GOVERNOR MARKELL'S BIOGRAPHY

Governor Jack Markell has been recognized in Delaware and across the country as a leader in promoting policies to help all people achieve their economic potential. Governor Markell took office with the state facing a steep economic downturn and historic budget shortfalls. He and his team have focused on growing the economy, creating jobs and delivering better value for taxpayers.

Governor Markell brings innovative public and private sector experience to the Governor’s Office and is committed to making Delaware’s government more effective and efficient.

Governor Markell, 49, was born and raised in Newark, Delaware and graduated from Newark High School along with his wife, Carla. He went on to receive an undergraduate degree in economics and development studies from Brown University and an MBA from the University of Chicago. Governor Markell is a Henry Crown Fellow and a Rodel Fellow at the Aspen Institute.

He began his career in the private sector helping lead the wireless technology revolution as the 13th employee at Nextel (a name he coined), where he served as Senior Vice President for Corporate Development. His other business experience includes a senior management position at Comcast Corporation, work as a consultant with McKinsey and Company and as a banker at First Chicago Corporation.

As State Treasurer

Governor Markell left the private sector ten years ago to pursue his passion for public service. He was elected State Treasurer in 1998, a position he held for three consecutive terms. He won his last re-election in November of 2006 with an overwhelming 70 percent of the vote before being elected Governor in November of 2008.

As State Treasurer, Governor Markell worked tirelessly to improve the lives of Delawareans through innovative programs aimed at cutting spending and improving individual fiscal responsibility.

Governor Markell saved taxpayers more than $25 million since 2002 by instituting state-of-the-art bulk purchasing policies for Delaware’s State Government, earning him recognition from a number of public policy organizations.

His help with creating “Health Rewards,” a program which improves the health care of state employees and reduces health care costs with comprehensive physical exams, was recognized by The Council of State Governments with one of its prestigious Innovation Awards.

Governor Markell earned a second Innovation Award for “The Delaware Money School”, a program created to increase financial literacy. So far, more than 20,000 Delawareans have participated in free classes on topics such as saving for college and retirement planning. Additionally, Governor Markell created the Consumer Tool Chest to keep seniors safe and help them prepare for retirement.

Governor Markell’s efforts to promote awareness of the federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), which provides money to working families who are near the poverty line, brought more than $17 million into the pockets of more than 12,000 working Delawareans. With his leadership, the help of 460 volunteers and the Nehemiah Gateway Community Development Corporation, thousands of families who qualified for the assistance were able to take part in the 2007 EITC campaign.

As Governor

Although his administration is not yet a year old, Governor Markell has already fulfilled a number of his campaign promises and dealt with several unexpected challenges.

One of Governor Markell’s first official actions was to reduce his own salary by 20 percent. The projected budget deficit for 2010 stood at almost $800 million dollars, so in March of 2009, he developed a plan to balance the budget in accordance with the state Constitution. The budget was completed in time to avoid a government shutdown and succeeded in preventing layoffs.

In July, Governor Markell signed landmark legislation that aims to reduce energy consumption 15 percent by 2015, increases energy efficiency requirements through building codes, promotes the construction of “zero net energy” homes and offices, and establishes a “loading order” for new energy supplies that requires energy efficiency to be considered before new resources are obtained. The Energy Conservation and Efficiency Act of 2009 is one of the most ambitious in the nation and--combined with the recently announced investment by Fisker Automotive and efforts to develop the first American offshore wind farm--Delaware is well positioned to lead the nation in driving the green economy.

Also that month, the Governor ended a decade-long struggle by signing a bill to ban discrimination based on sexual orientation in housing, insurance and employment.

Working closely with Lt. Governor Matt Denn, Governor Markell has pursued major educational reforms, replacing the controversial Delaware Student Testing Program (DSTP) with testing that measures student progress over the course of a school year. Delaware has also launched a pilot program to reward schools that are closing the achievement gap. A third key reform gives school districts substantially more discretion to make decisions appropriate for the children they serve, while simultaneously holding them more accountable for spending their funds responsibly.

To support continued economic development during the current downturn, Governor Markell has built an administration that fully captures the competitive advantages of Delaware, responding rapidly and flexibly to economic opportunities, while working closely with the business, non-profit and public sectors.

In April, Governor Markell launched the LIFT Program, to help small businesses survive and grow stronger. The Limited Investment for Financial Traction (LIFT) program is expected to help between 200 and 500 small businesses access as much as $50 million a year in loans from participating banks. This program, in conjunction with other activities to support job creation and local innovation, was developed through collaboration across sectors and party lines.

Following the closure of Delaware’s two remaining automotive plants, Governor Markell’s team worked to ensure that the facilities--and thousands of workers--would get another chance. Governor Markell supported the purchase of the Newark Chrysler plant by the University of Delaware (UD) to build a research and technology campus. This acquisition will generate a variety of jobs during the decommissioning, design and construction processes, while also expanding Delaware’s reputation as a center for innovation and excellence.

The Governor also took a hands-on approach to revive the former GM plant in Wilmington by aggressively pursuing Fisker Automotive. Despite heavy competition from other states, the deal was successfully completed in roughly two months. With significant private-sector funding and a sizable loan from the federal government, Fisker is due to begin producing hybrid vehicles as early as 2011. The company will invest at least US$ 175 million to upgrade the plant and intends to employ more than 2,500 people.

Governor Markell and his wife, Carla, currently live in Wilmington with their two children, Molly and Michael.