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Martha Layne Collins

Martha Layne Collins (née Hall; born December 7, 1936) is an American former businesswoman and politician from the Commonwealth of Kentucky; she served as the state's 56th governor from 1983 to 1987, the first woman to hold the office and the only one to date. Prior to that, she served as the 48th Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky, under John Y. Brown, Jr. Her election made her the highest-ranking Democratic woman in the U.S. She was considered as a possible running mate for Democratic presidential nominee Walter Mondale in the 1984 presidential election, but Mondale chose Congresswoman Geraldine Ferraro instead.

Martha Layne Collins
Collins speaking in 1986 during the commissioning of the USS Louisville
56th Governor of Kentucky
In office
December 13, 1983 – December 8, 1987
LieutenantSteve Beshear
Preceded byJohn Y. Brown Jr.
Succeeded byWallace Wilkinson
48th Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky
In office
December 11, 1979 – December 13, 1983
GovernorJohn Y. Brown Jr.
Preceded byThelma Stovall
Succeeded bySteve Beshear
Personal details
Born
Martha Layne Hall

(1936-12-07) December 7, 1936 (age 86)
Bagdad, Kentucky, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse
Bill Collins
(m. 1959)
EducationLindenwood University
University of Kentucky (BS)

After graduating from the University of Kentucky, Collins worked as a school teacher while her husband finished a degree in dentistry. She became interested in politics, and worked on both Wendell Ford's gubernatorial campaign in 1971 and Walter "Dee" Huddleston's U.S. Senate campaign in 1972. In 1975, she was chosen secretary of the state's Democratic Party and was elected clerk of the Kentucky Court of Appeals. During her tenure as clerk, a constitutional amendment restructured the state's judicial system, and the Court of Appeals became the Kentucky Supreme Court. Collins continued as clerk of the renamed court and worked to educate citizens about the court's new role.

Collins was elected lieutenant governor in 1979, under Governor John Y. Brown, Jr. Brown was frequently out of the state, leaving Collins as acting governor for more than 500 days of her four-year term. In 1983, she defeated Republican Jim Bunning to become Kentucky's first woman governor. Her administration had two primary focuses: education and economic development. After failing to secure increased funding for education in the 1984 legislative session, she conducted a statewide public awareness campaign in advance of a special legislative session the following year; the modified program was passed in that session. She successfully used economic incentives to bring a Toyota manufacturing plant to Georgetown, Kentucky in 1986. Legal challenges to the incentives – which would have cost the state the plant and its related economic benefits – were eventually dismissed by the Kentucky Supreme Court. The state experienced record economic growth under Collins's leadership.

At the time, Kentucky governors were not eligible for reelection. Collins taught at several universities after her four-year term as governor. From 1990 to 1996, she was the president of Saint Catharine College near Springfield, Kentucky. The 1993 conviction of Collins's husband, Dr. Bill Collins, in an influence-peddling scandal, damaged her hopes for a return to political life. Prior to her husband's conviction it had been rumored that she would be a candidate for the U.S. Senate, or would take a position in the administration of President Bill Clinton. From 1998 to 2012, Collins served as an executive scholar-in-residence at Georgetown College.[1]

Early life

Martha Layne Hall was born December 7, 1936, in Bagdad, Kentucky,[2] the only child of Everett and Mary (Taylor) Hall.[3] When Martha Layne was in the sixth grade, her family moved to Shelbyville, Kentucky, and opened the Hall-Taylor Funeral Home.[3] Martha Layne was involved in numerous extracurricular activities both in school and at the local Baptist church.[3] Her parents were active in local politics, working for the campaigns of several Democratic candidates, and Hall frequently joined them, stuffing envelopes and delivering pamphlets door-to-door.[4]

Martha Layne attended Shelbyville High School where she was a good student and a cheerleader.[5] She frequently competed in beauty pageants and won the title of Shelby County Tobacco Festival Queen in 1954.[5] After high school, Hall enrolled at Lindenwood College, then an all-woman college in Saint Charles, Missouri (It is now a co-ed university).[5][6] After one year at Lindenwood, she transferred to the University of Kentucky in Lexington, Kentucky.[6] She was active in many clubs, including the Chi Omega social sorority, the Baptist Student Union, and the home economics club, and was also the president of her dormitory and vice president of the house presidents council.[5]

In 1957, Hall met Billy Louis Collins while attending a Baptist camp in Shelby County.[3] He was a student at Georgetown College in Georgetown, Kentucky, about 13 miles from Lexington; he and Hall dated while finishing their degrees.[3] Hall earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics in 1959.[6] Having won the title of Kentucky Derby Festival Queen earlier that year, she briefly considered a career in modeling.[3] Instead, she and Collins married shortly after her graduation.[3] While Billy Collins pursued a degree in dentistry at the University of Louisville, Martha taught at Seneca and Fairdale high schools, both located in Louisville.[7] While living in Louisville, the couple had two children, Steve and Marla.[6]

In 1966, the Collinses moved to Versailles, Kentucky, where Martha taught at Woodford County Junior High School.[4] The couple became active in several civic organizations, including the Jaycees and Jayceettes and the Young Democratic Couples Club.[5] Through the club, they worked on behalf of Henry Ward's unsuccessful gubernatorial campaign in 1967.[5]

Early political career

 
Wendell Ford; Collins worked on his 1971 gubernatorial campaign

By 1971, Collins was the president of the Jayceettes; through her work there, she came to the attention of Democratic state senator Walter "Dee" Huddleston.[5] Huddleston asked Collins to co-chair Wendell Ford's gubernatorial campaign in the 6th District.[5] J.R. Miller, then-chairman of the state Democratic Party, commented that "She organized that district like you wouldn't believe."[4] After Ford's victory, he named Collins as a Democratic National Committeewoman from Kentucky.[2] She quit her teaching job and went to work full-time at the state Democratic Party headquarters, as secretary of the state Democratic party and as a delegate to the 1972 Democratic National Convention.[4][7] The following year, she worked for Huddleston's campaign for the U.S. Senate.[2]

In 1975, Collins won the Democratic nomination for Clerk of the Kentucky Court of Appeals in a five-way primary.[4] In the general election, she defeated Republican Joseph E. Lambert by a vote of 382,528 to 233,442.[6] During her term, an amendment to the state constitution changed the name of the Court of Appeals to the Kentucky Supreme Court; Collins was the last person to hold the office of Clerk of the Court of Appeals and the first to hold the office of Clerk of the Supreme Court. As clerk, she compiled and distributed a brochure about the new role of the Supreme Court, and worked with the state department of education to create a teacher's manual for use in the public schools, detailing the changes effected in the court system as a result of the constitutional amendment. The Woodford County chapter of Business and Professional Women chose Collins as its 1976 Woman of Achievement, and in 1977, Governor Julian Carroll named her Kentucky Executive Director of the Friendship Force.[2]

In a field that included six major candidates, Collins secured the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor in the 1979 primary, garnering 23 percent of the vote.[6] She handily defeated Republican Hal Rogers in the general election 543,176 to 316,798.[6] As lieutenant governor, she traveled the state, attending ceremonies in place of Democratic Governor John Y. Brown, Jr., who disliked such formal events and often chose not to attend.[8] By the end of her term, she declared that she had visited all 120 counties in Kentucky.[8] Governor Brown was frequently out of the state, leaving Collins as acting governor for more than 500 days of her four-year term.[9]

As lieutenant governor, Collins presided over the state Senate. Members of both major parties praised Collins for her impartiality and knowledge of parliamentary procedure in this role.[4] She was twice called upon to break tie votes in the Senate, once on a bill allowing the state's teachers to engage in collective bargaining and another on a bill to allow branch banking across county lines within the state; in both instances she voted in the negative, killing the bill.[4] During her tenure, she also chaired the National Conference of Lieutenant Governors, becoming the first woman to hold that position.[8] In 1982, she was named to the board of regents of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville.[10]

Gubernatorial election of 1983

Nearing the end of her term as lieutenant governor, Collins announced her intent to run for governor in 1983.[6] Her opponents for the Democratic nomination included Louisville mayor Harvey Sloane and Grady Stumbo, the former secretary of the state's Department of Human Resources.[4] Collins had the support of many leaders in the Democratic Party, but just before the primary, Governor Brown endorsed Stumbo, charging that both Sloane and Collins would use their gubernatorial appointment power to dispense party patronage. Although this was a common practice at the time, Brown notably shunned it during his term.[6][11] With 223,692 votes, Collins edged out Sloane (219,160 votes) and Stumbo (199,795 votes) to secure the nomination.[6] Sloane asked for a recanvass of the ballots, but ultimately decided it would not change the outcome and conceded defeat.[12]

 
Jim Bunning was Collins's Republican opponent in the 1983 gubernatorial election.

