Eliot Cutler

Eliot Cutler
Personal details
Born (1946-07-29) July 29, 1946
Bangor, Maine, U.S.
Political party Independent
Spouse(s) Melanie Stewart
Children Abigail
Zachary
Alma mater Harvard University
Georgetown University
Religion Judaism
Website Campaign website

Eliot Cutler (born July 29, 1946) is an American lawyer who was an Independent candidate in Maine's 2010 and 2014 gubernatorial races.[1][2][3]

Early life and career

Eliot was born and raised in Bangor, Maine, the eldest son of Lawrence and Catherine Cutler. His father was a physician and his mother was an economist.[4]

Eliot graduated from Harvard College and later earned a degree from Georgetown Law.

Cutler began his career as a legislative assistant to Senator Edmund Muskie of Maine, helping craft the Clean Water Act and the Clean Air Act.

He served as associate director for Natural Resources, Energy and Science in the Office of Management and Budget in the Carter administration, and was the principal White House official for energy.

He was a founding partner of Cutler & Stanfield LLP, which became the second largest environmental law firm in the country, eventually merging that practice with international firm Akin Gump in 2000.[5]

Cutler resides in Cape Elizabeth with his wife, Melanie Stewart Cutler. They have two adult children.[6]

2010 Gubernatorial campaign

On December 9, 2009, Cutler officially launched his campaign for governor of Maine. Had he been elected, he would have been Maine’s third Independent governor. He was endorsed by Maine's second Independent governor, Angus King.[7]

In a close election night race, Cutler took an early lead.[8] As the results came in from Maine's smaller and more rural communities, Cutler's lead shrank, and eventually opponent Paul LePage took the lead. Based on early, unofficial results, the Bangor Daily News projected that LePage would win, and Cutler conceded on the morning after the election.[9]

2014 Gubernatorial campaign

On June 6, 2013, Cutler announced on radio station WGAN's morning show that he would again run for governor, with a formal announcement coming after Labor Day. He dismissed the suggestion that his candidacy would result in another LePage victory, stating that he wouldn't run if he didn't think he could win.[10] While he was again endorsed by Angus King on August 18, 2014 [11] King withdrew his endorsement on October 29, 2014 in favor of the Democratic Party candidate, Mike Michaud.[12]

Cutler finished a distant third, with LePage winning reelection. Though many Democrats believe that Cutler was a two-time spoiler, it is a label he and his supporters reject.[13]

Other political involvement

He has served on the Board of Directors of Americans Elect, a nonprofit 501(c)(4) corporation which sought to gain ballot access for a presidential ticket, to be chosen through an on-line national primary, in every state in the 2012 Presidential Election.[14]

Cutler endorsed Angus King in the U.S. Senate election to succeed the retiring Olympia Snowe.[15] King won the election.

Cutler announced on April 2, 2015 that he would not run for Governor again, stating that he was taking a "vow of abstinence" from doing so. [16] He also announced his appointment by the University of Maine System to lead the creation of a new graduate center unifying existing graduate programs at the University of Southern Maine, University of Maine, and the University of Maine School of Law. [17]

References

  1. ↑ Wickenheiser, Matt (2009-06-25). "Governor's race draws a crowd of candidates". Portland Press Herald. MaineToday Media. Retrieved 2009-11-12.
  2. ↑ "Ex-White House official joins governor's race". Mainebiz. 2009-08-26. Retrieved 2009-11-12.
  3. ↑ Gagnon, Matthew (2009-09-05). "Eliot Cutler – Game Changer". Pine Tree Politics. Archived from the original on July 23, 2012. Retrieved 2012-07-23.
  4. ↑ http://www.pressherald.com/2014/07/13/the-early-years-eliot-cutler/. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  5. ↑ "Eliot R. Cutler, Partner". Akin Gump.
  6. ↑ "About Eliot". Archived from the original on April 25, 2010. Retrieved 22 September 2010.
  7. ↑ http://www.cutler2010.com/2010/10/endorsement-angus-king-endorses-eliot
  8. ↑ John Richardson Cutler takes early lead in governor's race Maine Today November 2, 2010
  9. ↑ Miller, Kevin; Wickenheiser, Matt (3 November 2010). "BDN projects LePage to win governor's race". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved 3 November 2010.
  10. ↑ "Eliot Cutler tells Portland radio show hosts that he's running for governor in 2014". Bangor Daily News. 6 June 2013. Retrieved 6 June 2013.
  11. ↑ "Angus King endorses Eliot Cutler at Portland press conference". Retrieved 18 August 2014.
  12. ↑ "Angus King switches endorsement from Cutler to Michaud" The Portland Press Herald October 28, 2014
  13. ↑
  14. ↑ Ballot-access.org. "Ballot Access News » Blog Archive » Christine Todd Whitman Encourages Jon Huntsman to Seek Americans Elect Nomination". Retrieved 2 December 2011.
  15. ↑ Cousins, Christopher (2012-03-05). "Angus King enters race for U.S. Senate". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved 2012-03-06.
  16. ↑ Whit Richardson (April 2, 2015). "Would Eliot Cutler run for governor again? 'No, I've taken a vow'". Portland Press Herald. Retrieved April 2, 2015.
  17. ↑ Noel, Gallagher (2015-04-02). "Eliot Cutler begins work to unify business, law schools in UMaine System". Portland Press Herald. Retrieved 2015-04-02.
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