Richard McCormack
| Richard McCormack | ||
 | ||
| Vermont Senate Windsor District | ||
| Incumbent | ||
| In office | ||
| 2007 - present | ||
| Term ends | ||
| January 7, 2015 | ||
| Years in position | 6 | |
| Party | Democratic | |
| Compensation | ||
| Base salary | $604.79/week | |
| Per diem | $162/day (non-commuter) $61/day (commuter) | |
| Elections and appointments | ||
| Last election | November 6, 2012 | |
| First elected | November 6, 2006 | |
| Next election | November 4, 2014 | |
| Term limits | N/A | |
| Prior offices | ||
| Vermont Senate | ||
| 1989-2003 | ||
| Education | ||
| Bachelor's | Hofstra University | |
| Personal | ||
| Birthday | July 20, 1947 | |
| Place of birth | New York City, NY | |
| Profession | Performer/Broadcaster | |
| Religion | Episcopalian | |
| Websites | ||
| Office website | ||
 | ||
Contents |
Biography
McCormack earned his BA from Hofstra University in 1970. He went on to attend Castleton State College from 1977 to 1978. He then attended MSEL at Vermont Law School from 1999 to the present.
McCormack was a teacher for Woodstock County School from 1978 to 1980. He has worked as a performer and broadcaster since 1966.
McCormack's political experience began with his work as a Justice of the Peace.
Committee assignments
2013-2014
At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, McCormack served on the following committees:
| Vermont Committee Assignments, 2013 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| • Education, Chair | ||||
| • Health and Welfare | ||||
2011-2012
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, McCormack served on these committees:
| Vermont Committee Assignments, 2011 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| • Finance | ||||
| • Natural Resources and Energy | ||||
2009-2010
In the 2009-2010 legislative session, McCormack served on these committees:
| Vermont Committee Assignments, 2009 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| • Finance | ||||
| • Natural Resources and Energy | ||||
Issues
Charter schools
On February 8, 2013, McCormack and fellow Senators Donald Collins, David Zuckerman, and Richard Sears introduced a bill to impose more requirements on many independent schools. Under Senate Bill 91, any independent schools which receives public tuition funds for more than one third of its students would be required to hire only state-certified teachers, accept all publicly funded students who apply so long as space permits, provide free and reduced-price lunch to eligible students, and be approved to offer at least four categories of special education.[1] John McClaughry of the Ethan Allen Institute, a free-market think tank, criticized McCormack's bill as "clearly designed to put as many general purpose independent schools under the big fat thumb of the Education Agency in Montpelier." He accused McCormack of attempting to rush the bill through without input from the independent schools.[2] The Vermont Independent Schools Association also opposed the bill, saying, "State control of admissions and of hiring would strongly impair independent schools' ability to fulfill their unique missions."[3] McCormack and bill supporters argued that the independent schools were weakening public education by attracting students and state tuition dollars away from public schools without being required to meet state mandates, such as the requirement to offer expensive special education services. The Vermont National Education Association and the Vermont School Board Association endorsed SB 91.[4] The bill was referred to the Education Committee, chaired by McCormack. Collins and Zuckerman are also members of the five-member committee.
