Brian Schweitzer

Brian David Schweitzer ( born September 4, 1955 in Havre, Montana ) is an American politician of the Democratic Party. From 3 January 2005 to January 7, 2013 he was governor of the state of Montana.

Early years and political rise

Brian Schweitzer comes from a rancher family and was born the fourth of six children. His paternal ancestors were German-Russians who had in 1909 emigrated to the United States while he was on the part of his mother's Irish ancestors. He completed his studies in 1978 in agriculture at Colorado State University. Two years later he received his Master degree in soil science at Montana State University. Then Schweitzer worked as an engineer for irrigation technology including in Africa, Asia and Saudi Arabia. In 1986, he returned to Montana. There he worked as a rancher and founded a company for irrigation technology in Whitefish.

Schweitzer 1992 by President Bill Clinton was appointed to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, where he worked in various positions until 1999. In 2000, he ran unsuccessfully against Conrad Burns for the U.S. Senate. 2005 Brian Schweitzer appeared at the election for the office of Governor of Montana. As a running mate he chose this moderate Republican John Bohlinger. He won superior to the Republican Secretary of State Bob Brown.

Governor of Montana

In his tenure, Schweitzer put an environmentally friendly bio-fuel and wind power and promoted the protection of the open country. More generally, as Schweitzer was a big fan of environmental protection. He increased the education budget in his state historically high levels. Schweitzer is also the leading expert of the Democrats in the field of agriculture and energy. He was among the most popular politicians in the United States; so he took regularly top places in corresponding surveys. In the election on November 4, 2008 he was confirmed with 65.4 percent of the vote against Republican Roy Brown in office.

After two terms Schweitzer came in 2012 in the gubernatorial elections unconstitutional again. The choice of his successor was again won by a Democrat Steve Bullock. Brian Schweitzer is married and has three children.