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Christine Hallquist

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Christine Hallquist
Hallquist gesturing toward a forest
Personal details
Born (1956-04-11) April 11, 1956 (age 68)
Baldwinsville, New York, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse
Patricia
​
(m. 1984)​
Children3
EducationMohawk Valley Community College
University of Massachusetts
WebsiteCampaign website

Christine Hallquist (born April 11, 1956)[1] is an American politician and former CEO of Vermont Electric Cooperative (VEC). She is the first openly transgender major-party nominee for governor in the United States, winning the 2018 Democratic nomination for Governor of Vermont with over 40% of the vote.[2][3] Hallquist worked at VEC from 1998 to 2018, the last 13 years as CEO, until she resigned to run for governor.[4][5] Drawing national attention as a pioneering example of a CEO transitioning while in office, her transition was documented by her son in a documentary, Denial.[2][6][7]

Early life and education

Hallquist grew up in Baldwinsville, New York as one of seven children and later attended Catholic elementary school.[8] She had a difficult time in school and in the 8th grade, a school official called her parents to say that she needed an exorcism. Her parents immediately disagreed with school officials and pulled her out of the school. She attended public high school and later the Mohawk Valley Community College in Utica, New York. At the age of 20, Hallquist moved to Vermont. She started as an engineer at IBM and then enrolled in a training program at the University of Massachusetts to become an electrical engineer.[9]

Career

After beginning her professional life at IBM, Hallquist took a job at Digital Equipment Corporation.[10] There she joined a training program at the University of Massachusetts to become an electrical engineer and worked with Digital to create low-cost power supplies quickly using lean manufacturing.[10] Hallquist accepted an early buyout from Digital and moved back to Vermont to become the CEO of a small electronics company in Barre, Vermont, then founded a consulting firm that worked with such companies as Xerox, Miller Beer, and Honda.[10] She started at VEC as engineering and operations manager in 2000, shortly after its recovery from bankruptcy.[10]

In July 2021 Governor Phil Scott appointed her as executive director of the newly-established Vermont Community Broadband Board (VCBB).[11]

Gubernatorial campaign

Further information: 2018 Vermont gubernatorial election

Hallquist announced her 2018 gubernatorial campaign in Morrisville, Vermont on April 8, and said, "I truly believe Vermont is ready to elect a transgender governor because I don't think Vermonters are going to look at that."[12] Hallquist ran on a platform of increased broadband access, universal Medicare and aggressive action against climate change.[13]

In an August 22, 2018 interview with the Associated Press, Hallquist reported she had been getting death threats and personal attacks from all over the United States and around the world. The threats caused Hallquist to alter campaign appearances and decide not to publicize the address of her Morrisville campaign headquarters.[14][15] On September 17, 2018, Politico rated the race as "Lean Republican", one step away from a tossup.[16] On November 6, 2018, Hallquist lost the election to Republican candidate and incumbent Phil Scott.

Personal life

Hallquist lives in Hyde Park, Vermont, with her wife, Pat. They have three adult children and two grandchildren.[4][10][17] She confided to her wife that she was transgender early in their marriage and opened up to her children in the 2000s.[18] She publicly transitioned in 2015.[19] Although her mother accepted the transition, Hallquist's relationship with some of her friends and siblings deteriorated.[19] Hallquist later commented that the transition was much easier than expected and that her relationship with her wife and children remains strong.[20]

In April 2020, Hallquist tested positive for COVID-19.[21][22]

References

  1. ^ McCullum, April (August 14, 2018). "Christine Hallquist: What you need to know about the first transgender nominee for governor". Burlington Free Press. Retrieved August 15, 2018.
  2. ^ a b "Christine Hallquist wins Vermont primary, becoming first openly transgender major party nominee for governor". Washington Post. August 15, 2018. Retrieved August 15, 2018.
  3. ^ Landen, Xander; O'Connor, Kevin; Silberman, Alexandre (August 15, 2018). "Hallquist celebrates historic victory, trains sights on Scott". Vermont Digger. Retrieved August 15, 2018.
  4. ^ a b Hallenbeck, Terri (November 4, 2015). "Becoming Christine: Transgender CEO Hallquist Prepares to Go to Work As a Woman – Business – Vermont's Independent Voice". Seven Days. Retrieved August 15, 2018.
  5. ^ WCAX (February 21, 2018). "Hallquist resigns from VEC". WCAX. Retrieved August 15, 2018.
  6. ^ "Denial – a feature length documentary about facing the bitter truth". Retrieved August 15, 2018.
  7. ^ "VEC CEO Hallquist comes out as transgender". Vermont Business Magazine. September 11, 2015. Archived from the original on August 15, 2018. Retrieved August 15, 2018.
  8. ^ Evans, Brad (February 20, 2018). "Transgender woman to run for governor of Vermont". WPTZ. Retrieved August 15, 2018.
  9. ^ Yoked, Tzach (August 24, 2018). "'After Transitioning, Everything Seems Easier': Meet Christine Hallquist, Who May Become America's First Trans Governor". Haaretz. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
  10. ^ a b c d e "Plugged In & Out: Christine Hallquist, Vermont Electric Coop". Vermont Business Magazine. August 6, 2017. Retrieved August 15, 2018.
  11. ^ "Governor Phil Scott Appoints Christine Hallquist as Executive Director of the Vermont Community Broadband Board". Office of Governor Phil Scott. Vermont.gov. July 13, 2021. Retrieved July 20, 2021.
  12. ^ Amato, Dom (April 8, 2018). "Hallquist makes campaign for governor official". WCAX. Retrieved August 15, 2018.
  13. ^ Bidgood, Jess (August 14, 2018). "Christine Hallquist, a Transgender Woman, Wins Vermont Governor's Primary". The New York Times. Retrieved August 15, 2018.
  14. ^ Staff Writer (August 22, 2018). "Vermont's transgender gubernatorial candidate getting death threats". NBC News. Associated Press. Retrieved August 22, 2018.
  15. ^ "Christine Hallquist Would Like to Talk About the Power Grid". The New York Times. October 17, 2018. Retrieved October 30, 2018.
  16. ^ Shepard, Steven (September 17, 2018). "Who wins 2018? Predictions for Every House & Senate Election". Politico. Retrieved September 17, 2018.
  17. ^ Andersen, Travis (August 15, 2018). "5 things to know about Christine Hallquist, trailblazing Vermont candidate". The Boston Globe. Retrieved August 15, 2018.
  18. ^ Yoked, Tzach (August 24, 2018). "'After Transitioning, Everything Seems Easier': Meet Christine Hallquist, Who May Become America's First Trans Governor". Haaretz. Retrieved September 21, 2018.
  19. ^ a b Hallenbeck, Terri. "Becoming Christine: Transgender CEO Hallquist Prepares to Go to Work As a Woman". Seven Days. Retrieved September 21, 2018.
  20. ^ Prengel, Kate (August 14, 2018). "Christine Hallquist: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know". Heavy.com. Retrieved September 21, 2018.
  21. ^ Masters, Jeffrey (April 10, 2020). "Trans Politician Christine Hallquist Tests Positive for COVID-19". The Advocate. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
  22. ^ Epp, Henry; Kolb Noyes, Amy (April 14, 2020). "Christine Hallquist Recovering From COVID-19: 'It Was A Brutal Illness'". Vermont Public Radio. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
Party political offices
Preceded by Democratic nominee for Governor of Vermont
2018 		Succeeded by
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