Andrew John Perchlik (born June 3, 1968) is an American activist and politician from Vermont. A Democrat, in 2018 he was elected to the Vermont Senate from the three-member at-large Washington County Senate District.

Andrew Perchlik
Perchlik in 2018
Member of the Vermont Senate
from the Washington District
Assumed office
January 2019
Preceded byFrancis K. Brooks, Ann Cummings, Anthony Pollina
Personal details
Born (1968-06-03) June 3, 1968 (age 56)
Greeley, Colorado, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse
Marianne Donahue
(m. 1997)
RelationsRichard Perchlik (father)
John Prchlik (uncle)
Thomas Perchlik (brother)
David Perchlik (brother)
Laura Perchlik (sister)
Children3
ResidenceMontpelier, Vermont
EducationUniversity of Northern Colorado (BS)

Early life and education

edit

Perchlik was born in Greeley, Colorado on June 3, 1968, a son of Richard Perchlik and Sylvia (Marston) Perchlik.[1][2][3] His father was a professor of political science at Colorado State College (now the University of Northern Colorado).[2] He also served as mayor of Greeley and owned and operated the Sharktooth Ski Area. Andrew Perchlik and his three siblings were raised in Greeley.[2][3]

Perchlik attended an on-campus laboratory school at the University of Northern Colorado from Kindergarten through 12th grade.[2] He then attended the university, from which he received a Bachelor of Science degree in environmental politics.[2]

Career

edit

Perchlik joined the Peace Corps after college and served in Panama.[2] He became a resident of Vermont in 1991 as a VISTA volunteer, and worked on home weatherization and fuel assistance projects in Addison County.[2] He subsequently returned to Colorado, and in 1995 he moved back to Vermont, which became his permanent residence.[2] His family resided in Hubbardton and Randolph Center before moving to Marshfield in 1998.[2] In 2017, they moved from Marshfield to Montpelier.[2]

A recognized expert in the field of sustainable energy, Perchlik was the director of Vermont's Clean Energy Development Fund, founding executive director of Renewable Energy Vermont, a member of the Solar Rating Certification Corporation board of directors, and member of the International Code Council's Renewable Energy Advisory Council.[2]

Vermont Senate

edit

In 2018, incumbent Francis K. Brooks announced that he would not to run for reelection to the Vermont Senate.[4] Perchlik was one of several candidates for the three Democratic nominations in the at-large Washington County Senate District.[5] In the August primary, Perchlik and incumbents Ann Cummings and Anthony Pollina were nominated.[5] Perchlik and Pollina were also nominated by the Vermont Progressive Party.[6] In the November general election, Cummings, Pollina, and Perchlik were the top three finishers, defeating Republicans Ken Alger, Dwayne Tucker, and Chris S. Bradley, and independent Barry Wadle.[6]

In his first term, Perchlik was appointed to the Senate's Education and Transportation committees.[2] In addition, he served on the Barre Granite and Ethnic Culture Museum Steering Committee, the Committee to Oversee Planning and Design of the Vermont State House, and the New England Board of Higher Education Canvassing Committee.[2]

In 2020, Perchlik was a candidate for reelection.[7] In the November general election, Perchlik, Cummings, and Pollina were elected over Republicans Dwayne Tucker, Dawnmarie Tomasi, and Ken Alger.[7]

Personal life

edit

In 1997, Perchlik married Marianne Donahue.[1][2] They have three children.[2] Perchlik's uncle, John Prchlik, was a professional football player for the Detroit Lions from 1949 to 1953 and a labor relations executive at Ford Motor Company.[8][9]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b "Vermont Marriage Records, 1909-2008".
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "Biography, Senator Andrew Perchlik".
  3. ^ a b "Greeley’s Sharktooth Ski Area lives on".
  4. ^ "Francis Brooks to retire from state Senate".
  5. ^ a b "Perchlik gains third Senate spot for Washington County".
  6. ^ a b "Three Democrats win state Senate seats".
  7. ^ a b "2020 Vermont State Senate - Washington Election Results". The Times Herald. Port Huron, MI. November 17, 2020.
  8. ^ "Prchlik dead at 78".
  9. ^ "Obituary, Ruth Marie Prebel".

Sources

edit

Internet

edit

Newspapers

edit