John Bohlinger
{{short description|33rd Lieutenant Governor of Montana}}
{{for|the American musician and writer|John Bohlinger (musician)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2011}}
{{Infobox Officeholder
| name = John Bohlinger
| image = John Bohlinger headshot.jpg
| office1 = 33rd Lieutenant Governor of Montana
| governor1 = Brian Schweitzer
| term_start1 = January 3, 2005
| term_end1 = January 7, 2013
| predecessor1 = Karl Ohs
| successor1 = John Walsh
| state_senate2 = Montana
| district2 = 7th
| term_start2 = January 4, 1999
| term_end2 = December 16, 2004
| predecessor2 = Sharon Estrada
| successor2 = Jim Elliott
| state_house3 = Montana
| district3 = 14th
| term_start3 = January 2, 1995
| term_end3 = January 4, 1999
| predecessor3 = Bob Bachini
| successor3 = Roy Brown
| state_house4 = Montana
| district4 = 94th
| term_start4 = January 4, 1993
| term_end4 = January 2, 1995
| predecessor4 =
| successor4 = Larry Grinde
| birth_name = John Bohlinger Jr.
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1936|4|21}}
| birth_place = Bozeman, Montana, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| party = Democratic (2013–present)
| otherparty = Republican (before 2013)
Independent (2013)
| spouse = Bette Cobetto (deceased)
Karen Seiler
| alma_mater = University of Montana, Missoula
| children = John Bohlinger
I military = US Marines
}}
John Bohlinger Jr. (born April 21, 1936) is an American politician and businessman who served as the 33rd Lieutenant Governor of Montana from 2005 to 2013. He ran for the office as a Republican on a bipartisan ticket headed by Democratic gubernatorial candidate Brian Schweitzer. Schweitzer and Bohlinger were elected to the governorship and lieutenant governorship in 2004; both were reelected in 2008. Due to term limits, they were unable to run in the 2012 election. Bohlinger switched to the Democratic Party in 2013.
Early life, education and private career
Bohlinger was born in Bozeman, Montana, in 1936 to John and Aileen Bohlinger. In 1941, the family moved to Billings, Montana where his parents operated a women's apparel store, Aileen's.{{cite web|last=mt.gov|title=Biography: Lt. Governor John Bohlinger|url=http://governor.mt.gov/ltgov/ltgovbio.asp|accessdate=April 5, 2011|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110617161234/http://governor.mt.gov/ltgov/ltgovbio.asp|archivedate=June 17, 2011|df=mdy-all}}
While enrolled at Billings Senior High School, Bohlinger enlisted in the United States Marine Corps Reserve. He went on to the University of Montana where he became a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity, and earned a Bachelor of Arts in business. The Marine Corps called him to service after his sophomore year and he completed his university career after completing his service with the Marine Corps. Bohlinger spent the next 33 years as a small businessman working in the family clothing business.{{cite web|last=Project Vote Smart|title=Lieutenant Governor John C. Bohlinger (MT)|url=http://www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=6797|accessdate=April 5, 2011}}
Early political career
Bohlinger served three terms in the Montana House of Representatives and was then twice elected to the Montana Senate.{{cite web | url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/CandidateDetail.html?CandidateID=41413 | title=Our Campaigns - Candidate - John C. Bohlinger }} He resigned his Montana Senate seat as he assumed the office of lieutenant governor.{{source needed | date=November 2013}}
Lieutenant Governor of Montana
On the 2004 Democratic gubernatorial ticket, Bohlinger, a Republican, joined with Democratic candidate Brian Schweitzer. There was no precedent in Montana for a gubernatorial ticket where the candidates belonged to different parties. The ticket prevailed, and Bohlinger was inaugurated as lieutenant governor of Montana, on January 3, 2005. The Schweitzer-Bohlinger team was reelected to a second term, on November 4, 2008.{{source needed| date=November 2013}}
2014 U.S. Senate election
{{main|2014 United States Senate election in Montana}}
On November 5, 2013, Bohlinger announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination in 2014 for Montana's Class II U.S. Senate seat, to succeed the retiring Max Baucus.{{cite web|url=http://www.kxlh.com/news/bohlinger-announces-candidacy-for-u-s-senate/ |title=Bohlinger announces candidacy for U.S. Senate |work=KXLH.com |author=Sanjay Talwani |date=November 5, 2013 |accessdate=November 6, 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131110050213/http://www.kxlh.com/news/bohlinger-announces-candidacy-for-u-s-senate/ |archivedate=November 10, 2013 }} The Democratic nomination was won by U.S. Senator John Walsh who had been appointed to fill the seat when Baucus resigned. Walsh dropped out of the race on August 7, following allegations of plagiarism. He was replaced by Amanda Curtis.
Personal
He was the husband of Bette Cobetto, who died of cancer on January 9, 2006. Bohlinger married Karen Seiler in Helena on January 12, 2008.{{cite web|author=Schweitzer Bohlinger 2008|title=Meet John|url=http://www.brianschweitzer.com/meetjohn|accessdate=April 4, 2011}} They have since divorced.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons Category}}
{{Portal|Biography}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20110617161234/http://governor.mt.gov/ltgov/ltgovbio.asp Bohlinger] – Biography
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20081106040425/http://www.brianschweitzer.com/ Schweitzer Bohlinger] – Official 2008 campaign site
- {{C-SPAN}}
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{{s-bef|before=Karl Ohs}}
{{s-ttl|title=Lieutenant Governor of Montana|years=2005–2013}}
{{s-aft|after=John Walsh}}
{{s-end}}
{{Lieutenant governors of Montana}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bohlinger, John}}
Category:Lieutenant governors of Montana
Category:Members of the Montana House of Representatives
Category:Montana state senators
Category:Politicians from Billings, Montana
Category:Politicians from Bozeman, Montana
Category:United States Marines
Category:Candidates in the 2014 United States elections
Category:United States Marine Corps reservists
Category:Billings Senior High School alumni