Governor Douglas served Vermont for more than 35 years. He was elected to the House of Representatives after graduating from Middlebury College in 1972. He became Assistant Majority Leader in his second term and Majority Leader in his third, at age 25. He was Executive Assistant to Governor Richard Snelling in 1979 and 1980.
He was elected Secretary of State in 1980, a post he held for 12 years. He was elected State Treasurer in 1994 and served for eight years. Under his leadership Vermont's bond rating was the best in New England and among the highest in the nation.
Douglas was elected Governor in 2002 and re-elected three times. He focused on strengthening the state’s economy, reducing the cost of living and protecting the state’s natural environment. He advanced groundbreaking health reforms that made Vermont a model among the states. He worked to strengthen the relationship between Vermont and Quebec.
Douglas was chosen for leadership positions by his colleagues, serving as the president of the Council of State Governments, chairman (twice) of the New England Governors’ Conference and chairman of the Coalition of Northeastern Governors. He chaired the National Governors Association. President Obama appointed him co-chair of the Council of Governors.
Governor Douglas is now an Executive in Residence at Middlebury College. He serves on the boards of several companies and the Calvin Coolidge Presidential Foundation. He served as Middlebury Town Moderator for 33 years. He and his wife, Dorothy, have two sons and two grandsons.
