Matt Dunne
Encyclopedia
Matt Dunne is an American
politician
and businessman from the U.S. state
of Vermont
. He served four terms in the Vermont House of Representatives
, two terms in the Vermont State Senate
, was the Democratic
candidate in the 2006 Vermont Lt. Governor's race, and an unsuccessful candidate in the 2010 Vermont gubernatorial Democratic primary.
. Dunne attended Hanover High School
in Hanover, New Hampshire
, graduating in 1987. He then spent a year at Choate Rosemary Hall
, a top boarding school in Wallingford, Connecticut
, where his father had studied. After graduating from Choate in 1988, Dunne attended Brown University
, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts
in public policy
in 1992, the same class as Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal
.
. He has worked within the high-tech sector, working as Director of Marketing for Logic Associates, a Vermont software company. Following the 2006 election, Dunne was hired by Google
to run community affairs for the company from White River Junction, Vermont
.
representing Hartland and West Windsor. He served four terms in the Vermont House, during which he served as Vice-Chair of the Transportation Committee. In 1998 he became the youngest House majority whip in the country. After serving in the legislature for 7 years, President Clinton
asked Dunne to serve as Director of AmeriCorps VISTA
, an organization that oversees over 6,000 full-time volunteers in the fight against poverty. As director, Dunne improved recruitment numbers and overhauled the organization's training programs. He served as director for two and a half years, under both President Clinton and President Bush
.
After returning to Vermont in 2002, Matt was elected to the Vermont State Senate. He served on the Appropriations, Economic Development, and Administrative Rules Committees. During this time he served as Assistant Director of the Nelson A. Rockefeller Center for Public Policy at Dartmouth College
, where he oversaw programs to prepare young people for careers in public service and non-profit management, including the Policy Research Shop. He also served as Chair of the Vermont delegation to the New England Board of Higher Education
.
Brian Dubie
. Dunne's campaign received attention for its service politics events, where campaign volunteers worked with Vermont communities on local service projects. This led to the creation of the Service Politics Institute. Dunne lost to Dubie 45%-51%.
in 2010. Dunne was one of five Democrats vying for the nomination. The primary was held on August 24, 2010. Dunne finished fourth. He finished ahead of Susan Bartlett, but behind Peter Shumlin, Deborah Markowitz and Doug Racine, winning 20.8% of the popular vote. He was endorsed by many members of the Vermont State legislature, including Kesha Ram
and Suzi Wizowaty
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician
Politics of the United States
The United States is a federal constitutional republic, in which the President of the United States , Congress, and judiciary share powers reserved to the national government, and the federal government shares sovereignty with the state governments.The executive branch is headed by the President...
and businessman from the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
. He served four terms in the Vermont House of Representatives
Vermont House of Representatives
The Vermont House of Representatives is the lower house of the Vermont General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Vermont. The House comprises 150 members. Vermont legislative districting divides representing districts into 66 single-member districts and 42 two-member...
, two terms in the Vermont State Senate
Vermont Senate
The Vermont Senate is the upper house of the Vermont General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Vermont. The Senate consists of 30 members. Senate districting divides the 30 members into three single-member districts, six two-member districts, three three-member districts, and one...
, was the Democratic
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...
candidate in the 2006 Vermont Lt. Governor's race, and an unsuccessful candidate in the 2010 Vermont gubernatorial Democratic primary.
Early life
While being a Connecticut native, Dunne has spent much of his life in Hartland, VermontHartland, Vermont
Hartland is a town in Windsor County, Vermont, United States. The population was 3,223 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 45.2 square miles , of which 45.0 square miles is land and 0.2 square mile is water...
. Dunne attended Hanover High School
Hanover High School (New Hampshire)
Hanover High School is the only public high school in the Dresden School District, in Hanover, New Hampshire, USA. In 1963 it became the first interstate high school in the country as part of a bill that was the last ever signed into action by John F. Kennedy. Today it accepts students from...
in Hanover, New Hampshire
Hanover, New Hampshire
Hanover is a town along the Connecticut River in Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 11,260 at the 2010 census. CNN and Money magazine rated Hanover the sixth best place to live in America in 2011, and the second best in 2007....
, graduating in 1987. He then spent a year at Choate Rosemary Hall
Choate Rosemary Hall
Choate Rosemary Hall is a private, college-preparatory, coeducational boarding school located in Wallingford, Connecticut...
, a top boarding school in Wallingford, Connecticut
Wallingford, Connecticut
Wallingford is a town in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 43,026 at the 2000 census.- History :Wallingford was established on October 10, 1667, when the Connecticut General Assembly authorized the "making of a village on the east river" to 38 planters and freemen...
, where his father had studied. After graduating from Choate in 1988, Dunne attended Brown University
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in public policy
Public policy
Public policy as government action is generally the principled guide to action taken by the administrative or executive branches of the state with regard to a class of issues in a manner consistent with law and institutional customs. In general, the foundation is the pertinent national and...
in 1992, the same class as Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal
Bobby Jindal
Piyush "Bobby" Jindal is the 55th and current Governor of Louisiana and formerly a member of the United States House of Representatives. He is a member of the Republican Party....
