Ruth Dwyer | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Vermont House of Representatives from the Orange-4 district | |
| In office January 1995 –January 1999 | |
| Preceded by | Doris Lingelbach |
| Succeeded by | Jim Masland |
| Personal details | |
| Born | April 25,1958 Painesville,Ohio,U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Education | University of Vermont |
Ruth Dwyer (born April 25,1958) is an American political figure who was the unsuccessful Republican nominee for Governor of Vermont in 1998 and 2000.
Ruth Dwyer [1] was born Ruth E. Cook [2] in Painesville,Ohio on April 25,1958. [3] She attended schools in Glens Falls,New York and Shelburne,Vermont. [1] Her family became residents of Thetford in 1971,and she graduated from Thetford Academy in 1976,afterwards attending the University of Vermont. [4] [5] With her then-husband Dr. John Dwyer she operated the Thetford Veterinary Clinic,raised cattle and sheep,and was a horse trainer and riding instructor. [6]
Dwyer served on the Thetford School Board from 1992 to 1994. [7] In 1994 she was elected to the Vermont House of Representatives as a Republican. She served two terms,1995 to 1999. [8]
In 1998 Dwyer was the Republican nominee for Governor. She defeated ski store owner Bernie Rome in the Republican primary. [9] In the general election,she opposed Howard Dean as he sought election to a fourth full term. Dean defeated Dwyer,55.6% to 41.1%. [10]
Dwyer ran again in 2000. Vermont had enacted the country's first Civil Unions law in 2000,which sparked a conservative counter-movement called Take Back Vermont. Dwyer associated herself with this movement,and defeated William Meub in the Republican primary. [11] [12] In the general election,Dean won a fifth full term with 50.4% to Dwyer's 37.9% and 9.5% for Progressive nominee Anthony Pollina. [13]
After her second race,Dwyer briefly became a television journalist for WVNY in Burlington. [14] In 2001 she was divorced from Dr. Dwyer, [15] and in 2002 she married New Hampshire businessman Tom Kent and became known as Ruth Dwyer Kent. [16] She continues to reside in Thetford,where she raises horses and operates a riding school. She remains active in the community,including holding the local office of pound keeper. [17]