affordable housing. - War in Iraq - Against the war since the beginning. Make sure veteran's benefits are fully funded. Prompt and honorable return from Iraq.
- Women's Health CareHealth careHealth care is the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease, illness, injury, and other physical and mental impairments in humans. Health care is delivered by practitioners in medicine, chiropractic, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, allied health, and other care providers...
- Believes that "men and women have the basic human right to consult with their physicians in private about their own health-care decisions."