Mark MacDonald (Vermont politician)
{{short description|American politician}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name = Mark MacDonald
|image = Mark MacDonald at S.113, S.96 Committee Meeting (cropped).jpg
|caption = MacDonald in 2019
|state_senate1= Vermont
|district1 = Orange County{{sfn|"Biography, Senator Mark A. MacDonald"}}
|term_start1 = January 2003
|term_end1 = January 2025
|predecessor1= William Corrow
|successor1 = Larry Hart
|term_start2 = January 1997
|term_end2 = January 2001
|predecessor2= Stephen W. Webster
|successor2 = William Corrow
|state_house3= Vermont
|district3 = Orange-2
|term_start3= July 1983
|term_end3 = January 1995
|predecessor3= Barbara MacDonald
|successor3 = Marion Milne
Philip C. Winters (2 member district)
|birth_date = {{birth date and age| 1942|12|18}}
|birth_place= Middletown, Connecticut
|death_date =
|death_place=
|nationality= American
|party = Democratic
|spouse = Roberta
|children = 3
|residence = Williamstown, Vermont
|alma_mater = Clark University
Norwich University
|profession = Teacher, Farmer
}}
Mark A. MacDonald (born December 18, 1942) is a Vermont educator, farmer, and Democratic Party politician who served several terms in both the Vermont House of Representatives and Vermont Senate.
Biography
Mark Alexander MacDonald was born in Middletown, Connecticut on December 18, 1942.{{sfn|"Biography, Senator Mark A. MacDonald"}}{{sfn|"Virginia Marriage Records"}} His father was Donald Gordon MacDonald, a longtime official with the Agency for International Development who directed AID's activities in Vietnam during the peak of the Vietnam War, and his mother was Barbara (McCloskey) MacDonald, a teacher, farmer and member of the Vermont House of Representatives.{{sfn|"Obituary, AID Official Donald MacDonald"}}{{sfn|"Son to Complete Mom's House Term"}} MacDonald's family spent summers in Vermont beginning in 1947, and MacDonald became a permanent resident of Vermont in 1974.{{sfn|"Biography, Senator Mark A. MacDonald"}} He is a longtime resident of Williamstown.{{sfn|"Biography, Senator Mark A. MacDonald"}}
MacDonald was educated in New Jersey and Washington, DC, and graduated from Washington's Woodrow Wilson High School.{{sfn|"Biography, Senator Mark A. MacDonald"}}{{sfn|Vermont Legislative Directory and State Manual 1989}} In 1966, he graduated from the Borough of Manhattan Community College with an associate degree in liberal arts.{{sfn|"BMCC was 'a second chance'"}} MacDonald served in the United States Army from 1968 to 1970, including eighteen months of Vietnam War service.{{sfn|"Biography, Senator Mark A. MacDonald"}}
In 1972, MacDonald received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Government & International Relations from Clark University; he then attended Norwich University to obtain his certification as a school teacher.{{sfn|"Biography, Senator Mark A. MacDonald"}}{{sfn|Vermont Legislative Directory and State Manual 1989}} In addition to teaching social studies at Randolph Union High School, MacDonald owned and operated a working cattle farm.{{sfn|"Son to Complete Mom's House Term"}}{{sfn|"Orange County Senate Seat Rivals Face Off for Sixth Time"}}
MacDonald is a member of several clubs, civic organizations, and advocacy groups, including: Orange Southwest Teachers Association; Vermont Beef Producers Association; Orange County Farm Bureau; American Legion; Vietnam Veterans of America; and Chelsea Fish and Game Club.{{sfn|"Biography, Senator Mark A. MacDonald"}} From 1984 to 1994, he served on the Williamstown Planning Commission.{{sfn|"Biography, Senator Mark A. MacDonald"}}
In 1983, MacDonald was appointed to the Vermont House of Representatives to fill the vacancy caused by the death of his mother, who was serving her first term.{{sfn|"Son to Complete Mom's House Term"}} He was reelected five times, and served from July 1983 to January 1995.{{sfn|"Biography, Senator Mark A. MacDonald"}} In 1994 he was the Democratic nominee for the Orange County seat in the Vermont Senate, and was defeated by the Republican incumbent, Stephen W. Webster.{{sfn|"Orange County Senate Seat Rivals Face Off for Sixth Time"}}
