Senator Peter Shumlin
Senate President Pro Tempore

Peter Shumlin has served in public life since he was 24 years old, when he began a seven-year stint as Chair of the Putney Selectboard. He served in the Vermont House from 1989-92 and Vermont Senate from 1992-2002.  After his first term in the Senate he was elected Senate Minority Leader where he focused on re-gaining the Democratic majority for his caucus. At that time there were 11 Democrats and 19 Republicans in the Senate. After one term as Minority Leader, the Democrats captured the majority and he was elected President pro-tempore for the following six years: 1997-2002. In that capacity Peter has served as chair of the Finance Committee, chair of the Senate Rules committee, as a member of the Transportation and Appropriations Committees and as a founding member of NLARX, a national legislative organization dedicated to reducing prescription drug prices. 

After a four-year absence, Peter returned to the Vermont Senate in 2006 and was elected by his colleagues to serve again as President pro temp. This biennium, Peter Shumlin serves on the Appropriations and Transportation committees and Chairs the Senate Rules and Joint Rules committees.