Chet Culver facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Chet Culver
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Culver in 2010
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| 41st Governor of Iowa | |
| In office January 12, 2007 – January 14, 2011 |
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| Lieutenant | Patty Judge |
| Preceded by | Tom Vilsack |
| Succeeded by | Terry Branstad |
| 29th Secretary of State of Iowa | |
| In office January 15, 1999 – January 12, 2007 |
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| Governor | Tom Vilsack |
| Preceded by | Paul Pate |
| Succeeded by | Michael Mauro |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Chester John Culver
January 25, 1966 Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Mariclare Thinnes
(m. 1993) |
| Relations | John Culver (father) |
| Education | Virginia Tech (BA) Drake University (MA) |
Chester John Culver (born January 25, 1966) is an American politician. He served as the 41st Governor of Iowa from 2007 to 2011. Before that, he was Iowa's Secretary of State from 1999 to 2007. He is a member of the Democratic Party. He won the election for governor in 2006 but lost when he ran again in 2010.
After leaving public office, he started a company called the Chet Culver Group. This company helps businesses in the energy field. He was also appointed to a special board for agriculture by Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden. He is the most recent Governor of Iowa from the Democratic Party.
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Early Life and Education
Chet Culver was born in Washington, D.C.. His father, John Culver, was a U.S. senator for Iowa. Chet went to Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School in Maryland.
He attended Virginia Tech on a football scholarship. In 1988, he earned a degree in political science. Later, in 1994, he received a master's degree in education from Drake University.
Career in Public Service
After college, Culver moved to Iowa. He worked for the state's Democratic Party. He also worked as a lobbyist, which means he tried to influence lawmakers.
From 1991 to 1995, he worked to protect consumers and the environment. After getting his master's degree, he became a teacher in Des Moines. He taught government and history at Roosevelt High School and Hoover High School. He also coached football and basketball.
Serving as Secretary of State
In 1998, Chet Culver ran for Secretary of State of Iowa. He won the election by over 27,000 votes. At 32 years old, he was the youngest Secretary of State in the United States at that time.
He was reelected for a second term in 2002. While in this role, he started the Iowa Student Political Awareness Club. This club helps students learn about politics and encourages them to vote when they are old enough.
Becoming Governor of Iowa
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In 2005, Culver announced he would run for Governor of Iowa. He won the primary election against three other candidates. In the main election, he defeated Jim Nussle by over 100,000 votes.
Culver ran for reelection in 2010 with Lieutenant Governor Patty Judge. However, he lost to Terry Branstad, a former governor. Branstad won by more than 100,000 votes.
Key Actions as Governor
As governor, Chet Culver focused on several important areas.
- Renewable Energy: He supported Iowa's efforts in renewable energy. He created the Iowa Power Fund to help with this goal. This fund helped develop clean energy sources like wind power.
- Stem Cell Research: Governor Culver signed a law that made it easier to do certain types of stem cell research in Iowa. This research aims to find cures for diseases like cancer and Parkinson's. The law allowed for more research but still prevented human cloning.
- Responding to Floods: In 2008, major floods hit Iowa. Many people supported how Governor Culver handled the disaster. He later proposed a $40 million fund to help with future disasters. He also declared March 2010 "Flood Awareness Month."
- Minimum Wage Increase: In 2007, Culver signed a law that raised Iowa's minimum wage. It was the first increase in ten years. The hourly wage went from $5.15 to $7.25.
After Being Governor
After leaving the governor's office in 2011, Chet Culver started his own consulting firm. This company, the Chet Culver Group, works with businesses in the energy field.
In 2012, President Barack Obama appointed Culver to the board of directors for the Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation. He served there until 2019. In 2021, President Joe Biden nominated him again for the same board, and he rejoined in May 2022.
Personal Life
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Chet Culver is a Presbyterian. His wife, Mariclare, is a Roman Catholic. Mariclare is also a lawyer. She worked for the Office of the Attorney General.
In the 2008 presidential election, Chet Culver supported Barack Obama.
Images for kids
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Chet Culver taking the oath of office for the Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation's board of directors in 2012.
See also
In Spanish: Chet Culver para niños