In 1996, MacDonald defeated Webster for the Senate seat; he served two terms, January 1997 to January 2001.{{sfn|"Biography, Senator Mark A. MacDonald"}}{{sfn|"Orange County Senate Seat Rivals Face Off for Sixth Time"}} In 2000, MacDonald was defeated by Republican William Corrow, a defeat attributed largely to backlash following MacDonald's support for Vermont's Civil Unions law.{{sfn|"Corrow Enjoys Narrow Victory"}} In their 2002 rematch, MacDonald defeated Corrow.{{sfn|"Legislature: Democrats Make Gains"}} He was reelected every two years since, and has served since January 2003.{{sfn|"Biography, Senator Mark A. MacDonald"}} In four more elections—1998, 2006, 2010, and 2016—MacDonald defeated Webster.{{sfn|"Orange County Senate Seat Rivals Face Off for Sixth Time"}}
In 2017, MacDonald was elected as the Senate's assistant majority leader.{{sfn|"Senate Democrats Elect Becca Balint as Majority Leader"}} According to press reports, he agreed to serve in this post with second-term Senator Becca Balint in the majority leader's position as a means of bridging the gap between the Senate's newer, younger members and its "old guard" veterans.{{sfn|"Senate Democrats Elect Becca Balint as Majority Leader"}} In 2021, he was succeeded as Whip by Cheryl Hooker.{{sfn|"In Coming Session, Women Will Dominate Vermont Senate Leadership"}}
As of 2017, MacDonald was chairman of the Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules.{{sfn|"Biography, Senator Mark A. MacDonald"}} He is also vice chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, and a member of the Natural Resources and Energy, Rules, and Joint Energy Committees.{{sfn|"Biography, Senator Mark A. MacDonald"}}
Family
In 1983, MacDonald was married to Roberta June Pilk.{{sfn|"Virginia Marriage Records"}}{{sfn|Vermont Legislative Directory and State Manual 1989}} They are the parents of three children, daughters Janet and Rustie, and son Max (Mark Jr.); they also cared for several foster children.{{sfn|Vermont Legislative Directory and State Manual 1989}}{{sfn|"MacDonald Cites ‘Results’ In Reëlection Campaign"}}{{sfn|Vermont Legislative Directory and State Manual 1997}}
Electoral history
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Vermont's Orange County Senate District election, 1994
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| candidate = Mark A. MacDonald
| votes = 3,558
| percentage = 46.8
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| candidate = Stephen W. Webster
| votes = 4,047
| percentage = 53.2
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Vermont's Orange County Senate District election, 1996
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| candidate = Mark A. MacDonald
| votes = 4,576
| percentage = 50.8
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| candidate = Stephen W. Webster
| votes = 4,403
| percentage = 48.9
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Vermont's Orange County Senate District election, 1998
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| candidate = Mark A. MacDonald
| votes = 4,217
| percentage = 52.7
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| candidate = Stephen W. Webster
| votes = 3,572
| percentage = 45.0
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Libertarian Party (United States)
| candidate = Scott Berkey
| votes = 204
| percentage = 2.6
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Vermont's Orange County Senate District election, 2000
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| candidate = Mark A. MacDonald
| votes = 4902
| percentage = 46.2
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| candidate = William Corrow
| votes = 5215
| percentage = 49.1
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Libertarian Party (United States)
| candidate = Scott Berkey
| votes = 487
| percentage = 4.6
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box open primary begin no change
| title = Vermont's Orange County Senate District election, 2002
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Mark A. MacDonald
|votes = 1,047
|percentage = 97.6
}}
{{Election box open primary general election no change}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Mark A. MacDonald
|votes = 4,290
|percentage = 52.7
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = William Corrow
|votes = 3,844
|percentage = 47.2
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box open primary begin no change
| title = Vermont's Orange County Senate District election, 2004
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Mark A. MacDonald
|votes = 895
|percentage = 98.9
}}
