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Clinton Clauson

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Clinton Amos Clauson
66th Governor of Maine
In office
January 6, 1959 – December 30, 1959
Preceded byRobert Haskell
Succeeded byJohn H. Reed
35th Mayor of Waterville
In office
January 3, 1956 – December 2, 1957
Preceded byRichard J. Dubord
Succeeded byAlbert Bernier
Collector of Internal Revenue
for the District of Maine
In office
1934–1953
City Treasurer of Waterville
In office
1930–1931
Personal details
Born(1895-03-28)March 28, 1895
Mitchell, Iowa, U.S.
DiedDecember 30, 1959(1959-12-30) (aged 64)
Augusta, Maine, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse
Ellen Kelleher
(m. 1920)
ProfessionChiropractor

Clinton Amos Clauson (March 28, 1895 – December 30, 1959) was an American politician who served as the 66th governor of Maine from January 1959 until his death in December of that year. A Democrat, Clauson previously held office in Waterville, Maine, where he practiced chiropractic, including serving as the 35th mayor of Waterville from 1956 to 1957.

Early life and education

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Clinton Amos Clauson was born in Mitchell, Iowa, on March 28, 1895, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Clauson. After serving in World War I, he became a member of many organizations including Freemasonry, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Newcomen Society of the United States.[1] In 1919 he graduated from the Palmer College of Chiropractic and later set up a practice in Waterville, Maine.[2] On December 25, 1920, Clauson married Ellen Julia Kelleher at the Sacred Heart church rectory in Lewiston.[3]

Career

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Clauson entered politics in 1928 as a member of the Democratic State Committee, a position he held until 1935. He subsequently served as the city treasurer of Waterville from 1930 to 1931, the collector of Internal Revenue for the District of Maine from 1934 to 1953, the state administrator of the Maine War Bond Program from 1941 to 1943, and served as a member on several boards and committees. On December 5, 1955, he was elected as the mayor of Waterville, and was sworn in at 7:30 p.m. on January 3, 1956.[4] He succeeded Richard J. Dubord, who decided not to run for re-election.[5] In his inaugural address, Clauson cited finding jobs for unemployed Waterville citizens and more careful spending.[6] Deciding not to run for re-election, he was succeeded by Democrat Albert Bernier, who was elected and took office on December 2, 1957.[7]

As a politician, he was deemed to be a conservative Democrat. His election victory surprised many in Maine, as Edmund Muskie's favorite had been expected to win and the Republican challenger was the better known Horace A. Hildreth. In an obituary, Clauson's career had been termed "unorthodox".[8] Clauson immigrated to Maine from Iowa as a young man, rose from obscurity to win the 1958 Democratic gubernatorial nomination as a conservative Democrat over the favorite of Maine liberals led by Governor Edmund Muskie, and went on to defeat a Republican opponent who was a heavy favorite.

Some accomplishments during his brief term included expanding Maine's sales tax to fund the formation of consolidated school districts, instituting a 3% lodging tax for school funding, the first open meetings law in Maine, and expanding the powers of judges in state municipal courts, which led to the formation of the District Court system two years after his death.[9]

Death

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Clauson died in his sleep on December 30, 1959, before he could finish out his term, although no cause of death was given.[10] He is buried in Pine Grove Cemetery.[11] Clauson was succeeded by the President of the Maine Senate, John H. Reed. Reed, a Republican, was subsequently elected governor after a special election.

In 1961, the Maine Legislature voted to name two bridges over the Kennebec River in Fairfield on the then-under construction Interstate 95 the Clinton A. Clauson Memorial Bridges. The bridges were completed in 1964 and rehabilitated from 2013 to 2014.[9]

References

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  1. ^ Political Graveyard's section on Chiropractors in politics
  2. ^ National Governor's Association
  3. ^ "Dec 29, 1920, page 5 - Sun-Journal at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved May 20, 2024.
  4. ^ "Jan 03, 1956, page 1 - Morning Sentinel at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved May 20, 2024.
  5. ^ "Dec 03, 1955, page 6 - Morning Sentinel at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved May 20, 2024.
  6. ^ "Jan 04, 1956, page 1 - Morning Sentinel at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved May 20, 2024.
  7. ^ "Dec 03, 1957, page 1 - Morning Sentinel at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved May 20, 2024.
  8. ^ "Republican for Democrat". Time. January 11, 1960.
  9. ^ a b Harlow, Doug (January 23, 2014). "Exit 133 entrance to Interstate-95 in Fairfield to reopen soon". Kennebec Journal. Retrieved January 23, 2014.
  10. ^ "Newport Daily News from Newport, Rhode Island on December 30, 1959 · Page 1".
  11. ^ "Interest in Waterville's first murder renewed". November 3, 2013.
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Party political offices
Preceded by Democratic nominee for Governor of Maine
1958
Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Governor of Maine
1959
Succeeded by