Patty Judge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Patty Judge
|
|
|---|---|
Judge in 2008
|
|
| 45th Lieutenant Governor of Iowa | |
| In office January 12, 2007 – January 14, 2011 |
|
| Governor | Chet Culver |
| Preceded by | Sally Pederson |
| Succeeded by | Kim Reynolds |
| 13th Secretary of Agriculture of Iowa | |
| In office January 15, 1999 – January 12, 2007 |
|
| Governor | Tom Vilsack |
| Preceded by | Dale Cochran |
| Succeeded by | Bill Northey |
| Member of the Iowa Senate from the 46th district |
|
| In office January 11, 1993 – January 10, 1999 |
|
| Preceded by | Leonard Boswell |
| Succeeded by | John Judge |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Patty Jean Poole
November 2, 1943 Fort Madison, Iowa |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
John Judge
(m. 1969) |
| Education | Iowa Methodist School of Nursing (RN) University of Iowa |
Patty Jean Judge (born November 2, 1943) is an American politician. She served as the 45th Lieutenant Governor of Iowa from 2007 to 2011. Before that, she was the 13th Secretary of Agriculture of Iowa from 1999 to 2007. She was elected Lieutenant Governor in 2006 with Chet Culver as Governor.
Early Life and Education
Growing Up in Iowa
Patty Judge was born in Fort Madison, Iowa. Her parents were Lester and Lois Poole. She grew up in Albia, Iowa and finished high school there in 1962.
Becoming a Nurse
After high school, Patty went to the Iowa Methodist School of Nursing. She earned her Registered Nursing (RN) degree in 1965. She also studied at the University of Iowa.
Career Before Politics
Helping People as a Nurse
As a registered nurse, Patty Judge worked in public health. She helped create new training programs for nurses. She also developed ways to check if hospital services were being used well. This work was done at the Monroe County Hospital.
Working in Real Estate
Patty Judge was also interested in helping her community grow. She got a license to sell real estate. She started a small business that focused on buying and selling farms. She even took over her parents' real estate business. During the 1980s, when many farms faced problems, she helped farmers and lenders work together.
Political Journey
Serving in the Iowa Senate
In 1992, Patty Judge decided to run for the Iowa Senate. She won the election for Iowa's 46th District. She was re-elected in 1996. During her time in the Senate, she helped lead her political party. She was also a key member of the Agriculture Committee. She worked on committees dealing with natural resources, money, and human services.
Becoming Secretary of Agriculture
Patty Judge was first elected as the Secretary of Agriculture of Iowa in 1998. This role involves overseeing farming and food in the state. She won the election with 451,715 votes. She was re-elected in 2002, winning with 490,561 votes. Patty Judge was the first woman to hold this important position in Iowa. She used her experience in farming and management to help the state's agriculture.
Serving as Lieutenant Governor
In 2006, Patty Judge joined Chet Culver as his running mate for Governor. On November 7, 2006, she was elected Lieutenant Governor of Iowa. She received 569,021 votes. As Lieutenant Governor, she worked as a Homeland Security Advisor. She played a big part in helping with rescue efforts during the Iowa flood of 2008. She also worked to address unfairness in prisons. She strongly supported programs that helped children's health.
In 2010, she and Governor Culver ran for re-election but lost. They received 484,798 votes. In 2012, she decided not to run for Lieutenant Governor again in 2014.
Leading Renewable Energy Efforts
In 2015, Patty Judge became a co-chair of a group called America's Renewable Future. This group works to make sure political leaders understand the importance of renewable fuels. She met with many candidates to talk about the Renewable Fuel Standard.
Running for U.S. Senate
On March 4, 2016, she announced she would run for the United States Senate. She said she wanted to run because of how a Supreme Court nominee was treated. She won her party's primary election on June 7, 2016, with 46,322 votes. However, she lost the main election to the Republican candidate, Chuck Grassley.
Personal Life
Family and Farm Life
Patty Judge has lived in southern Iowa her whole life. She and her husband, John, have owned a cow-calf farm in Monroe County for many years. Her husband, John, also served in the Iowa Senate. They have three sons: Joseph, Douglas, and W. Dien. They also have five grandchildren.
Community Involvement
Patty Judge has always been active in her community. She served on the Albia Chamber of Commerce Board. She was a leader for 4-H, which is a youth development organization. She is also a member of PEO and an honorary FFA Chapter Farmer. She has also been a member of the Iowa State Fair Board. She is a Roman Catholic and attends St. Mary's Church in Albia.
In 2011, her son Joe ran for the Iowa House of Representatives. He won his primary election but lost the general election by a small number of votes.
Iowa Women's Hall of Fame
On August 24, 2013, Patty Judge was honored by being named to the Iowa Women's Hall of Fame. This award recognizes women who have made important contributions to Iowa.
See also
- List of female lieutenant governors in the United States