Elections
2012
- See also: Vermont State Senate elections, 2012
McCormack won re-election in the 2012 election for Vermont State Senate Windsor District. McCormack was unopposed in the August 28 Democratic primary and won re-election in the general election which took place on November 6, 2012.[5]
| Vermont State Senate, Windham District, General Election, 2012 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic |  John Campbell Incumbent |
23.3% | 16,249 | |
| Democratic | Richard McCormack Incumbent |
21.8% | 15,217 | |
| Democratic | Alice Nitka Incumbent |
21.3% | 14,899 | |
| Republican | Paul Gibbs Jr. | 9.5% | 6,651 | |
| Republican | Dick Tracy | 13.8% | 9,617 | |
| Republican | Jeff Whittemore | 10.3% | 7,162 | |
| Total Votes | 69,795 | |||
2010
- See also: Vermont State Senate elections, 2010
McCormack ran for re-election to the 29th District Seat (Windsor District) in 2010. He ran against John Campbell, and Alice Nitka in the Democratic primary on August 24, 2010. He defeated Francis Renaud (R), Henry Holmes (R), and John MacGovern (R) in the general election on November 2, 2010.[6]
| Vermont State Senate, Windsor District, General Election (2010) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| John Campbell (D)
|
11,896 | |||
| Richard "Dick" McCormack (D)
|
10,893 | |||
| Alice Nitka (D)
|
10,393 | |||
| Francis Renaud (R) | 5,688 | |||
| Henry Holmes (R) | 6,888 | |||
| John MacGovern | 5,423 | |||
2008
On November 4, 2008, McCormack won re-election by finishing second for the three-seat Windsor District of the Vermont State Senate, receiving 14,898 votes behind Democrat John Campbell (16,426) and ahead of Democrat Alice Nitka (13,783), Republicans Kent Butterfield (8,320) and Kirk Sparkman (5,969), independent Mark Blanchard (5,619), Republican Ethan Foster (4,680), and write-ins (43).[7]
McCormack raised $4,254 for his campaign, against $16,698 by Campbell, $3,868 by Nitka, $4,645 by Butterfield, and $1,500 by Sparkman.[8]
| Vermont State Senate, Windsor District | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| John Campbell (D)
|
16,426 | |||
| Richard McCormack (D)
|
14,898 | |||
| Alice Nitka (D)
|
13,783 | |||
| Kent Butterfield (R) | 8,320 | |||
| Kirk Sparkman (R) | 5,969 | |||
| Mark Blanchard (I) | 5,619 | |||
| Ethan Foster (R) | 4,680 | |||
| Write-ins | 43 | |||
Campaign donors
2012
Campaign donor information is not yet available for this year.
2010
In 2010, McCormack received $560 in campaign donations. The top contributors are listed below.[9]
| Vermont State Senate 2010 election - Campaign Contributions | |
|---|---|
| Top contributors to Richard McCormack's campaign in 2010 | |
| Vermont Trial Lawyers Association | $250 |
| Williamson, Bob | $100 |
| Total Raised in 2010 | $560 |
2008
McCormack raised $4,254 for the 2008 election.
His major contributors are listed below.[10]
| Donor | Amount |
|---|---|
| Vermont Dental Society | $300 |
| FX Flinn | $300 |
| Vermont Renewable Energy | $200 |
| Richard McCormack or immediate family | $200 |
| Vermont State Employers Association | $200 |
| Vermont Ski Areas Association | $200 |
Personal
McCormack is divorced and has two children.
Recent news
 |
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This section displays the most recent stories in a Google news search for the term "Richard + McCormack + Vermont + Senate"
- All stories may not be relevant to this legislator due to the nature of the search engine.
Richard McCormack News Feed
- Vt. poised to allow lethal meds for terminally ill - WALA-TV FOX10
- 1980 Saw Unlimited Big-Name Democrats Fall - The Moderate Voice
- Campus bans guns, tells people to nod at attackers - Daily Caller
- Albanian Socialist arranged $10000 payment for Obama photo - Daily Caller
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External links
- Biography from the Vermont Secretary of State website
- Legislative profile from Project Vote Smart
- Biography from Project Vote Smart
- Campaign Contributions: 2008, 2006, 2000, 1998, 1996
- List of Vermont Senators
References
- ↑ Text of SB 91, accessed March 7, 2013
- ↑ John McClaughry, Ethan Allen Institute, "The Sudden New Assault on Independent Schools," accessed March 7, 2013
- ↑ [Caledonian Record, "Senate Bill Threatens School Choice, Independent Schools," February 26, 2013]
- ↑ [Alicia Freese, VTDigger.org (Vermont Journalism Trust), "Bill would attach strings to public funds to independent schools," February 28, 2013]
- ↑ Official primary candidate list
- ↑ General Election 2010 Official Results
- ↑ Vermont State Senate official 2008 election results
- ↑ Follow the Money's report on Campbell's 2008 campaign contributions
- ↑ Follow the Money - 2010 contributions
- ↑ Campaign contributors to Richard McCormack
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- State legislative article missing donor information
- Current member, Vermont State Senate
- State senators first elected in 1988
- State Senate candidate, 2010
- Vermont
- 2010 candidate
- Democratic Party
- 2010 incumbent
- 2010 winner
- 2012 incumbent
- State Senate candidate, 2012
- 2012 primary (winner)
- 2012 general election (winner)