{{Election box open primary general election no change}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Mark A. MacDonald
|votes = 5,979
|percentage = 58.2
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Brian Kenyon
|votes = 4,284
|percentage = 41.7
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box open primary begin no change
| title = Vermont's Orange County Senate District election, 2006
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Mark A. MacDonald
|votes = 1,345
|percentage = 97.9
}}
{{Election box open primary general election no change}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Mark A. MacDonald
|votes = 5,485
|percentage = 61.9
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Stephen W. Webster
|votes = 3,371
|percentage = 38.1
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box open primary begin no change
| title = Vermont's Orange County Senate District election, 2008
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Mark A. MacDonald
|votes = 557
|percentage = 98.9
}}
{{Election box open primary general election no change}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Mark A. MacDonald
|votes = 7,397
|percentage = 73.2
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Constitution Party (United States)
|candidate = Charlie Russell
|votes = 2,691
|percentage = 26.6
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box open primary begin no change
| title = Vermont's Orange County Senate District election, 2010
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Mark A. MacDonald
|votes = 2,203
|percentage = 96.4
}}
{{Election box open primary general election no change}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Mark A. MacDonald
|votes = 4,524
|percentage = 56.1
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Stephen W. Webster
|votes = 3,517
|percentage = 43.7
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box open primary begin no change
| title = Vermont's Orange County Senate District election, 2012
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Mark A. MacDonald
|votes = 1,708
|percentage = 71.7
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Tig Tillinghast
|votes = 671
|percentage = 28.2
}}
{{Election box open primary general election no change}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Mark A. MacDonald
|votes = 7,618
|percentage = 96.0
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box open primary begin no change
| title = Vermont's Orange County Senate District election, 2014
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Mark A. MacDonald
|votes = 939
|percentage = 97.0
}}
{{Election box open primary general election no change}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Mark A. MacDonald
|votes = 3,797
|percentage = 54.2
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Robert C. Frenier
|votes = 3,200
|percentage = 45.7
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Vermont's Orange County Senate District election, 2016
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Mark A. MacDonald
|votes = 5,723
|percentage = 54.0
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Stephen W. Webster
|votes = 4,409
|percentage = 41.6
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Vermont's Orange County Senate District election, 2018
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Mark A. MacDonald
|votes = 5,167
|percentage = 57.3
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Bill T. Huff
|votes = 4,409
|percentage = 41.6
}}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change
|votes = 11
|percentage = 0.1
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Vermont's Orange County Senate District election, 2020
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Mark A. MacDonald
|votes = 6,420
|percentage = 54.5
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Bill T. Huff
|votes = 5,321
|percentage = 45.2
}}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change
|votes = 33
|percentage = 0.3
}}
{{Election box end}}
References
{{reflist}}
Sources
=Internet=
- {{cite web |url=http://legislature.vermont.gov/people/single/2018/14608 |title=Biography, Senator Mark A. MacDonald |author=Secretary of the Vermont Senate |work=Vermont State Senate |location=Montpelier, VT |publisher=Vermont General Assembly |accessdate=February 21, 2017 |ref={{sfnRef|"Biography, Senator Mark A. MacDonald"}}}}