In the general election, Collins faced Republican state senator Jim Bunning, who was later elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame for his achievements as a professional pitcher.[6] The National Organization for Women, the National Women's Campaign Fund, and the Women's Political Caucus all refused to endorse Collins, citing her lukewarm support for the Equal Rights Amendment and her opposition to abortion except in cases of rape, incest, or when the mother's life was in danger.[13] But, Bunning was not personable on the campaign trail and had difficulty finding issues that would draw traditionally Democratic voters to him.[14] His Catholicism was a political liability among the majority-Protestant voters.[14] Collins won the election by a vote of 561,674 to 454,650, becoming the first, and to date only, woman to be elected governor of Kentucky.[2][6]

Following her election, Collins donated the surplus $242,000 from her campaign coffers to the state Democratic Party. When Collins's husband was named state treasurer for the party – at an annual salary of $59,900 – the state press charged that the move was a plot to funnel Collins's campaign funds into her personal account. (The previous Democratic state treasurer had received no salary during his tenure.) Following the media criticism, Dr. Collins resigned his post as treasurer. All of the involved individuals insisted that Governor Collins had not been briefed on the details of her husband's appointment. The media's criticism of Collins continued as many of the appointments to her executive cabinet went to what they characterized as inexperienced personnel who had held key positions in her past campaigns. When newly appointed Insurance Commissioner Gilbert McCarty approved a 17% rate increase requested by Blue Cross Blue Shield – a request that his predecessor had denied a few days earlier – Collins quickly countermanded the approval pending a public hearing on the matter.[15]

Governor

In her first address to the legislature, Collins asked for an additional $324 million from the Kentucky General Assembly, most of it allocated for education.[6] The additional revenue was to be derived from Collins's proposed tax package, which included increasing the income tax on individuals making more than $15,000 annually, extending the sales tax to cover services such as auto repair and dry cleaning, and increasing the corporate licensing tax.[16] After opposition to her proposal developed among legislators during the 1984 biennial legislative session, Collins revised the tax package. She retained the corporate licensing tax increase, but replaced the sales tax and income tax modifications with a flat five percent personal income tax and phasing out the deductions for depreciation which corporations could claim on their state taxes.[17]

With the state still recovering from an economic recession and an election year upcoming, legislators refused to raise taxes. Collins eventually withdrew her request and submitted a continuation budget instead.[6] Some education proposals advocated by Collins were passed, including mandatory kindergarten, remedial programs for elementary school children, mandatory testing and internship for teachers, and the implementation of academic receivership for underperforming schools.[18] Among the other accomplishments of the 1984 legislative session were passage of a tougher drunk driving law, and a measure allowing state banking companies to purchase other banks within the state.[6]

Consideration for vice-president

 
Walter Mondale interviewed Collins as his potential running mate in 1984.

By virtue of her election as Kentucky's governor, Collins became the highest-ranking Democratic woman in the nation.[19] The only two women in the U.S. Senate at the time were Republicans, and Collins was the only woman governor of any state.[19] Shortly after her election, she appeared on Good Morning America, where she was asked about her interest in the vice-presidency and gave a non-committal answer.[19] Four days after her inauguration as governor, she was chosen to deliver the Democratic response to President Ronald Reagan's weekly radio address.[20] At a news conference following her speech, Collins was asked again if she would be willing to be considered as the Democrats' vice-presidential candidate in the upcoming election; she replied "No, not at this time."[20]

In mid-1984, the Democratic National Committee chose Collins to preside over the 1984 Democratic National Convention in San Francisco.[2] This engagement prevented Collins from chairing the state delegation to the convention, as was typical of governors.[21] The party appointed Collins's son, Steve as state chair.[21] Prior to the convention, Walter Mondale, the presumptive presidential nominee, interviewed Collins as a possible vice-presidential candidate before choosing Geraldine Ferraro as his running mate.[18] A writer for The Miami Herald later opined, based on interviews with Mondale advisers, that Collins was never given serious consideration by Mondale. He reported that she was included in his list of potential running mates primarily to blunt potential charges of "tokenism" in considering other women and minorities.[22]

Education proposals

In January 1985, Collins renewed her push for additional education funding and changes by appointing herself secretary of the state Education and Humanities Cabinet.[23] Following the announcement, Collins and several key legislators held a series of meetings in every county, advocating for her proposed changes and seeking information about what types of changes the state's citizens desired.[24] At the meetings, Collins was careful to separate the issues of her proposed education plan and potential tax increases. She believed that opposition to increased taxes had prevented her previous package from being enacted.[24]

Collins announced a new education package in June 1985 that included a five percent across-the-board pay raise for teachers, a reduction in class sizes, funding for construction projects, aides for every kindergarten teacher in the state, and a "power equalization" program to make funding for poorer school districts more equal to that of their more affluent counterparts.[25] After favorable reaction to the plan from legislators, she called a special legislative session to convene July 8 to consider the plan.[26] After two weeks of deliberation, the General Assembly approved Collins's education plan, tripling the corporate licensing tax to $2.10 per $1,000 in order to pay for the package.[27] The Assembly rejected a proposed five-cents-per-gallon increase in the state gasoline tax to finance other spending.[28]

Collins followed up her success in the 1985 special session with a push for more higher education funding in the 1986 legislative session. Lawmakers obliged by approving an additional $100 million for higher education in the biennial budget. They also approved implementation of a pilot preschool program and the purchase of new reading textbooks, but failed to act on Collins's request for an additional $3.9 million to improve the state's vocational education system.[29] Legislators approved calling a referendum on a constitutional amendment – supported by Collins – to make the state superintendent of education an appointive, rather than elective, office.[29] The amendment was defeated by the state's voters in November 1986, despite a Collins-led campaign in favor of it.[30] The increased corporate tax intended to cover the cost of the increased education budget was, however, inadequate. In 1987, a plan to increase revenue through changes in the state income tax was abandoned when Wallace Wilkinson, the Democratic gubernatorial nominee who would go on to succeed Collins, announced his opposition to it.[6]

Toyota Assembly Plant

In March 1985, Collins embarked on the first of several trade missions to Japan.[31] She returned there in October 1985, and also visited China – a first for any Kentucky governor – to encourage opening Chinese markets for Kentucky goods and to establish a "sister state" relationship with China's Jiangxi province.[31] Collins's efforts in Japan yielded her most significant accomplishment as governor – convincing Toyota to locate an $800 million manufacturing plant in Georgetown.[32] According to published reports, the Kentucky location was chosen over proposed sites in Indiana, Missouri, Tennessee, and Kansas.[33]

The agreement with Toyota was contingent upon legislative approval of $125 million in incentives promised to Toyota by Collins and state Commerce Secretary Carroll Knicely.[32] They included $35 million to buy and improve a 1,600 acres (650 ha) tract to be given to Toyota for the plant, $33 million for initial training of employees, $10 million for a skills development center for employees, and $47 million in highway improvements near the site.[32] The incentive package was approved in the 1986 legislative session.[29] State Attorney General David L. Armstrong expressed concerns that the incentives might conflict with the state constitution by giving gifts from the state treasury to a private business, but concluded that the General Assembly had made "a good-faith effort to be in compliance with the constitution".[34]

Given Armstrong's concerns, the administration employed general counsel J. Patrick Abell to file a friendly test case to determine the constitutionality of the incentive package.[35] While the suit was pending, the Lexington Herald-Leader reported that the administration had failed to include the interest on the bonds used to finance the expenditures in its estimation of the cost; this, plus the cost overruns reported by the Herald-Leader, had already pushed the total cost of the package to about $354 million by late September 1986.[36] In October, Toyota agreed to cover the cost overruns associated with preparing the site for construction.[37]

Opponents of the economic enticements for Toyota joined the state's test suit.[38] In October 1986, Franklin County Circuit Court Judge Ray Corns issued an initial ruling that the package did not violate the state constitution, but both sides asked the Kentucky Supreme Court to make a final decision.[38] On June 11, 1987, the Kentucky Supreme Court ruled 4–3 that the package served a public purpose and were therefore constitutional.[38]

Shortly after the announcement that Toyota was moving to Georgetown Collins, in her capacity as governor, condemned a portion of land belonging to real estate developer Gordon Taub. Taub owned 60 acres (24 ha) within the Toyota plant site and 4.2 acres (1.7 ha) were condemned to build a four-lane highway to the Toyota plant entrance.[39] Taub challenged the condemnation, stating that the Commonwealth did not have the right to condemn private property for the use of a for profit, public corporation.[40] At trial, Collins became the first sitting governor of Kentucky to testify in court. She was represented by former governor Bert T. Combs; Taub was represented by former governor Louie B. Nunn. This was also the first time in the history of Kentucky that two former governors represented opposing parties in a legal action.[41]

Later, Toyota set up several assembly plants across the state; near the end of Collins's term, the state Commerce Cabinet reported that 25 automotive-related manufacturing plants had been constructed in 17 counties since the Toyota announcement.[6][42]

In 1987, Collins promised $10 million in state aid to Ford to incentivize the company to expand its truck assembly plant in Louisville.[43] The state experienced record job growth under Collins's economic development plan, which included attempts to attract both domestic and international companies.[6] The state's unemployment rate fell from 9.7 percent in October 1983 to 7.2 percent in October 1987; according to the administration's own figures, they created a net increase of 73,000 jobs in the state during Collins's tenure.[42]

