nh_gov_SHAHEEN
GOV. JEANNE SHAHEEN
Age: 51 Born: January 28, 1947; St. Charles, Missouri. Education: University of Mississippi, M.S.S. (1973); Shippensburg University, B.A. (1969) Military: None Family: Married Bill; Three children Hometown: Madbury, New Hampshire Religion: Protestant Career: Governor (1997-present); State Senator (1990-96); Campaign Manager (1976-88); Director of Parent Associations, University of N.H. (1982-86); business owner (1973-76); high school teacher (1969-71) |
• Born in St. Charles, Missouri, Shaheen was both prom queen and a basketball star growing up. After graduating from Shippensburg University in Pennsylvania, she taught high school for a few years before heading back to school herself. In 1973, she received a masters degree in political science from the University of Mississippi at Oxford.
• Shaheen moved to New Hampshire in 1973, where she ran a small business and began to get involved in state politics. She ran the Dover office for Jimmy Carter during the 1976 primary campaign and gained accolades as the architect of President CarterÂ's New Hampshire primary victory after a strong challenge by Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA) in the 1980 presidential primary. Shaheen also managed Gary HartÂ's upset primary win over former Vice President Walter Mondale in 1984. She had two less successful stints managing Democrat Paul McEachernÂ's attempts to capture the governorÂ's office. McEachern lost to John Sununu in 1986 by 54% to 46% and to Judd Gregg in 1988 by 61% to 39%.
• Shaheen made her first run for office in 1990 and was elected to State Senate, where she served three terms. While in the Senate, she highlighted such issues as health care, lowering electric rates, the economy and education reform. These issues became the cornerstone of her first gubernatorial campaign.
• In 1996, Shahee ran for governor campaigning as a consensus builder who puts aside partisan politics. She also agreed to take the no-tax pledge which has become a litmus test for many New Hampshire voters. Garnering 57% of the vote, she easily beat Republican Ovide Lamontagne in the general election and became New HampshireÂ's first woman governor. She is only the third Democratic governor in New Hampshire since 1924.
• Shaheen is already being courted by potential Democratic presidential candidates. If she is re-elected as Governor of New Hampshire, she will be a key player in the 2000 presidential primary campaign.