Dave Freudenthal

David Duane Freudenthal (born October 12, 1950) is an American politician, attorney and economist who served as the 31st governor of Wyoming from 2003 to 2011. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served from 1994 to 2001 as the United States Attorney for the District of Wyoming. , he is the most recent Democrat to have won or held statewide office in Wyoming.

Biography Education and career

Dave Freudenthal was born in Thermopolis, the seat of Hot Springs County in north central Wyoming, the seventh of eight children; he grew up on a farm north of town. Eventually, he graduated from Amherst College in Amherst, Massachusetts, in 1973 with a bachelor's degree in economics. After graduating, he got a job with the Department of Economic Planning and Development as an economist and later became the state planning director for Governor Edgar Herschler.

Freudenthal received his J.D. degree from the University of Wyoming College of Law in 1980 and went into private practice. After retiring as governor, Freudenthal briefly worked at the law firm of Crowell & Moring as senior counsel in the firm's Cheyenne, Wyoming office before it closed. the law limited governors to eight years in office during a 16-year period.

Freudenthal remained consistently popular with his constituents throughout his tenure, even though he was a Democrat in a state that had turned almost solidly Republican. As governor he often took rather conservative positions, leading to disagreements with federal officials and environmental groups. In fact, Freudenthal and his eventual Republican successor, Matt Mead, notably held similar positions on various issues. The majority of his two terms oversaw an enormous energy boom and surpluses in government revenue, although this was later reversed after the Great Recession; Freudenthal then called for cuts to state agencies as growth continued to slow. In June 2007, following the death of Republican U.S. Senator Craig Thomas, he appointed Republican John Barrasso to the United States Senate; state law required him to select an appointee from a shortlist compiled by the Senator's party.

Personal life Freudenthal is married to Nancy D. Freudenthal, a native of Cody, who serves as a judge on the United States District Court for the District of Wyoming. They have four children. His brother, Steve Freudenthal, served as Attorney General under Governor Edgar Herschler and was a member of the state House of Representatives. In 2008, while serving as Governor, Freudenthal underwent surgery on his shoulder; during this time Secretary of State Max Maxfield served as acting governor for a short time. He is an Episcopalian.

Electoral history