Other matters during Collins's term

On October 7, 1987, Collins called a special legislative session to close a deficit between state contributions to the worker's compensation Special Fund and disbursements.[44] The Special Fund was designated for payments to workers with occupational diseases and workers whose work-related injuries could not be traced to any single employer.[45] A plan proposed by Democratic state senator Ed O'Daniel was expected to provide the framework for legislation considered in the session.[44] Under O'Daniel's plan, additional revenue for the Special Fund would be raised by increasing assessments on worker's compensation premiums for 30 years.[45] Assessments for coal companies were increased more than those on other businesses because the majority of the claims paid from the Special Fund were for black lung, a breathing disease common among coal miners; consequently, it was opposed by legislators from heavily coal-dependent counties.[45] Nevertheless, after nine days of negotiations, a bill substantially similar to O'Daniel's original plan was approved by the legislature and signed by Collins.[45]

Collins chaired the Tennessee–Tombigbee Waterway Authority and held that position when the waterway opened to the public in 1985.[46] On May 10, 1985, she was named to the University of Kentucky Alumni Association's Hall of Distinguished Alumni.[2] She also chaired the Southern Growth Policies Board, Southern States Energy Board, and was co-chair of the Appalachian Regional Commission.[46]

Activities after leaving office

Collins's term expired on December 8, 1987, and under the restrictions then present in the Kentucky Constitution, she was ineligible for consecutive terms.[47] In 1988, she accepted a position as "executive in residence" at the University of Louisville, giving guest lectures to students in the university's business classes.[47] She also started an international trade consulting firm in Lexington.[6][47] When Western Kentucky University president Kern Alexander resigned to accept a position at Virginia Tech in 1988, Collins was among four finalists to succeed him.[48] Some faculty members publicly expressed concerns about Collins's lack of experience in academia, and she withdrew her name from consideration shortly before the new president was announced.[48]

 
St. Catharine College; Collins was its president from 1990 to 1996.

After fulfilling her one-year commitment to the University of Louisville, Collins was named a fellow of the Harvard Institute of Politics' John F. Kennedy School of Government, teaching non-credit classes on leadership styles once a week.[49] Concurrent with her position at Harvard, Collins was named to the board of regents for Midway College in 1989; the following year, she was removed from the board of regents of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.[10][50] Her removal was automatically triggered after she missed three consecutive board meetings between 1986 and 1989.[10] In 1990, Collins accepted the presidency of Saint Catharine College in Springfield, Kentucky, becoming the first president of the small, Catholic college who was not a Dominican nun.[51] College officials stated that Collins was recruited for the presidency to raise the college's profile.[51]

In 1993, Collins's husband, Bill, was charged in an influence-peddling scandal. The prosecution claimed that while Collins was governor, Dr. Collins exploited a perception that he could influence the awarding of state contracts through his wife.[52] It was alleged that he exploited this perception to pressure people who did business with the state to invest nearly $2 million with him.[52] He was convicted on October 14, 1993, after a seven-week trial; he was given a sentence of five years and three months in federal prison, which was at the low end of the range prescribed by the federal sentencing guidelines.[53] He was also fined $20,000 for a conspiracy charge that involved kickbacks disguised as political contributions.[52] Governor Collins was called to testify in the trial, but was not charged.[54] The scandal tarnished her image, however, and may have cost her an appointment in the administration of President Bill Clinton.[54] Collins was also rumored to be considering running for the U.S. Senate, a bid which never materialized following her husband's conviction.[54] The Collinses reunited following Dr. Collins's release from prison on October 10, 1997.[55]

In 1996, Collins resigned as president of Saint Catharine College to direct the International Business and Management Center at the University of Kentucky.[56] Later that year, she was a co-chair of the Credentials Committee at the Democratic National Convention.[57] When her contract with the University of Kentucky expired in 1998, Collins took a part-time position as "executive scholar in residence" at Georgetown College, which allowed her more time to pursue other interests.[58] In 1999, she was named Honorary Consul General of Japan in Kentucky, a position which involved promoting Japanese interests in Kentucky, encouraging Japanese investment in the state, and encouraging cultural understanding between Kentucky and Japan.[59] In 2001, Governor Paul E. Patton named her co-chair of the Kentucky Task Force on the Economic Status of Women.[54] In January 2005, she became the chairwoman and chief executive officer of the Kentucky World Trade Center.[60] She has held positions on the boards of directors for several corporations, including Eastman Kodak.[60]

Awards and honors

Women Leading Kentucky, a non-profit group designed to promote education, mentorship, and networking among Kentucky professional women, created the Martha Layne Collins Leadership Award in 1999 to recognize "a Kentucky woman of achievement who inspires and motivates other women through her personal, community and professional lives"; Collins was the first recipient of the award.[61] In 2003, Kentucky's Bluegrass Parkway was renamed the Martha Layne Collins Bluegrass Parkway in her honor; Collins also received the World Trade Day Book of Honor Award for the state of Kentucky from the World Trade Centers Association that year.[60][62] In 2009, she was inducted into the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star by the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs for her contributions "to strengthening economic and cultural exchanges between Japan and the United States of America".[63] Martha Layne Collins High School in Shelby County was named in her honor and opened in 2010.[64]

See also

References

  1. ^ "An Emotional Day at GC: Hello to Barlow Park, and So Long, Thanks to Former Gov. Martha Layne Collins!". News Bureau.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "Martha Layne Collins". Hall of Distinguished Alumni
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Ryan, p. 229
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h Bean, "Collins Prides Herself on Hard Work"
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h Jones, "Collins's Rise in Politics Credited to Hard Work"
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s Harrison, p. 214
  7. ^ a b Ryan, p. 230
  8. ^ a b c Ryan, p. 231
  9. ^ Harrison and Klotter, p. 417
  10. ^ a b c "Ex-Governor Loses Board Post," The Kentucky Post
  11. ^ Osbourne, "Brown Gives Endorsement to Stumbo"
  12. ^ Jester, "Harvey Sloane Concedes Loss in May Primary," 1983
  13. ^ Smith, "Mondale Stays Neutral on Female Running Mate"
  14. ^ a b Harrison and Klotter, p. 418
  15. ^ Halsey, "Woman Ky. Governor is Off to a Rough Start"
  16. ^ Osbourne, "Collins Urges Tax Increase to Aid Schools"
  17. ^ Osbourne, "Collins Says 'I've Got to Have' Proposals on Revenue, Education"
  18. ^ a b Ryan, p. 233
  19. ^ a b c York, "Victory Gives Collins Spot in the National Political Arena"
  20. ^ a b York, "Collins Delivers Democrats' Reply to Reagan Speech"
  21. ^ a b Osbourne, "Collins's Son to Head Convention Delegation"
  22. ^ Eichel, "How Mondale Decided on Ferraro"
  23. ^ Roser, "Collins Picks Self as Chief of Education"
  24. ^ a b Osbourne, "Collins, Legislators Begin Campaign"
  25. ^ Roser, "Governor Urges Legislators to Back Plan"
  26. ^ Brammer, "Session Call Includes More Than Expected"
  27. ^ Roser, "Education Reforms to Begin Gradually"
  28. ^ Brammer, "Roads, Prisons, Child-Abuse Issues Linger"
  29. ^ a b c Roser, Duke, and Brammer, "'86 Legislature Called Both Independent, Cautious"
  30. ^ Rugeley and Wagar, "Rural Areas Killed Effort to Appoint School Chief"
  31. ^ a b "Collins's China Trip to be First for State". Lexington Herald-Leader
  32. ^ a b c Truman, "Toyota to Get $125 Million in Incentives, Collins Says"
  33. ^ "Toyota Site Delegation is Given Real Bang-up Welcome by Collins". Lexington Herald-Leader
  34. ^ Brammer, "Collins Signs Final Accord With Toyota on Incentives"
  35. ^ Duke, "State Files Test Suit on Toyota"
  36. ^ Miller and Swasy, "The Wooing of Toyota: Kentucky Adds Up the Bill"
  37. ^ Swasy, "Toyota Promises to Help Pay Cost Overruns"
  38. ^ a b c Brammer and Miller, "Toyota Incentives Legal, Court Rules"
  39. ^ "Com. Transp. Cabinet v. Taub". Retrieved October 1, 2015.
  40. ^ "842 F2d 912 Taub v. Commonwealth of Kentucky | OpenJurist". openjurist.org. F2d (842): 912. December 11, 1987. Retrieved October 1, 2015.
  41. ^ "Kentucky New Era – Google News Archive Search". news.google.com. Retrieved October 1, 2015.
  42. ^ a b Rugeley and Brammer, "After Shaky Start, Collins Converted the Skeptics"
  43. ^ "Ford to Expand Plant in Louisville". The New York Times
  44. ^ a b Rugeley and Brammer, "Lawmakers Summoned on Workers' Comp Woes"
  45. ^ a b c d Brammer and Miller, "Lawmakers Compromise, Pass Workers' Comp Plan"
  46. ^ a b "Kentucky Governor Martha Layne Collins". National Governors Association
  47. ^ a b c Berman, "Out of the Mansion, Back in the Classroom"
  48. ^ a b Pack, "Owensboro Native Picked to Lead WKU"
  49. ^ Fortune, "A Time to Reflect, A Time to Choose"
  50. ^ "Midway College Elects Trustees". Lexington Herald-Leader
  51. ^ a b Lucke and Mead, "Collins Named College President"
  52. ^ a b c Wolfe, "Bill Collins Sentenced to 5 Years and 3 Months in Prison, Fined"
  53. ^ "Former Governor's Husband Gets Jail Term for Extortion". The New York Times
  54. ^ a b c d Ryan, p. 235
  55. ^ "Ex-governor's Husband Takes Job at Georgetown". The Kentucky Post
  56. ^ "Collins going to UK". The Kentucky Post
  57. ^ "Former Fellow: Martha Layne Collins". Harvard University Institute of Politics
  58. ^ "Ex-Governor Trades UK Position for Georgetown". Lexington Herald-Leader
  59. ^ Honeycutt, "Japan Names Ex-Governor Collins to Consul Post"
  60. ^ a b c "Martha Layne Collins". Education Hall of Fame
  61. ^ "Eastern Kentucky University's Shain Receives Martha Layne Collins Leadership Award". U.S. Federal News Service
  62. ^ Kocher, "Parkway to be Named for Collins"
  63. ^ "2009 Autumn Conferment of Decorations on Foreign Nationals". Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs
  64. ^ . Shelby County Public Schools. Archived from the original on March 11, 2010. Retrieved January 13, 2010.

