vt_sen_TUTTLE
FRED TUTTLE
Age: 79 Born: July 18, 1919 in Tunbridge, Vermont Education: only completed 10th grade at South Royalton H.S. Military: U.S. Army during World War II Family: married - Dorothy Hometown: Tunbridge, Vermont Religion: Protestant Career: Dairy Farmer |
• Political neophyte Fred Tuttle starred in the 1996 film, 'Man with a Plan.' As the Regressive Party candidate for Senate, Tuttle pledged to first raise his pay if elected.
• In 1998, he defeated Jack McMullen for the Republican nomination. McMullen, a Massachusetts management consultant and multimillionaire, was dogged throughout the campaign with charges he was just a carpet-bagger. He's owned a Vermont vacation home for 15 years, but only purchased an apartment in Burlington in 1997.
• Tuttle's campaign started as a satire on the political process. After his primary win, on a $16 budget, his campaign hosted 'FredFest' - a nickel-a-plate fundraising dinner. The Campaign Manager (also the film's Director) used more than $200,000 of his own money on the campaign, but it was classified as movie promotion.
• Tuttle's great-grandfather moved to Vermont in 1832.
• Dorothy Tuttle doesn't support her husband's candidacy, saying, "I hope people have more sense than to think Fred could do anything down in Washington. He doesn't know one thing about politics. He can't even get around the house - he expects me to wait on him hand and foot."
• Fred's platform is based on four principles: FRED - Friendly, Renewable, Extra-Terrestrial, and Dinky. While he doesn't have substantive plans or goals if elected (dinky), Fred Tuttle wants to see more trash recycled or just put in space (Renewable and Extra-Terrestrial). Fred is so friendly - he and his wife invited their opponent, incumbent Sen. Patrick Leahy, for dinner.
• Fred's debate preparation include diction and speech coaching, as well as New York Public Library's Book of Answers memorization.