Franke Wilmer

Updated on Nov 01, 2023

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Preceded by Larry Jent Religion Judaism		Name Franke Wilmer Political party Democratic Party


Born December 2, 1950 (age 73) Washington, D.C., U.S. ( 1950-12-02 ) Alma mater Shepherd University University of Maryland, College Park Books Human Rights in International Politics: An Introduction Education Shepherd University, University of Maryland, College Park

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Franke Wilmer (born December 2, 1950) is an academic and a politician in the Democratic Party She was a member of the Montana House of Representatives, representing Districts 63 and 64 from 2007–2013. Before first running for office in 2006, Wilmer was appointed to chair the Montana Human Rights Commission by Governor Schweitzer in 2005. She received both a PhD and Masters from the University of Maryland in 1990 and is currently a full professor of Political Science at Montana State University.

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Early life, education, and academic career

Wilmer was born in 1950 in Washington, D.C. to Marion and Bud Wilmer. Her father was a bricklayer from Baltimore and her mother was a nurse from Terry, Montana and Denton, Maryland. In the 1970s and 1980s, she was a single mother raising her one daughter, while working various jobs and earning three college degrees. Her jobs during this decade include waitress, carpenter, middle school substitute teacher, assistant professor, and research assistant. She graduated with a B.S. in political science and economics from Shepherd University in 1981. She got a master's degree in political science, specializing in international relations, from the University of Maryland in 1985 and a PhD in 1990.

After earning her degrees, she became an Assistant Professor at the University of South Carolina at Spartanburg for a year. In 1991, she was then hired by Montana State University and still teaches there today. That same year, she was a co-founder of the Gallatin Human Rights Task Force. She became an Associate Professor in 1996 and Full Professor and Head of the Political Science Department in 2001.

Early political career

She has written three books, numerous articles, and been invited to be guest lecturer across the world. She conducted field research in Yugoslavia during the war and Dayton Peace Accords.

In 2005, Democratic Governor Brian Schweitzer appointed her to become Chair the Montana Human Rights Commission, where she served for one year.

Elections

In 2006, incumbent Democratic State Representative Larry Jent, of Montana's 64th House District, decided to retire to run for a seat in the Montana House of Representatives. Wilmer decided to run and won the June Democratic primary with 72% of the vote. In the general election, she defeated Jim Klug 57%-43%. She won re-election in 2008 with 59% of the vote and 2010 with 55% of the vote.

Tenure

She was elected to as Speaker Pro Tempore of the legislature in 2009. The Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation-Montana Council selected her as "Legislator of the Year" in 2011. She is currently the Legislative Liaison to the Board of investments.

Committee assignments

House Education Committee

House Legislative Administration Committee

House State Administration and Veterans Affairs Committee

House Capital Financial Advisory Committee (2008)

Legislative Liaison to Montana Board of Investments (2011–2012)

House Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Committee, Vice Chair 2013

2012 congressional election

In February 2011, Wilmer was the first candidate from either party to announce her candidacy for Montana's At-large congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2012. Wilmer was endorsed by the National Women's Political Caucus She finished second in the Democratic primary, with 14,836 votes (18.4%).