Bibliography

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  • Brammer, Jack (July 21, 1985). "Roads, Prisons, Child-Abuse Issues Linger". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. A1.
  • Brammer, Jack (July 6, 1985). "Session Call Includes More Than Expected; Collins Also Seeks Consideration of Prison, Children's Services". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. A1.
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  • Eichel, Larry (July 14, 1984). "How Mondale Decided on Ferraro". The Miami Herald. p. 1A.
  • "Ex-Governor Loses Board Post". The Kentucky Post. May 4, 1990. p. 8A.
  • "Ex-Governor Trades UK Position for Georgetown". Lexington Herald-Leader. August 23, 1998. p. B3.
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  • "Ford to Expand Plant in Louisville". The New York Times. July 14, 1987. Retrieved October 4, 2011.
  • . Harvard University Institute of Politics. Archived from the original on July 3, 2010. Retrieved January 7, 2010.
  • "Former Governor's Husband Gets Jail Term for Extortion". The New York Times. December 25, 1993. Retrieved October 4, 2011.
  • Fortune, Beverly (April 2, 1989). "A Time to Reflect, A Time to Choose; Ex-Governor Collins Moves Into the Future Slowly, Deliberately". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. K1.
  • Halsey, Ashley (February 19, 1984). "Woman Ky. Governor is Off to a Rough Start". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. A1.
  • Harrison, Lowell H. (1992). "Collins, Martha Layne". In Kleber, John E (ed.). The Kentucky Encyclopedia. Associate editors: Thomas D. Clark, Lowell H. Harrison, and James C. Klotter. Lexington, Kentucky: The University Press of Kentucky. ISBN 0-8131-1772-0. Retrieved January 2, 2010.
  • Harrison, Lowell H.; James C. Klotter (1997). A New History of Kentucky. The University Press of Kentucky. ISBN 0-8131-2008-X. Retrieved June 26, 2009.
  • Honeycutt, Valerie (September 15, 1999). "Japan Names Ex-Governor Collins to Consul Post". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. 23.
  • Jester, Art (June 13, 1983). "Harvey Sloane Concedes Loss in May Primary; Stops Short of Offering to Back Collins's Campaign for Governor". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. C1.
  • Jones, David (October 30, 1983). "Collins's Rise in Politics Credited to Hard Work". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. A1.
  • "Kentucky Governor Martha Layne Collins". National Governors Association. Retrieved January 7, 2010.
  • Kocher, Greg (September 16, 2003). "Parkway to be Named for Collins – Road is Fifth, and Last, to Honor a Living Former Governor". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. A1.
  • "Martha Layne Collins". Education Hall of Fame. University of Kentucky College of Education. Retrieved January 8, 2010.
  • "Martha Layne Collins". Hall of Distinguished Alumni. University of Kentucky Alumni Association. Retrieved January 7, 2010.
  • "Midway College Elects Trustees". Lexington Herald-Leader. June 7, 1989. p. 4.
  • Miller, John Winn; Alecia Swasy (September 28, 1986). "The Wooing of Toyota: Kentucky Adds Up the Bill". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. A1.
  • Lucke, Jaime; Andy Mead (June 2, 1990). "Collins Named College President; Ex-Governor Recruited by St. Catharine College". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. A1.
  • Osbourne, Diana Taylor (May 17, 1983). "Brown Gives Endorsement to Stumbo". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. A1.
  • Osbourne, Diana Taylor (January 20, 1985). "Collins, Legislators Begin Campaign". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. F1.
  • Osbourne, Diana Taylor (February 25, 1984). "Collins Says 'I've Got to Have' Proposals on Revenue, Education". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. A1.
  • Osbourne, Diana Taylor (June 19, 1984). "Collins's Son to Head Convention Delegation". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. A1.
  • Osbourne, Diana Taylor (January 27, 1984). "Collins Urges Tax Increase to Aid Schools". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. A1.
  • Pack, Todd (August 6, 1988). "Owensboro Native Picked to Lead WKU; Collins Takes Her Name Out of Consideration". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. A1.
  • Roser, Mary Ann; Jacqueline Duke; Jack Brammer (April 6, 1986). "'86 Legislature Called Both Independent, Cautious". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. A1.
  • Roser, Mary Ann (January 12, 1985). "Collins Picks Self as Chief of Education; Governor's Surprise Decision Shows 'She Means Business,' Officials Say". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. A1.
  • Roser, Mary Ann (July 21, 1985). "Education Reforms to Begin Gradually". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. A1.
  • Roser, Mary Ann (June 13, 1985). "Governor Urges Legislators to Back Plan; School Package Would Lead to Excellence, Collins Says". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. A1.
  • Rugeley, Cindy; Jack Brammer (December 6, 1987). "After Shaky Start, Collins Converted the Skeptics". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. A1.
  • Rugeley, Cindy; Jack Brammer (October 8, 1987). "Lawmakers Summoned on Workers' Comp Woes". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. A1.
  • Rugeley, Cindy; Kit Wagar (November 6, 1986). "Rural Areas Killed Effort to Appoint School Chief". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. A1.
  • Ryan, Ed; Elizabeth Duffy Fraas (2004). "Martha Layne Collins". In Lowell Hayes Harrison (ed.). Kentucky's Governors. Lexington, Kentucky: The University Press of Kentucky. ISBN 0-8131-2326-7.
  • Smith, Dane (July 1, 1984). "Mondale Stays Neutral on Female Running Mate". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. A1.
  • Swasy, Alicia (October 14, 1986). "Toyota Promises to Help Pay Cost Overruns". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. A1.
  • "Toyota Site Delegation is Given Real Bang-up Welcome by Collins". Lexington Herald-Leader. November 16, 1985. p. B2.
  • Truman, Cheryl (December 18, 1985). "Toyota to Get $125 Million in Incentives, Collins Says". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. A1.
  • Wolfe, Charles (December 22, 1993). "Bill Collins Sentenced to 5 Years and 3 Months in Prison, Fined". Daily News. pp. 1A, 12A. Retrieved January 15, 2010.
  • York, Michael (December 17, 1983). "Collins Delivers Democrats' Reply to Reagan Speech". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. B1.
  • York, Michael (November 10, 1983). "Victory Gives Collins Spot in National Political Arena". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. A16.

