Scudder Parker

Scudder Parker is a Democratic politician from Vermont.

Parker grew up on a dairy farm in a region of Vermont known as the Northeast Kingdom. Parker attended Union Theological Seminary, and became an ordained Christian minister. Early in his political career, Parker became the first Democratic Party candidate to win a Vermont State Senate seat in the northeastern region of Vermont. He served in the State Senate from 1981 to 1988. In the Senate, Parker served as chair of the Finance Committee, assisting in writing the state's budget. Later, Parker served as chair of the Vermont Democratic Party. He was Director of the Energy Efficiency Division of the Vermont Department of Public Service from 1990 to 2003.

In 2005, Parker announced his intention to run for the Democratic Party nomination to challenge Governor Jim Douglas in the November 2006 Vermont gubernatorial election. He was assured that nomination when no other Democrat filed by the July 16, 2006 deadline.

Parker started his campaign in the fall of 2005, visiting counties in Vermont and staying there for several days at a time. In the summer of 2006, his campaign staff tripled in number, bringing on full-time field, finance, and communications directors, as well as several support staffers. He received $110,000 in donations in the month of July 2006.

The Parker campaign focused on several issues, including energy, education, health care, and economic development. He released a series of position papers on energy in support of renewable energy sources.

The Republican Party incumbent Douglas defeated Parker, winning 56% of the vote to Parker's 41%.