Kenneth M. Curtis
Encyclopedia
Kenneth Merwin Curtis is an American lawyer and former politician. He is currently a principal in the law firm
of Curtis Thaxter Stevens Broder & Micoleau Limited Liability Company, P.A.
Curtis was born in Leeds, Maine
and graduated with a Bachelor of Science
from Maine Maritime Academy in 1952 and rose to the rank of lieutenant commander
in the U.S. Navy
. He received his law degree from Portland University in Maine (now part of the University of Maine
). Curtis received an LL.D. from Bates College
in 1981.
Curtis, a member of the Democratic Party
, was the Secretary of State of Maine
from 1965–1966, before becoming the 68th Governor
in 1967. He held that office until 1975. Curtis served as chairman of the Democratic National Committee
from 1977 to 1978 and Ambassador to Canada from 1979 to 1981.
Curtis served as President of Maine Maritime Academy. He was also Chairman of the Environmental Task Force of the National Governors' Conference in the early 1970s. He is a Protestant
.
Curtis is semi-retired, currently residing on Siesta Key in Sarasota, Florida
.
As a registered voter in Florida, Curtis temporarily lost his superdelegate
vote in the 2008 Democratic National Convention
when the Democratic Party ruled against seating any delegates from Florida because Florida had moved the date of its primary
to a date earlier than permitted under party rules. Curtis, a supporter of Hillary Clinton's campaign for president, stated that he might not attend the convention. Subsequently the Democratic National Committee Rules and By-laws Committee voted to seat all Florida delegates, including superdelegates, but with only half-votes.
Law firm
A law firm is a business entity formed by one or more lawyers to engage in the practice of law. The primary service rendered by a law firm is to advise clients about their legal rights and responsibilities, and to represent clients in civil or criminal cases, business transactions, and other...
of Curtis Thaxter Stevens Broder & Micoleau Limited Liability Company, P.A.
Curtis was born in Leeds, Maine
Leeds, Maine
Leeds is a town in Androscoggin County, Maine, United States. The population was 2,001 at the 2000 census. It is included in both the Lewiston-Auburn, Maine Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Lewiston-Auburn, Maine Metropolitan New England City and Town Area.-Geography:According to the United...
and graduated with a Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
from Maine Maritime Academy in 1952 and rose to the rank of lieutenant commander
Lieutenant commander (United States)
Lieutenant commander is a mid-ranking officer rank in the United States Navy, the United States Coast Guard, the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Corps, with the pay grade of O-4 and NATO rank code OF-3...
in the U.S. Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
. He received his law degree from Portland University in Maine (now part of the University of Maine
University of Maine
The University of Maine is a public research university located in Orono, Maine, United States. The university was established in 1865 as a land grant college and is referred to as the flagship university of the University of Maine System...
). Curtis received an LL.D. from Bates College
Bates College
Bates College is a highly selective, private liberal arts college located in Lewiston, Maine, in the United States. and was most recently ranked 21st in the nation in the 2011 US News Best Liberal Arts Colleges rankings. The college was founded in 1855 by abolitionists...
in 1981.
Curtis, a member of the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, was the Secretary of State of Maine
Secretary of State of Maine
The Secretary of State of Maine is elected by the Legislature in that U.S. state. The Maine Secretary of State is responsible for administering elections, the Maine State Archives, the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, and for chartering corporations. The Secretary of State is elected to no more than two...
from 1965–1966, before becoming the 68th Governor
Governor of Maine
The governor of Maine is the chief executive of the State of Maine. Before Maine was admitted to the Union in 1820, Maine was part of Massachusetts and the governor of Massachusetts was chief executive....
in 1967. He held that office until 1975. Curtis served as chairman of the Democratic National Committee
Democratic National Committee
The Democratic National Committee is the principal organization governing the United States Democratic Party on a day to day basis. While it is responsible for overseeing the process of writing a platform every four years, the DNC's central focus is on campaign and political activity in support...
from 1977 to 1978 and Ambassador to Canada from 1979 to 1981.
Curtis served as President of Maine Maritime Academy. He was also Chairman of the Environmental Task Force of the National Governors' Conference in the early 1970s. He is a Protestant
Protestantism
Protestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...
.
Curtis is semi-retired, currently residing on Siesta Key in Sarasota, Florida
Sarasota, Florida
Sarasota is a city located in Sarasota County on the southwestern coast of the U.S. state of Florida. It is south of the Tampa Bay Area and north of Fort Myers...
.
As a registered voter in Florida, Curtis temporarily lost his superdelegate
Superdelegate
"Superdelegate" is an informal term commonly used for some of the delegates to the Democratic National Convention, the presidential nominating convention of the United States Democratic Party....
vote in the 2008 Democratic National Convention
2008 Democratic National Convention
The United States 2008 Democratic National Convention was a quadrennial presidential nominating convention of the Democratic Party where it adopted its national platform and officially nominated its candidates for President and Vice President of the United States. The convention was held in Denver,...
when the Democratic Party ruled against seating any delegates from Florida because Florida had moved the date of its primary
Primary election
A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
to a date earlier than permitted under party rules. Curtis, a supporter of Hillary Clinton's campaign for president, stated that he might not attend the convention. Subsequently the Democratic National Committee Rules and By-laws Committee voted to seat all Florida delegates, including superdelegates, but with only half-votes.
External links
- curtisthaxter.com Kenneth Curtis biography