Further reading

Listen to this article (31 minutes)
 
This audio file was created from a revision of this article dated 8 March 2012 (2012-03-08), and does not reflect subsequent edits.
  • Johnson, Gail (2012). Trailblazing Governors: Six Remarkable Women. North Charleston, South Carolina: CreateSpace. ISBN 978-1-4662-7769-4.
  • Madsen, Susan R. (2009). Developing leadership: learning from the experiences of women governors. Lanham, Maryland: University Press of America. ISBN 978-0-7618-4308-5.
  • Marshall, Brenda DeVore; Molly A. Mayhead (2000). Navigating boundaries: the rhetoric of women governors. Westport, Connecticut: Praeger. ISBN 0-275-96778-6.
  • Smith, Frances (1991). The little girl who grew up to be governor: stories from the life of Martha Layne Collins. Lexington, Kentucky: Denham Publishing Company. ISBN 0-9630135-0-5.
  • Appearances on C-SPAN
Legal offices
Preceded by Clerk of the Kentucky Court of Appeals
1975–1979
Position abolished
Party political offices
Preceded by Democratic nominee for the Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky
1979
Succeeded by
Preceded by Democratic nominee for the Governor of Kentucky
1983
Succeeded by
Preceded by Permanent Chairman of the Democratic National Convention
1984
Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky
1979–1983
Succeeded by
Preceded by Governor of Kentucky
1983–1987
Succeeded by
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded byas Former Governor Order of precedence of the United States Succeeded byas Former Governor

