Paul N. Poirier

Poirier was born in Lewiston, Maine on September 30, 1948.^[2] He was educated at private schools in Maine and Norwich University, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in 1970 and a Master of Education degree in history and government in 1973.^[2] Poirier was also a member of the Norwich ice hockey team, and was one of the school's all-time top 10 leading scorers.^[3]

After college, Poirier became a social studies and physical education teacher at Spaulding High School in Barre.^[4] In addition, he was the coach of the varsity ice hockey team, which won the 1980 Division 1 state championship, Spaulding's first title in nearly 20 years.^[4]

Originally a Democrat, in 1980 Poirier was a successful candidate for election to the Vermont House of Representatives, defeating 15-year incumbent Republican Lucille Molinaroli.^[4] He was reelected in 1982, 1984, and 1986, and served from January 1981 to January 1989.^[2] During his House tenure, Poirier became assistant minority leader and worked with Ralph G. Wright, the Speaker of the House, to build a Democratic majority.^[5] (Wright had become Speaker with the support of Democrats and a small number of Republicans.)^[6] When Democrats attained the majority in 1987, Poirier became majority leader, and served until 1989.^[2] His House career also included service as vice chair of the Rules Committee, member of the Joint Rules Committee, and chairman of Select House Committee on Economic Growth.^[2]

In 1988 Poirier was a candidate for Vermont's lone seat in the United States House of Representatives, which was being vacated by Jim Jeffords, who was a candidate for the U.S. Senate seat of the retiring Robert Stafford.^[7] Poirier won the Democratic nomination in a close contest over Peter Welch and James A. Guest.^[8] The general election was a three-way contest between Poirier, Republican candidate Peter Smith, and Independent Bernie Sanders.^[9] Smith won with a plurality, taking 41.2 percent of the vote to 37.5 for Sanders and 18.9 for Poirier.^[10] Sanders' strong showing proved a harbinger; in 1990, he ran again, and defeated Smith 56 percent to 39.5.^[11]

After his House campaign, Poirier continued his career as the manager of Community Relations for the Green Mountain Power company, a position he accepted while still serving in the Vermont House, and later worked for Vermont Protection and Advocacy as the public advocate for patients at the Vermont State Hospital and inmates at the Chittenden Correctional Facility.^[4] In 1990 he won election to the Barre City Council, a nonpartisan position, and he served until 1999.^[4] Also in 1990, Poirier ran unsuccessfully for a seat in the Vermont State Senate.^[12]

From 1991 to 1997 he was a member of the Environmental Commission for District 5, which includes Barre City.^[2] In 1994, he was again an unsuccessful candidate for the Vermont State Senate. Poirier returned to the Vermont House after winning election in 1996, and he served two terms, January 1997 to January 2001.^[2] During his second House tenure, he was chairman of the House Health and Welfare Committee, a member of the Health Oversight Committee, and chairman of the House Select Committee on Health Care Reform.^[2] In 2000, he was again an unsuccessful candidate for the Vermont Senate.^[2]