Michael J. Obuchowski

Michael John ("Obie") Obuchowski was born in Bellows Falls, Vermont on February 4, 1952. He graduated from Bellows Falls High School in 1970 and attended Harvard University for two years.Vermont Legislative Directory, published by Vermont Secretary of State, 1975, page 657

A Democrat, in 1972 Obuchowski was elected to the Vermont House of Representatives. He also began a full-time career as Assistant to the President of Basketville, a Putney business specializing in handmade baskets and other woven products for national and international retailers.Vermont Legislative Directory and State Manual, published by Vermont Secretary of State, 2001, page 225

Obuchowski was elected every two years through 2010, and held office until resigning in January, 2011 to join the administration of Peter Shumlin as Commissioner of the Department of Buildings and General Services. At 38 years, his tenure is the longest in the history of the Vermont House.[http://www.leg.state.vt.us/HouseClerk/Reps%20who%20served%2025+/25%20plus%20year%20members.htm Vermont House of Representatives, List of Members who have served 25 years], by Vermont House of Representatives, 2010

During Obuchowski's career he served as Chairman of the House Committees on Education, Energy, Commerce, Ways and Means, and Appropriations. In addition, he served as Chairman of the Vermont General Assembly's Joint Energy, Transportation Oversight, Telecommunications Study, and Fiscal Committees.[http://www.leg.state.vt.us/DOCS/2012/ACTS/ACTR015.PDF House Concurrent Resolution Honoring the Dean of the House of Representatives, Michael Obuchowski of Rockingham], by Vermont House of Representatives, 2011Newspaper article, Symington's Tough Year, by Louis Porter, Vermont Press Bureau, published in Rutland Herald, May 6, 2007Newspaper article, A Titled Legislator: Rep. Obuchowski is Dean of Committee Chairmen, by Chris Graff, Associated Press, published in Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus, January 23, 2005[http://vermont-archives.org/collect/pdf/A-135.pdf Biography, Michael J. Obuchowski], Contents list for Speaker Michael J. Obuchowski Papers, Vermont Secretary of State, Archives and Records Administration, 2001, page 1

In 1995 Obuchowski was named Speaker of the House, succeeding Ralph G. Wright, who had been defeated for reelection to his House seat. He served until 2001, when Republicans gained enough seats to become the majority party in the House.[http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=MCNP&p_multi=RHDB&p_theme=mcnp&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=10D839ADEA6BBDC0&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM Newspaper article, Obuchowski's Return as Speaker Not a Sure Bet], by Frederick Bever, Vermont Press Bureau, published in Rutland Herald, October 28, 2000[http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=MCNP&p_multi=RHDB&p_theme=mcnp&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=10D839FDF3AF2F98&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM Newspaper article, New Speaker Promises Spots for Democrats], by Ross Sneyd, Associated Press, published in Rutland Herald, January 4, 2001Newspaper article, Revisiting His Roots: Former House Speaker Ralph Wright Recalls Statehouse Days, by Susan Allen, Barre-Montpelier Times Argus, October 1, 2007

After Peter Shumlin won the race for Governor in 2010, he named Vermont State Treasurer Jeb Spaulding as Secretary of Administration. Obuchowski was considered for appointment to the vacant Treasurer's position, and ultimately accepted appointment as Buildings and General Services Commissioner.[http://blogs.burlingtonfreepress.com/politics/2010/12/28/obuchowski-will-be-shumlins-buildings-commissioner/ Newspaper article, Obuchowski Will be Shumlin’s Buildings Commissioner], by Terri Hallenbeck, Burlington Free Press, December 28, 2010 In December 2016, Governor-elect Phil Scott announced that Christopher Cole, who had previously served as Vermont's transportation secretary, was his choice to succeed Obuchowski.{{cite news |last=Craven |first=Jasper |date=December 23, 2016 |title=Scott Announces Slew of new Appointments |url=https://vtdigger.org/2016/12/23/scott-announces-slew-new-appointments/ |newspaper=VT Digger |location=Montpelier, VT}}

Obuchowski is married to attorney and lobbyist Clare Buckley, and they are the parents of twins Jack and Nora.[http://governor.vermont.gov/newsroom-obie-release Press release, Obuchowski Appointed to Buildings and General Services] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110124193129/http://governor.vermont.gov/newsroom-obie-release |date=2011-01-24 }}, Office of Governor Peter Shumlin, December 27, 2010

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{{succession box | before=Ralph G. Wright |title=Speaker of the Vermont House of Representatives | years=1995 – 2001 | after=Walter E. Freed}}

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Category:1952 births

Category:Living people

Category:People from Bellows Falls, Vermont

Category:Speakers of the Vermont House of Representatives

Category:Democratic Party members of the Vermont House of Representatives

Category:21st-century members of the Vermont General Assembly