martha, layne, collins, née, hall, born, december, 1936, american, former, businesswoman, politician, from, commonwealth, kentucky, served, state, 56th, governor, from, 1983, 1987, first, woman, hold, office, only, date, prior, that, served, 48th, lieutenant, . Martha Layne Collins nee Hall born December 7 1936 is an American former businesswoman and politician from the Commonwealth of Kentucky she served as the state s 56th governor from 1983 to 1987 the first woman to hold the office and the only one to date Prior to that she served as the 48th Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky under John Y Brown Jr Her election made her the highest ranking Democratic woman in the U S She was considered as a possible running mate for Democratic presidential nominee Walter Mondale in the 1984 presidential election but Mondale chose Congresswoman Geraldine Ferraro instead Martha Layne CollinsCollins speaking in 1986 during the commissioning of the USS Louisville56th Governor of KentuckyIn office December 13 1983 December 8 1987LieutenantSteve BeshearPreceded byJohn Y Brown Jr Succeeded byWallace Wilkinson48th Lieutenant Governor of KentuckyIn office December 11 1979 December 13 1983GovernorJohn Y Brown Jr Preceded byThelma StovallSucceeded bySteve BeshearPersonal detailsBornMartha Layne Hall 1936 12 07 December 7 1936 age 86 Bagdad Kentucky U S Political partyDemocraticSpouseBill Collins m 1959 wbr EducationLindenwood UniversityUniversity of Kentucky BS After graduating from the University of Kentucky Collins worked as a school teacher while her husband finished a degree in dentistry She became interested in politics and worked on both Wendell Ford s gubernatorial campaign in 1971 and Walter Dee Huddleston s U S Senate campaign in 1972 In 1975 she was chosen secretary of the state s Democratic Party and was elected clerk of the Kentucky Court of Appeals During her tenure as clerk a constitutional amendment restructured the state s judicial system and the Court of Appeals became the Kentucky Supreme Court Collins continued as clerk of the renamed court and worked to educate citizens about the court s new role Collins was elected lieutenant governor in 1979 under Governor John Y Brown Jr Brown was frequently out of the state leaving Collins as acting governor for more than 500 days of her four year term In 1983 she defeated Republican Jim Bunning to become Kentucky s first woman governor Her administration had two primary focuses education and economic development After failing to secure increased funding for education in the 1984 legislative session she conducted a statewide public awareness campaign in advance of a special legislative session the following year the modified program was passed in that session She successfully used economic incentives to bring a Toyota manufacturing plant to Georgetown Kentucky in 1986 Legal challenges to the incentives which would have cost the state the plant and its related economic benefits were eventually dismissed by the Kentucky Supreme Court The state experienced record economic growth under Collins s leadership At the time Kentucky governors were not eligible for reelection Collins taught at several universities after her four year term as governor From 1990 to 1996 she was the president of Saint Catharine College near Springfield Kentucky The 1993 conviction of Collins s husband Dr Bill Collins in an influence peddling scandal damaged her hopes for a return to political life Prior to her husband s conviction it had been rumored that she would be a candidate for the U S Senate or would take a position in the administration of President Bill Clinton From 1998 to 2012 Collins served as an executive scholar in residence at Georgetown College 1 Contents 1 Early life 2 Early political career 3 Gubernatorial election of 1983 4 Governor 4 1 Consideration for vice president 4 2 Education proposals 4 3 Toyota Assembly Plant 4 4 Other matters during Collins s term 5 Activities after leaving office 5 1 Awards and honors 6 See also 7 References 7 1 Bibliography 8 Further readingEarly life EditMartha Layne Hall was born December 7 1936 in Bagdad Kentucky 2 the only child of Everett and Mary Taylor Hall 3 When Martha Layne was in the sixth grade her family moved to Shelbyville Kentucky and opened the Hall Taylor Funeral Home 3 Martha Layne was involved in numerous extracurricular activities both in school and at the local Baptist church 3 Her parents were active in local politics working for the campaigns of several Democratic candidates and Hall frequently joined them stuffing envelopes and delivering pamphlets door to door 4 Martha Layne attended Shelbyville High School where she was a good student and a cheerleader 5 She frequently competed in beauty pageants and won the title of Shelby County Tobacco Festival Queen in 1954 5 After high school Hall enrolled at Lindenwood College then an all woman college in Saint Charles Missouri It is now a co ed university 5 6 After one year at Lindenwood she transferred to the University of Kentucky in Lexington Kentucky 6 She was active in many clubs including the Chi Omega social sorority the Baptist Student Union and the home economics club and was also the president of her dormitory and vice president of the house presidents council 5 In 1957 Hall met Billy Louis Collins while attending a Baptist camp in Shelby County 3 He was a student at Georgetown College in Georgetown Kentucky about 13 miles from Lexington he and Hall dated while finishing their degrees 3 Hall earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics in 1959 6 Having won the title of Kentucky Derby Festival Queen earlier that year she briefly considered a career in modeling 3 Instead she and Collins married shortly after her graduation 3 While Billy Collins pursued a degree in dentistry at the University of Louisville Martha taught at Seneca and Fairdale high schools both located in Louisville 7 While living in Louisville the couple had two children Steve and Marla 6 In 1966 the Collinses moved to Versailles Kentucky where Martha taught at Woodford County Junior High School 4 The couple became active in several civic organizations including the Jaycees and Jayceettes and the Young Democratic Couples Club 5 Through the club they worked on behalf of Henry Ward s unsuccessful gubernatorial campaign in 1967 5 Early political career Edit Wendell Ford Collins worked on his 1971 gubernatorial campaignBy 1971 Collins was the president of the Jayceettes through her work there she came to the attention of Democratic state senator Walter Dee Huddleston 5 Huddleston asked Collins to co chair Wendell Ford s gubernatorial campaign in the 6th District 5 J R Miller then chairman of the state Democratic Party commented that She organized that district like you wouldn t believe 4 After Ford s victory he named Collins as a Democratic National Committeewoman from Kentucky 2 She quit her teaching job and went to work full time at the state Democratic Party headquarters as secretary of the state Democratic party and as a delegate to the 1972 Democratic National Convention 4 7 The following year she worked for Huddleston s campaign for the U S Senate 2 In 1975 Collins won the Democratic nomination for Clerk of the Kentucky Court of Appeals in a five way primary 4 In the general election she defeated Republican Joseph E Lambert by a vote of 382 528 to 233 442 6 During her term an amendment to the state constitution changed the name of the Court of Appeals to the Kentucky Supreme Court Collins was the last person to hold the office of Clerk of the Court of Appeals and the first to hold the office of Clerk of the Supreme Court As clerk she compiled and distributed a brochure about the new role of the Supreme Court and worked with the state department of education to create a teacher s manual for use in the public schools detailing the changes effected in the court system as a result of the constitutional amendment The Woodford County chapter of Business and Professional Women chose Collins as its 1976 Woman of Achievement and in 1977 Governor Julian Carroll named her Kentucky Executive Director of the Friendship Force 2 In a field that included six major candidates Collins secured the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor in the 1979 primary garnering 23 percent of the vote 6 She handily defeated Republican Hal Rogers in the general election 543 176 to 316 798 6 As lieutenant governor she traveled the state attending ceremonies in place of Democratic Governor John Y Brown Jr who disliked such formal events and often chose not to attend 8 By the end of her term she declared that she had visited all 120 counties in Kentucky 8 Governor Brown was frequently out of the state leaving Collins as acting governor for more than 500 days of her four year term 9 As lieutenant governor Collins presided over the state Senate Members of both major parties praised Collins for her impartiality and knowledge of parliamentary procedure in this role 4 She was twice called upon to break tie votes in the Senate once on a bill allowing the state s teachers to engage in collective bargaining and another on a bill to allow branch banking across county lines within the state in both instances she voted in the negative killing the bill 4 During her tenure she also chaired the National Conference of Lieutenant Governors becoming the first woman to hold that position 8 In 1982 she was named to the board of regents of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville 10 Gubernatorial election of 1983 EditMain article 1983 Kentucky gubernatorial election Nearing the end of her term as lieutenant governor Collins announced her intent to run for governor in 1983 6 Her opponents for the Democratic nomination included Louisville mayor Harvey Sloane and Grady Stumbo the former secretary of the state s Department of Human Resources 4 Collins had the support of many leaders in the Democratic Party but just before the primary Governor Brown endorsed Stumbo charging that both Sloane and Collins would use their gubernatorial appointment power to dispense party patronage Although this was a common practice at the time Brown notably shunned it during his term 6 11 With 223 692 votes Collins edged out Sloane 219 160 votes and Stumbo 199 795 votes to secure the nomination 6 Sloane asked for a recanvass of the ballots but ultimately decided it would not change the outcome and conceded defeat 12 Jim Bunning was Collins s Republican opponent in the 1983 gubernatorial election In the general election Collins faced Republican state senator Jim Bunning who was later elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame for his achievements as a professional pitcher 6 The National Organization for Women the National Women s Campaign Fund and the Women s Political Caucus all refused to endorse Collins citing her lukewarm support for the Equal Rights Amendment and her opposition to abortion except in cases of rape incest or when the mother s life was in danger 13 But Bunning was not personable on the campaign trail and had difficulty finding issues that would draw traditionally Democratic voters to him 14 His Catholicism was a political liability among the majority Protestant voters 14 Collins won the election by a vote of 561 674 to 454 650 becoming the first and to date only woman to be elected governor of Kentucky 2 6 Following her election Collins donated the surplus 242 000 from her campaign coffers to the state Democratic Party When Collins s husband was named state treasurer for the party at an annual salary of 59 900 the state press charged that the move was a plot to funnel Collins s campaign funds into her personal account The previous Democratic state treasurer had received no salary during his tenure Following the media criticism Dr Collins resigned his post as treasurer All of the involved individuals insisted that Governor Collins had not been briefed on the details of her husband s appointment The media s criticism of Collins continued as many of the appointments to her executive cabinet went to what they characterized as inexperienced personnel who had held key positions in her past campaigns When newly appointed Insurance Commissioner Gilbert McCarty approved a 17 rate increase requested by Blue Cross Blue Shield a request that his predecessor had denied a few days earlier Collins quickly countermanded the approval pending a public hearing on the matter 15 Governor EditIn her first address to the legislature Collins asked for an additional 324 million from the Kentucky General Assembly most of it allocated for education 6 The additional revenue was to be derived from Collins s proposed tax package which included increasing the income tax on individuals making more than 15 000 annually extending the sales tax to cover services such as auto repair and dry cleaning and increasing the corporate licensing tax 16 After opposition to her proposal developed among legislators during the 1984 biennial legislative session Collins revised the tax package She retained the corporate licensing tax increase but replaced the sales tax and income tax modifications with a flat five percent personal income tax and phasing out the deductions for depreciation which corporations could claim on their state taxes 17 With the state still recovering from an economic recession and an election year upcoming legislators refused to raise taxes Collins eventually withdrew her request and submitted a continuation budget instead 6 Some education proposals advocated by Collins were passed including mandatory kindergarten remedial programs for