Brian Schweitzer facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Brian Schweitzer
23rd Governor of Montana
In office January 3, 2005 – January 7, 2013
Lieutenant	John Bohlinger
Preceded by	Judy Martz
Succeeded by	Steve Bullock
Personal details
Born	Brian David Schweitzer (1955-09-04) September 4, 1955 (age 69) Havre, Montana, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Nancy Hupp ​ (m. 1981)​
Children	3
Education	Colorado State University (BS) Montana State University (MS)
Occupation	Farmer, rancher, politician

Brian David Schweitzer (born September 4, 1955) is an American farmer and politician. He served as the 23rd Governor of Montana from 2005 to 2013. A governor is the leader of a U.S. state's government. During his time in office, he also led groups of other governors, like the Western Governors Association and the Democratic Governors Association.

Early Life and Career

Brian Schweitzer was born in Havre, Montana. He was the fourth of six children. His father's family came from a German-speaking area that is now in Ukraine. His mother's family was Irish.

After high school, Schweitzer went to college. He earned a bachelor's degree from Colorado State University in 1978. He then earned a master's degree in soil science from Montana State University in 1980.

For several years, Schweitzer traveled the world. He worked on farming projects in Africa, Asia, Europe, and South America. He even learned to speak Arabic while working in Libya and Saudi Arabia. In 1986, he returned to Montana and started a farm and ranch in Whitefish.

In 1993, President Bill Clinton appointed Schweitzer to a position in the United States Department of Agriculture. He worked there for seven years, helping Montana's farmers.

2000 U.S. Senate Election

Schweitzer speaking about conserving natural resources.

In 2000, Schweitzer decided to run for the U.S. Senate. He challenged the Republican senator at the time, Conrad Burns.

One of the main issues in the election was the high cost of medicine. Schweitzer organized bus trips for senior citizens to go to Canada and Mexico, where medicine was cheaper. This helped him become well-known across the state.

The election was very close. Schweitzer lost to Burns by a small margin, 47% to 51%. Even though he lost, the close race showed that he was a popular new leader in Montana.

Governor of Montana (2005–2013)

Governor Brian Schweitzer campaigning for a fellow politician in Billings, Montana in 2006.

Winning the Governorship

In 2004, the current governor, Judy Martz, decided not to run again. Schweitzer announced he would run for governor. His running mate for lieutenant governor was John Bohlinger, a Republican state senator. Schweitzer won the election, defeating Republican Bob Brown.

In 2008, Schweitzer and Bohlinger ran for re-election. They won by a large amount, getting over 65% of the vote.

Policies as Governor

As governor, Schweitzer was known for his friendly, down-to-earth style. His Border Collie dog, Jag, often came to work with him at the state capitol building. He was popular with voters and usually had an approval rating of over 60%.

Schweitzer was also known for using his veto power. A veto is when a governor rejects a bill passed by the legislature. In 2011, he famously used a hot branding iron to stamp "VETO" on several bills he disagreed with. He said the bills were "frivolous, unconstitutional and just bad ideas."

Education and Culture

Schweitzer cared a lot about education. He signed a law to create a full-time kindergarten program for families who wanted it. In 2005, he also signed the "Indian Education for All" law. This law provided money for schools to teach students about the history and culture of Montana's Native American tribes.

Under his leadership, Montana saw a big increase in the number of people with college degrees. This was because of programs that made college more affordable and accessible.

Energy and Environment

Schweitzer focused on developing Montana's energy resources. This included traditional fuels like coal and oil, but also renewable energy like wind power. He helped get the Rim Rock Wind Farm built, which was the state's largest wind farm when it opened in 2012. He also supported the Keystone XL pipeline project.

Other Important Actions

• Gun Laws: Schweitzer supported gun rights and was endorsed by the NRA Political Victory Fund. In 2009, he signed the Montana Firearms Freedom Act. This law tried to say that guns made and kept in Montana did not have to follow federal gun laws. However, federal courts later struck down the law.

• Pardoning Past Wrongs: In 2006, Schweitzer gave pardons to 78 people who had been wrongly convicted of sedition (speaking out against the government) during World War I. Some had been sent to prison for simple things, like calling food rationing a joke. Schweitzer said the pardons were a reminder of how important free speech is, even in wartime.

• Helping Veterans: After an Iraq war veteran died in 2007, Schweitzer started the Yellow Ribbon Program. This program helps soldiers returning from overseas get used to life back home.

Schweitzer speaks at the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado.

Life After Being Governor

Schweitzer's term as governor ended in 2013. He could not run again because of term limits. After leaving office, he became the chairman of the board for the Stillwater Mining Company, a major mining company in Montana.

For a while, people thought Schweitzer might run for other offices. He was mentioned as a possible running mate for Barack Obama in the 2008 presidential election. People also wondered if he would run for president in 2016, but he decided not to. In 2013, he also announced he would not run for the U.S. Senate.

Personal Life

Schweitzer married Nancy Hupp in 1981. They have three children: Ben, Khai, and Katrina.

Electoral History

See also

In Spanish: Brian Schweitzer para niños