Jan Backus

Jan Backus
Personal details
Born	July 30, 1947 Norristown, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Alma mater	University of Vermont

Jan Backus served as a Vermont state senator representing Windham County from 1989 to 1994 and Chittenden County from 1997 to 2000. A community activist, Backus served as a member of the Vermont Southeast Supervisory Union board for many years before making a run for the Vermont state Senate and winning a seat. She served as chairwoman of the Senate Health & Welfare Committee and a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

A moderate-to-liberal Democrat, Backus ran for the U.S. Senate in 1994 and beat Douglas M. Costle, Environmental Protection Agency administrator under President Jimmy Carter, for her party's nomination and came within 9 points of ousting incumbent U.S. Senator Jim Jeffords (R-VT).^[1] In 2000, she ran again and lost the Democratic U.S. Senate primary to Ed Flanagan, then Vermont's Auditor of Accounts.^[2] In 2004 Backus ran for the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor.^[3]

Backus lives in Winooski, Vermont, with her husband Steve Blodgett (a former state senator). She currently serves as a member of Winooski's Downtown Revitalization Project to eliminate sprawl and attract jobs. She has three daughters, one of whom served as a high-ranking member of John Kerry's presidential campaign in 2004.

Backus competes annually in the National Crossword Championship. Her highest finish was 46th.

References

1. "THE 1994 ELECTIONS: THE SENATE; Who Won Where". The New York Times. 1994-11-09.
2. "Law Permitting Civil Unions for Gays Proves a Factor in Primaries". The New York Times. 2000-09-14.
3. interview with Backus during run for Lieutenant Governor