- {{cite web |url=https://www.ancestry.com |title=Virginia Marriage Records, 1936-2014, entry for Mark Alexander MacDonald |work=Ancestry.com |publisher=Ancestry.com, LLC |location=Provo, UT |accessdate=February 21, 2017 |url-access=subscription |ref={{sfnRef|"Virginia Marriage Records"}}}}
=Newspapers=
- {{cite news |agency=Associated Press |date=July 2, 1983 |title=Son to Complete Mom's House Term |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/200258081/ |newspaper=Burlington Free Press |location=Burlington, VT |page=16 |url-access=subscription |ref={{sfnRef|"Son to Complete Mom's House Term"}}}}
- {{cite news |date=August 3, 2000 |title=MacDonald Cites 'Results' In Reëlection Campaign |url=http://www.ourherald.com/news/2000-08-03/Front_Page/f05.html |newspaper=Randolph Herald |location=Randolph, VT |ref={{sfnRef|"MacDonald Cites ‘Results’ In Reëlection Campaign"}}}}
- {{cite news |date=November 8, 2000 |title=Corrow Enjoys Narrow Victory |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/202183082/ |newspaper=Burlington Free Press |location=Burlington, VT |page=12 |url-access=subscription |ref={{sfnRef|"Corrow Enjoys Narrow Victory"}}}}
- {{cite news |date=November 6, 2002 |title=Legislature: Democrats Make Gains |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/202662668/ |newspaper=Burlington Free Press |location=Burlington, VT |page=8 |url-access=subscription |ref={{sfnRef|"Legislature: Democrats Make Gains"}}}}
- {{cite news |last=Barnes |first=Bart |date=January 15, 2004 |title=Obituary, AID Official Donald MacDonald |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/2004/01/15/aid-official-donald-macdonald/9ae625c6-6622-4030-bc7c-0aff72a130dc/ |newspaper=Washington Post |location=Washington, DC |ref={{sfnRef|"Obituary, AID Official Donald MacDonald"}}}}
- {{cite news |date=April 24, 2012 |title=BMCC was 'a second chance' |url=https://www.bmcc.cuny.edu/news/news.jsp?id=8557 |work=BMCC News |location=New York, NY |ref={{sfnRef|"BMCC was 'a second chance'"}}}}
- {{cite news |last=Doyle-Burr |first=Nora |date=October 19, 2016 |title=Orange County Senate Seat Rivals Face Off for Sixth Time |url=http://www.vnews.com/Webster-Challenges-MacDonald-in-Orange-County-Senate-Race-5344553 |newspaper=Valley News |location=West Lebanon, NH |ref={{sfnRef|"Orange County Senate Seat Rivals Face Off for Sixth Time"}}}}
- {{cite news |last=Walters |first=John |date=January 4, 2017 |title=Senate Democrats Elect Becca Balint as Majority Leader |url=http://www.sevendaysvt.com/OffMessage/archives/2017/01/04/walters-senate-democrats-elect-becca-balint-as-majority-leader |newspaper=Seven Days |location=Burlington, VT |ref={{sfnRef|"Senate Democrats Elect Becca Balint as Majority Leader"}}}}
- {{cite news |last=McCallum |first=Kevin |date=November 22, 2020 |title=In Coming Session, Women Will Dominate Vermont Senate Leadership |url=https://www.sevendaysvt.com/OffMessage/archives/2020/11/22/in-coming-session-women-will-dominate-vermont-senate-leadership |work=Vermont Seven Days |location=Burlington, VT |ref={{sfnRef|"In Coming Session, Women Will Dominate Vermont Senate Leadership"}}}}
=Books=
- {{cite book |date=1989 |title=Vermont Legislative Directory and State Manual |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Y__vAAAAMAAJ&q=%22woodrow+wilson+high+school%22 |location=Montpelier, VT |publisher=Vermont Secretary of State |page=561 |ref={{sfnRef|Vermont Legislative Directory and State Manual 1989}}}}
- {{cite book |date=1997 |title=Vermont Legislative Directory and State Manual |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1XWHAAAAMAAJ&q=%22rustie%22 |location=Montpelier, VT |publisher=Vermont Secretary of State |page=162 |ref={{sfnRef|Vermont Legislative Directory and State Manual 1997}}}}
{{Vermont State Senators}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:MacDonald, Mark A.}}
Category:Politicians from Middletown, Connecticut
Category:People from Williamstown, Vermont
Category:United States Army personnel of the Vietnam War
Category:Clark University alumni
Category:Schoolteachers from Vermont
Category:21st-century members of the Vermont General Assembly
Category:Democratic Party members of the Vermont House of Representatives
Category:Democratic Party Vermont state senators
Category:United States Army soldiers
Category:20th-century members of the Vermont General Assembly