elementary school children mandatory testing and internship for teachers and the implementation of academic receivership for underperforming schools 18 Among the other accomplishments of the 1984 legislative session were passage of a tougher drunk driving law and a measure allowing state banking companies to purchase other banks within the state 6 Consideration for vice president Edit Walter Mondale interviewed Collins as his potential running mate in 1984 By virtue of her election as Kentucky s governor Collins became the highest ranking Democratic woman in the nation 19 The only two women in the U S Senate at the time were Republicans and Collins was the only woman governor of any state 19 Shortly after her election she appeared on Good Morning America where she was asked about her interest in the vice presidency and gave a non committal answer 19 Four days after her inauguration as governor she was chosen to deliver the Democratic response to President Ronald Reagan s weekly radio address 20 At a news conference following her speech Collins was asked again if she would be willing to be considered as the Democrats vice presidential candidate in the upcoming election she replied No not at this time 20 In mid 1984 the Democratic National Committee chose Collins to preside over the 1984 Democratic National Convention in San Francisco 2 This engagement prevented Collins from chairing the state delegation to the convention as was typical of governors 21 The party appointed Collins s son Steve as state chair 21 Prior to the convention Walter Mondale the presumptive presidential nominee interviewed Collins as a possible vice presidential candidate before choosing Geraldine Ferraro as his running mate 18 A writer for The Miami Herald later opined based on interviews with Mondale advisers that Collins was never given serious consideration by Mondale He reported that she was included in his list of potential running mates primarily to blunt potential charges of tokenism in considering other women and minorities 22 Education proposals Edit In January 1985 Collins renewed her push for additional education funding and changes by appointing herself secretary of the state Education and Humanities Cabinet 23 Following the announcement Collins and several key legislators held a series of meetings in every county advocating for her proposed changes and seeking information about what types of changes the state s citizens desired 24 At the meetings Collins was careful to separate the issues of her proposed education plan and potential tax increases She believed that opposition to increased taxes had prevented her previous package from being enacted 24 Collins announced a new education package in June 1985 that included a five percent across the board pay raise for teachers a reduction in class sizes funding for construction projects aides for every kindergarten teacher in the state and a power equalization program to make funding for poorer school districts more equal to that of their more affluent counterparts 25 After favorable reaction to the plan from legislators she called a special legislative session to convene July 8 to consider the plan 26 After two weeks of deliberation the General Assembly approved Collins s education plan tripling the corporate licensing tax to 2 10 per 1 000 in order to pay for the package 27 The Assembly rejected a proposed five cents per gallon increase in the state gasoline tax to finance other spending 28 Collins followed up her success in the 1985 special session with a push for more higher education funding in the 1986 legislative session Lawmakers obliged by approving an additional 100 million for higher education in the biennial budget They also approved implementation of a pilot preschool program and the purchase of new reading textbooks but failed to act on Collins s request for an additional 3 9 million to improve the state s vocational education system 29 Legislators approved calling a referendum on a constitutional amendment supported by Collins to make the state superintendent of education an appointive rather than elective office 29 The amendment was defeated by the state s voters in November 1986 despite a Collins led campaign in favor of it 30 The increased corporate tax intended to cover the cost of the increased education budget was however inadequate In 1987 a plan to increase revenue through changes in the state income tax was abandoned when Wallace Wilkinson the Democratic gubernatorial nominee who would go on to succeed Collins announced his opposition to it 6 Toyota Assembly Plant Edit In March 1985 Collins embarked on the first of several trade missions to Japan 31 She returned there in October 1985 and also visited China a first for any Kentucky governor to encourage opening Chinese markets for Kentucky goods and to establish a sister state relationship with China s Jiangxi province 31 Collins s efforts in Japan yielded her most significant accomplishment as governor convincing Toyota to locate an 800 million manufacturing plant in Georgetown 32 According to published reports the Kentucky location was chosen over proposed sites in Indiana Missouri Tennessee and Kansas 33 The agreement with Toyota was contingent upon legislative approval of 125 million in incentives promised to Toyota by Collins and state Commerce Secretary Carroll Knicely 32 They included 35 million to buy and improve a 1 600 acres 650 ha tract to be given to Toyota for the plant 33 million for initial training of employees 10 million for a skills development center for employees and 47 million in highway improvements near the site 32 The incentive package was approved in the 1986 legislative session 29 State Attorney General David L Armstrong expressed concerns that the incentives might conflict with the state constitution by giving gifts from the state treasury to a private business but concluded that the General Assembly had made a good faith effort to be in compliance with the constitution 34 Given Armstrong s concerns the administration employed general counsel J Patrick Abell to file a friendly test case to determine the constitutionality of the incentive package 35 While the suit was pending the Lexington Herald Leader reported that the administration had failed to include the interest on the bonds used to finance the expenditures in its estimation of the cost this plus the cost overruns reported by the Herald Leader had already pushed the total cost of the package to about 354 million by late September 1986 36 In October Toyota agreed to cover the cost overruns associated with preparing the site for construction 37 Opponents of the economic enticements for Toyota joined the state s test suit 38 In October 1986 Franklin County Circuit Court Judge Ray Corns issued an initial ruling that the package did not violate the state constitution but both sides asked the Kentucky Supreme Court to make a final decision 38 On June 11 1987 the Kentucky Supreme Court ruled 4 3 that the package served a public purpose and were therefore constitutional 38 Shortly after the announcement that Toyota was moving to Georgetown Collins in her capacity as governor condemned a portion of land belonging to real estate developer Gordon Taub Taub owned 60 acres 24 ha within the Toyota plant site and 4 2 acres 1 7 ha were condemned to build a four lane highway to the Toyota plant entrance 39 Taub challenged the condemnation stating that the Commonwealth did not have the right to condemn private property for the use of a for profit public corporation 40 At trial Collins became the first sitting governor of Kentucky to testify in court She was represented by former governor Bert T Combs Taub was represented by former governor Louie B Nunn This was also the first time in the history of Kentucky that two former governors represented opposing parties in a legal action 41 Later Toyota set up several assembly plants across the state near the end of Collins s term the state Commerce Cabinet reported that 25 automotive related manufacturing plants had been constructed in 17 counties since the Toyota announcement 6 42 In 1987 Collins promised 10 million in state aid to Ford to incentivize the company to expand its truck assembly plant in Louisville 43 The state experienced record job growth under Collins s economic development plan which included attempts to attract both domestic and international companies 6 The state s unemployment rate fell from 9 7 percent in October 1983 to 7 2 percent in October 1987 according to the administration s own figures they created a net increase of 73 000 jobs in the state during Collins s tenure 42 Other matters during Collins s term Edit On October 7 1987 Collins called a special legislative session to close a deficit between state contributions to the worker s compensation Special Fund and disbursements 44 The Special Fund was designated for payments to workers with occupational diseases and workers whose work related injuries could not be traced to any single employer 45 A plan proposed by Democratic state senator Ed O Daniel was expected to provide the framework for legislation considered in the session 44 Under O Daniel s plan additional revenue for the Special Fund would be raised by increasing assessments on worker s compensation premiums for 30 years 45 Assessments for coal companies were increased more than those on other businesses because the majority of the claims paid from the Special Fund were for black lung a breathing disease common among coal miners consequently it was opposed by legislators from heavily coal dependent counties 45 Nevertheless after nine days of negotiations a bill substantially similar to O Daniel s original plan was approved by the legislature and signed by Collins 45 Collins chaired the Tennessee Tombigbee Waterway Authority and held that position when the waterway opened to the public in 1985 46 On May 10 1985 she was named to the University of Kentucky Alumni Association s Hall of Distinguished Alumni 2 She also chaired the Southern Growth Policies Board Southern States Energy Board and was co chair of the Appalachian Regional Commission 46 Activities after leaving office EditCollins s term expired on December 8 1987 and under the restrictions then present in the Kentucky Constitution she was ineligible for consecutive terms 47 In 1988 she accepted a position as executive in residence at the University of Louisville giving guest lectures to students in the university s business classes 47 She also started an international trade consulting firm in Lexington 6 47 When Western Kentucky University president Kern Alexander resigned to accept a position at Virginia Tech in 1988 Collins was among four finalists to succeed him 48 Some faculty members publicly expressed concerns about Collins s lack of experience in academia and she withdrew her name from consideration shortly before the new president was announced 48 St Catharine College Collins was its president from 1990 to 1996 After fulfilling her one year commitment to the University of Louisville Collins was named a fellow of the Harvard Institute of Politics John F Kennedy School of Government teaching non credit classes on leadership styles once a week 49 Concurrent with her position at Harvard Collins was named to the board of regents for Midway College in 1989 the following year she was removed from the board of regents of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary 10 50 Her removal was automatically triggered after she missed three consecutive board meetings between 1986 and 1989 10 In 1990 Collins accepted the presidency of Saint Catharine College in Springfield Kentucky becoming the first president of the small Catholic college who was not a Dominican nun 51 College officials stated that Collins was recruited for the presidency to raise the college s profile 51 In 1993 Collins s husband Bill was charged in an influence peddling scandal The prosecution claimed that while Collins was governor Dr Collins exploited a perception that he could influence the awarding of state contracts through his wife 52 It was alleged that he exploited this perception to pressure people who did business with the state to invest nearly 2 million with him 52 He was convicted on October 14 1993 after a seven week trial he was given a sentence of five years and three months in federal prison which was at the low end of the range prescribed by the federal sentencing guidelines 53 He was also fined 20 000 for a conspiracy charge that involved kickbacks disguised as political contributions 52 Governor Collins was called to testify in the trial but was not charged 54 The scandal tarnished her image however and may have cost her an appointment in the administration of President Bill Clinton 54 Collins was also rumored to be considering running for the U S Senate a bid which never materialized following her husband s conviction 54 The Collinses reunited following Dr Collins s release from prison on October 10 1997 55 In 1996 Collins resigned as president of Saint Catharine College to direct the International Business and Management Center at the University of Kentucky 56 Later that year she was a co chair of the Credentials Committee at the Democratic National Convention 57 When her contract with the University of Kentucky expired in 1998 Collins took a part time position as executive scholar in residence at Georgetown College which allowed her more time to pursue other interests 58 In 1999 she was named Honorary Consul General of Japan in Kentucky a position which involved promoting Japanese interests in Kentucky encouraging Japanese