Martha Layne Collins

Martha Layne Collins ( born December 7, 1936 in Baghdad, Shelby County, Kentucky) is an American politician and former Governor of the state of Kentucky.

Early years and political rise

Martha Collins graduated from the University of Kentucky and worked as a teacher in Louisville and in Woodford County. Since 1971 she has been politically active for the Democratic Party. This year, she was campaign worker by Governor Wendell Ford Later they supported the candidates of their respective parties at both the state and federal level. In 1984, during their term of office as governor, she was chairman of the Federal Congress of Democrats. Between 1975 and 1979 she was employed by the Supreme Court of Kentucky. In 1979 she was elected Vice- Governor.

Governor of Kentucky

For the gubernatorial elections of 1983, she was nominated by her party as a candidate. She managed to win the election against the eventual U.S. Senator Jim Bunning with 54.6 % of votes. So she was the first and only woman to be elected governor of Kentucky. In relation to all U.S. States, it was only the third woman to be elected governor. Their term of office began on December 13, 1983 and ended on December 8, 1987. During this time, she campaigned for the improvement of educational policy. She succeeded, the Japanese auto giant Toyota to get them to build a plant in Georgetown. So many jobs have been created not only at the car plant itself, but also with the suppliers. Collins was also a member of several joint committees of the southern states to the development of trade and commerce.

Further CV

After the end of her tenure Martha Collins was President of the St. Catharine College for six years. They also had other management positions at various schools and universities in Kentucky. She has not a candidate for public office. She currently serves on the board of the Georgetown College and Eastman Kodak.