.
Business career
Dunne was Director of Marketing for Logic Associates, a Vermont software company that during his tenure grew to over $18 million in sales. He also co-founded Cabin Fever Productions, which managed the Briggs Opera House and facilitated concerts in downtown White River Junction, VermontWhite River Junction, Vermont
White River Junction is an unincorporated village and census-designated place in the town of Hartford in Windsor County, Vermont, United States...
. He has worked within the high-tech sector, working as Director of Marketing for Logic Associates, a Vermont software company. Following the 2006 election, Dunne was hired by Google
Google
Google Inc. is an American multinational public corporation invested in Internet search, cloud computing, and advertising technologies. Google hosts and develops a number of Internet-based services and products, and generates profit primarily from advertising through its AdWords program...
to run community affairs for the company from White River Junction, Vermont
White River Junction, Vermont
White River Junction is an unincorporated village and census-designated place in the town of Hartford in Windsor County, Vermont, United States...
.
Political career
At age 22, Dunne was elected to the Vermont House of RepresentativesVermont House of Representatives
The Vermont House of Representatives is the lower house of the Vermont General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Vermont. The House comprises 150 members. Vermont legislative districting divides representing districts into 66 single-member districts and 42 two-member...
representing Hartland and West Windsor. He served four terms in the Vermont House, during which he served as Vice-Chair of the Transportation Committee. In 1998 he became the youngest House majority whip in the country. After serving in the legislature for 7 years, President Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
asked Dunne to serve as Director of AmeriCorps VISTA
AmeriCorps VISTA
AmeriCorps VISTA is a national service program designed to fight poverty. President John F. Kennedy originated the idea for VISTA, which was founded as Volunteers in Service to America in 1965 and incorporated into the AmeriCorps network of programs in 1993....
, an organization that oversees over 6,000 full-time volunteers in the fight against poverty. As director, Dunne improved recruitment numbers and overhauled the organization's training programs. He served as director for two and a half years, under both President Clinton and President Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
.
After returning to Vermont in 2002, Matt was elected to the Vermont State Senate. He served on the Appropriations, Economic Development, and Administrative Rules Committees. During this time he served as Assistant Director of the Nelson A. Rockefeller Center for Public Policy at Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College is a private, Ivy League university in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. The institution comprises a liberal arts college, Dartmouth Medical School, Thayer School of Engineering, and the Tuck School of Business, as well as 19 graduate programs in the arts and sciences...
, where he oversaw programs to prepare young people for careers in public service and non-profit management, including the Policy Research Shop. He also served as Chair of the Vermont delegation to the New England Board of Higher Education
New England Board of Higher Education
The New England Board of Higher Education is an interstate compact founded in 1955 by the six New England governors that promotes greater educational opportunities and services for the residents of New England. The region of New England includes the states of: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts,...
.
2006 campaign for Lieutenant Governor
In 2006, Dunne ran for Lieutenant Governor of Vermont. After winning a tightly contested primary, Dunne faced off against incumbent Lt. Governor RepublicanRepublican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
Brian Dubie
Brian Dubie
Brian E. Dubie is an American politician and former 78th Lieutenant Governor of Vermont. He served four terms as Vermont’s lieutenant governor...
. Dunne's campaign received attention for its service politics events, where campaign volunteers worked with Vermont communities on local service projects. This led to the creation of the Service Politics Institute. Dunne lost to Dubie 45%-51%.
2010 gubernatorial election
On November 3, 2009, Dunne announced that he would seek the Democratic nomination for Governor of VermontGovernor of Vermont
The Governor of Vermont is the governor of the U.S. state of Vermont. The governor is elected in even numbered years by direct voting for a term of two years; Vermont and bordering New Hampshire are the only states to hold gubernatorial elections every two years, instead of every four...
in 2010. Dunne was one of five Democrats vying for the nomination. The primary was held on August 24, 2010. Dunne finished fourth. He finished ahead of Susan Bartlett, but behind Peter Shumlin, Deborah Markowitz and Doug Racine, winning 20.8% of the popular vote. He was endorsed by many members of the Vermont State legislature, including Kesha Ram
Kesha Ram
Kesha Ram is a Democratic member of the Vermont House of Representatives, representing the Chittenden-3-4 District, which includes the Burlington neighborhoods of Old North End, Hill Section, and the University District...
and Suzi Wizowaty
Suzi Wizowaty
Suzi Wizowaty is an author and politician from Burlington, Vermont. A Democrat, she is a member of the Vermont House of Representatives, representing the Chittenden-3-5 district in Burlington...
.
External links
- Matt Dunne for Governor 2010 official campaign website
- Matt Dunne's campaign announcement video
- VermontFuture.org
- AmeriCorps*VISTA