Kenneth M. Curtis

Curtis was born in Leeds, Maine and graduated with a Bachelor of Science from Maine Maritime Academy in 1952. He rose to the rank of lieutenant commander in the United States Navy before receiving his Juris Doctor from University of Maine School of Law. Curtis received an LL.D. from Bates College in 1981.

Curtis, a member of the Democratic Party, served as the Secretary of State of Maine from 1965 to 1966, before becoming the 68th Governor in 1967. He held the office until 1975. Curtis served as chairman of the Democratic National Committee from 1977 to 1978 and Ambassador to Canada from 1979 to 1981. In 1984, Curtis was elected to the Common Cause National Governing Board.

Curtis served as President of Maine Maritime Academy. He was also Chairman of the Environmental Task Force of the National Governors' Conference in the early 1970s.

As a registered voter in Florida, Curtis temporarily lost his superdelegate vote in the 2008 Democratic National Convention when the Democratic Party ruled against seating any delegates from Florida because Florida had moved the date of its primary to a date earlier than permitted under party rules. Curtis, a supporter of Hillary Clinton's campaign for president, stated that he might not attend the convention.[1][2] Subsequently, the Democratic National Committee Rules and By-laws Committee voted to seat all Florida delegates, including superdelegates, but with only half-votes.

Curtis is semi-retired, currently residing in Siesta Key, Florida. He is a Protestant.

• curtisthaxter.com Kenneth Curtis biography
• Appearances on C-SPAN