investment in the state and encouraging cultural understanding between Kentucky and Japan 59 In 2001 Governor Paul E Patton named her co chair of the Kentucky Task Force on the Economic Status of Women 54 In January 2005 she became the chairwoman and chief executive officer of the Kentucky World Trade Center 60 She has held positions on the boards of directors for several corporations including Eastman Kodak 60 Awards and honors Edit Women Leading Kentucky a non profit group designed to promote education mentorship and networking among Kentucky professional women created the Martha Layne Collins Leadership Award in 1999 to recognize a Kentucky woman of achievement who inspires and motivates other women through her personal community and professional lives Collins was the first recipient of the award 61 In 2003 Kentucky s Bluegrass Parkway was renamed the Martha Layne Collins Bluegrass Parkway in her honor Collins also received the World Trade Day Book of Honor Award for the state of Kentucky from the World Trade Centers Association that year 60 62 In 2009 she was inducted into the Order of the Rising Sun Gold and Silver Star by the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs for her contributions to strengthening economic and cultural exchanges between Japan and the United States of America 63 Martha Layne Collins High School in Shelby County was named in her honor and opened in 2010 64 See also EditList of female governors in the United States List of female lieutenant governors in the United States Kentucky ColonelReferences Edit An Emotional Day at GC Hello to Barlow Park and So Long Thanks to Former Gov Martha Layne Collins News Bureau a b c d e f g Martha Layne Collins Hall of Distinguished Alumni a b c d e f g Ryan p 229 a b c d e f g h Bean Collins Prides Herself on Hard Work a b c d e f g h Jones Collins s Rise in Politics Credited to Hard Work a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s Harrison p 214 a b Ryan p 230 a b c Ryan p 231 Harrison and Klotter p 417 a b c Ex Governor Loses Board Post The Kentucky Post Osbourne Brown Gives Endorsement to Stumbo Jester Harvey Sloane Concedes Loss in May Primary 1983 Smith Mondale Stays Neutral on Female Running Mate a b Harrison and Klotter p 418 Halsey Woman Ky Governor is Off to a Rough Start Osbourne Collins Urges Tax Increase to Aid Schools Osbourne Collins Says I ve Got to Have Proposals on Revenue Education a b Ryan p 233 a b c York Victory Gives Collins Spot in the National Political Arena a b York Collins Delivers Democrats Reply to Reagan Speech a b Osbourne Collins s Son to Head Convention Delegation Eichel How Mondale Decided on Ferraro Roser Collins Picks Self as Chief of Education a b Osbourne Collins Legislators Begin Campaign Roser Governor Urges Legislators to Back Plan Brammer Session Call Includes More Than Expected Roser Education Reforms to Begin Gradually Brammer Roads Prisons Child Abuse Issues Linger a b c Roser Duke and Brammer 86 Legislature Called Both Independent Cautious Rugeley and Wagar Rural Areas Killed Effort to Appoint School Chief a b Collins s China Trip to be First for State Lexington Herald Leader a b c Truman Toyota to Get 125 Million in Incentives Collins Says Toyota Site Delegation is Given Real Bang up Welcome by Collins Lexington Herald Leader Brammer Collins Signs Final Accord With Toyota on Incentives Duke State Files Test Suit on Toyota Miller and Swasy The Wooing of Toyota Kentucky Adds Up the Bill Swasy Toyota Promises to Help Pay Cost Overruns a b c Brammer and Miller Toyota Incentives Legal Court Rules Com Transp Cabinet v Taub Retrieved October 1 2015 842 F2d 912 Taub v Commonwealth of Kentucky OpenJurist openjurist org F2d 842 912 December 11 1987 Retrieved October 1 2015 Kentucky New Era Google News Archive Search news google com Retrieved October 1 2015 a b Rugeley and Brammer After Shaky Start Collins Converted the Skeptics Ford to Expand Plant in Louisville The New York Times a b Rugeley and Brammer Lawmakers Summoned on Workers Comp Woes a b c d Brammer and Miller Lawmakers Compromise Pass Workers Comp Plan a b Kentucky Governor Martha Layne Collins National Governors Association a b c Berman Out of the Mansion Back in the Classroom a b Pack Owensboro Native Picked to Lead WKU Fortune A Time to Reflect A Time to Choose Midway College Elects Trustees Lexington Herald Leader a b Lucke and Mead Collins Named College President a b c Wolfe Bill Collins Sentenced to 5 Years and 3 Months in Prison Fined Former Governor s Husband Gets Jail Term for Extortion The New York Times a b c d Ryan p 235 Ex governor s Husband Takes Job at Georgetown The Kentucky Post Collins going to UK The Kentucky Post Former Fellow Martha Layne Collins Harvard University Institute of Politics Ex Governor Trades UK Position for Georgetown Lexington Herald Leader Honeycutt Japan Names Ex Governor Collins to Consul Post a b c Martha Layne Collins Education Hall of Fame Eastern Kentucky University s Shain Receives Martha Layne Collins Leadership Award U S Federal News Service Kocher Parkway to be Named for Collins 2009 Autumn Conferment of Decorations on Foreign Nationals Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Our Schools Martha Layne Collins High School Shelby County Public Schools Archived from the original on March 11 2010 Retrieved January 13 2010 Bibliography Edit 2009 Autumn Conferment of Decorations on Foreign Nationals PDF Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Retrieved January 8 2010 Bean Ed May 9 1983 Collins Prides Herself on Hard Work Lexington Herald Leader p A1 Berman Michelle February 16 1988 Out of the Mansion Back in the Classroom Collins Appears at Ease in New Role Lexington Herald Leader p A1 Brammer Jack March 1 1986 Collins Signs Final Accord With Toyota on Incentives Lexington Herald Leader p A1 Brammer Jack John Winn Miller October 23 1987 Lawmakers Compromise Pass Workers Comp Plan Lexington Herald Leader p A1 Brammer Jack July 21 1985 Roads Prisons Child Abuse Issues Linger Lexington Herald Leader p A1 Brammer Jack July 6 1985 Session Call Includes More Than Expected Collins Also Seeks Consideration of Prison Children s Services Lexington Herald Leader p A1 Brammer Jack John Winn Miller June 12 1987 Toyota Incentives Legal Court Rules Justices Split 4 3 Over Package Lexington Herald Leader p A1 Collins s China Trip to be First for State Lexington Herald Leader September 26 1985 p B6 Collins Going to UK The Kentucky Post June 7 1996 p 2K Duke Jacqueline May 8 1986 State Files Test Suit on Toyota Lexington Herald Leader p B2 Eastern Kentucky University s Shain Receives Martha Layne Collins Leadership Award U S Federal News Service May 9 2009 Eichel Larry July 14 1984 How Mondale Decided on Ferraro The Miami Herald p 1A Ex Governor Loses Board Post The Kentucky Post May 4 1990 p 8A Ex Governor Trades UK Position for Georgetown Lexington Herald Leader August 23 1998 p B3 Ex governor s Husband Takes Job at Georgetown The Kentucky Post November 26 1997 p 12A Ford to Expand Plant in Louisville The New York Times July 14 1987 Retrieved October 4 2011 Former Fellow Martha Layne Collins Harvard University Institute of Politics Archived from the original on July 3 2010 Retrieved January 7 2010 Former Governor s Husband Gets Jail Term for Extortion The New York Times December 25 1993 Retrieved October 4 2011 Fortune Beverly April 2 1989 A Time to Reflect A Time to Choose Ex Governor Collins Moves Into the Future Slowly Deliberately Lexington Herald Leader p K1 Halsey Ashley February 19 1984 Woman Ky Governor is Off to a Rough Start The Philadelphia Inquirer p A1 Harrison Lowell H 1992 Collins Martha Layne In Kleber John E ed The Kentucky Encyclopedia Associate editors Thomas D Clark Lowell H Harrison and James C Klotter Lexington Kentucky The University Press of Kentucky ISBN 0 8131 1772 0 Retrieved January 2 2010 Harrison Lowell H James C Klotter 1997 A New History of Kentucky The University Press of Kentucky ISBN 0 8131 2008 X Retrieved June 26 2009 Honeycutt Valerie September 15 1999 Japan Names Ex Governor Collins to Consul Post Lexington Herald Leader p 23 Jester Art June 13 1983 Harvey Sloane Concedes Loss in May Primary Stops Short of Offering to Back Collins s Campaign for Governor Lexington Herald Leader p C1 Jones David October 30 1983 Collins s Rise in Politics Credited to Hard Work Lexington Herald Leader p A1 Kentucky Governor Martha Layne Collins National Governors Association Retrieved January 7 2010 Kocher Greg September 16 2003 Parkway to be Named for Collins Road is Fifth and Last to Honor a Living Former Governor Lexington Herald Leader p A1 Martha Layne Collins Education Hall of Fame University of Kentucky College of Education Retrieved January 8 2010 Martha Layne Collins Hall of Distinguished Alumni University of Kentucky Alumni Association Retrieved January 7 2010 Midway College Elects Trustees Lexington Herald Leader June 7 1989 p 4 Miller John Winn Alecia Swasy September 28 1986 The Wooing of Toyota Kentucky Adds Up the Bill Lexington Herald Leader p A1 Lucke Jaime Andy Mead June 2 1990 Collins Named College President Ex Governor Recruited by St Catharine College Lexington Herald Leader p A1 Osbourne Diana Taylor May 17 1983 Brown Gives Endorsement to Stumbo Lexington Herald Leader p A1 Osbourne Diana Taylor January 20 1985 Collins Legislators Begin Campaign Lexington Herald Leader p F1 Osbourne Diana Taylor February 25 1984 Collins Says I ve Got to Have Proposals on Revenue Education Lexington Herald Leader p A1 Osbourne Diana Taylor June 19 1984 Collins s Son to Head Convention Delegation Lexington Herald Leader p A1 Osbourne Diana Taylor January 27 1984 Collins Urges Tax Increase to Aid Schools Lexington Herald Leader p A1 Pack Todd August 6 1988 Owensboro Native Picked to Lead WKU Collins Takes Her Name Out of Consideration Lexington Herald Leader p A1 Roser Mary Ann Jacqueline Duke Jack Brammer April 6 1986 86 Legislature Called Both Independent Cautious Lexington Herald Leader p A1 Roser Mary Ann January 12 1985 Collins Picks Self as Chief of Education Governor s Surprise Decision Shows She Means Business Officials Say Lexington Herald Leader p A1 Roser Mary Ann July 21 1985 Education Reforms to Begin Gradually Lexington Herald Leader p A1 Roser Mary Ann June 13 1985 Governor Urges Legislators to Back Plan School Package Would Lead to Excellence Collins Says Lexington Herald Leader p A1 Rugeley Cindy Jack Brammer December 6 1987 After Shaky Start Collins Converted the Skeptics Lexington Herald Leader p A1 Rugeley Cindy Jack Brammer October 8 1987 Lawmakers Summoned on Workers Comp Woes Lexington Herald Leader p A1 Rugeley Cindy Kit Wagar November 6 1986 Rural Areas Killed Effort to Appoint School Chief Lexington Herald Leader p A1 Ryan Ed Elizabeth Duffy Fraas 2004 Martha Layne Collins In Lowell Hayes Harrison ed Kentucky s Governors Lexington Kentucky The University Press of Kentucky ISBN 0 8131 2326 7 Smith Dane July 1 1984 Mondale Stays Neutral on Female Running Mate The Philadelphia Inquirer p A1 Swasy Alicia October 14 1986 Toyota Promises to Help Pay Cost Overruns Lexington Herald Leader p A1 Toyota Site Delegation is Given Real Bang up Welcome by Collins Lexington Herald Leader November 16 1985 p B2 Truman Cheryl December 18 1985 Toyota to Get 125 Million in Incentives Collins Says Lexington Herald Leader p A1 Wolfe Charles December 22 1993 Bill Collins Sentenced to 5 Years and 3 Months in Prison Fined Daily News pp 1A 12A Retrieved January 15 2010 York Michael December 17 1983 Collins Delivers Democrats Reply to Reagan Speech Lexington Herald Leader p B1 York Michael November 10 1983 Victory Gives Collins Spot in National Political Arena Lexington Herald Leader p A16 Further reading EditListen to this article 31 minutes source source This audio file was created from a revision of this article dated 8 March 2012 2012 03 08 and does not reflect subsequent edits Audio help More spoken articles Johnson Gail 2012 Trailblazing Governors Six Remarkable Women North Charleston South Carolina CreateSpace ISBN 978 1 4662 7769 4 Madsen Susan R 2009 Developing leadership learning from the experiences of women governors Lanham Maryland University Press of America ISBN 978 0 7618 4308 5 Marshall Brenda DeVore Molly A Mayhead 2000 Navigating boundaries the rhetoric of women governors Westport Connecticut Praeger ISBN 0 275 96778 6 Smith Frances 1991 The little girl who grew up to be governor stories from the life of Martha Layne Collins Lexington Kentucky Denham Publishing Company ISBN 0 9630135 0 5 Appearances on C SPANLegal officesPreceded byFrances Jones Mills Clerk of the Kentucky Court of Appeals1975 1979 Position abolishedParty political officesPreceded byThelma Stovall Democratic nominee for the Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky1979 Succeeded bySteve BeshearPreceded byJohn Y Brown Jr Democratic nominee for the Governor of Kentucky1983 Succeeded byWallace G WilkinsonPreceded byTip O Neill Permanent Chairman of the Democratic National Convention1984 Succeeded byJim WrightPolitical officesPreceded byThelma Stovall Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky1979 1983 Succeeded bySteve BeshearPreceded byJohn Y Brown Jr Governor of Kentucky1983 1987 Succeeded byWallace G WilkinsonU S order of precedence ceremonial Preceded byJulian Carrollas Former Governor Order of precedence of the United States Succeeded byBrereton C Jonesas Former Governor Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Martha Layne Collins amp oldid 1165081922, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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