Governor Jack Markell

Governor Jack Markell has been recognized in Delaware and across the country as a leader in promoting policies to help all people achieve their economic potential. He took office with the State facing a steep economic downturn and historic budget shortfalls. He and his team have focused on growing the economy, creating jobs and delivering better value for taxpayers.

Governor Markell was born in 1960, reared in Newark, Delaware and was graduated from Newark High School along with his spouse, Carla. He then received an undergraduate degree in economics and development studies from Brown University and an MBA from the University of Chicago. He is a Henry Crown Fellow and a Rodel Fellow at the Aspen Institute.

He began his career in the private sector helping lead the wireless technology revolution as the 13th employee at Nextel (a name he coined), where he served as Senior Vice President for Corporate Development. His other business experience includes a senior management position at Comcast Corporation, work as a consultant with McKinsey and Co. and as a banker at First Chicago Corporation.

As State Treasurer

Governor Markell left the private sector to pursue his passion for public service. He was elected State Treasurer in 1998, a position he held for three consecutive terms.

He saved taxpayers many millions of dollars by instituting state-of-the-art bulk purchasing policies for Delaware’s state government, earning him recognition from a number of public policy organizations.

His help with creating “Health Rewards,” a program which improves the health care of state employees and reduces health care costs with comprehensive physical exams, was recognized by the Council of State Governments with one of its prestigious Innovation Awards.

Governor Markell earned a second Innovation Award for “The Delaware Money School”, a program created to increase financial literacy. Tens of thousands of Delawareans have participated in free classes on topics such as saving for college and retirement planning. Additionally, Governor Markell created the Consumer Tool Chest to keep seniors safe and well prepared for retirement.

Governor Markell’s efforts to promote awareness of the federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), which provides money to working families who are near the poverty line, brought millions of dollars into the pockets of many thousands of working Delawareans. With his leadership, the help of 460 volunteers and the Nehemiah Gateway Community Development Corporation, thousands of families who qualified for the assistance were able to take part in the 2007 EITC campaign.

As Governor

One of Governor Markell’s first official actions was to reduce his own salary by 20 percent. He has since submitted budgets to the legislature which cut waste but preserved core services.

Governor Markell signed landmark legislation that aims to reduce energy consumption 15 percent by 2015, increases energy efficiency requirements through building codes, promotes the construction of “zero net energy” homes and offices, and establishes a “loading order” for new energy supplies that requires energy efficiency to be considered before new resources are obtained. The Energy Conservation and Efficiency Act of 2009 is one of the most ambitious in the Nation and -- combined with investment by Fisker Automotive and efforts to develop the first American offshore wind farm -- Delaware is well positioned to lead the Nation in driving the green economy.

The Governor ended an eleven-plus-year struggle by signing a bill to ban discrimination based on sexual orientation in employment, housing, public accommodations, public works contracting and insurance, and then signed an executive order protecting transgender state employees.

Working closely with Lt. Governor Matt Denn, Governor Markell has pursued major educational reforms, replacing the controversial Delaware Student Testing Program (DSTP) with testing that measures student progress over the course of a school year. Delaware has also launched a pilot program to reward schools that are closing the achievement gap. A third key reform gives school districts substantially more discretion to make decisions appropriate for the children they serve, while simultaneously holding them more accountable for spending their funds responsibly.

Governor Markell launched the LIFT Program, to help small businesses survive and grow stronger. The Limited Investment for Financial Traction (LIFT) program is expected to help between 200 and 500 small businesses access as much as $50 million a year in loans from participating banks. This program, in conjunction with other activities to support job creation and local innovation, was developed through collaboration across sectors and party lines.

Following the closure of Delaware’s two remaining automotive plants, Governor Markell’s team worked to ensure that the facilities -- and thousands of workers -- would get another chance. Governor Markell supported the purchase of the Newark Chrysler plant by the University of Delaware (UD) to build a research and technology campus. This acquisition will generate a variety of jobs during the decommissioning, design and construction processes, while also expanding Delaware’s reputation as a center for innovation and excellence.

The Governor also took a hands-on approach to revive the former GM plant in Wilmington by aggressively pursuing Fisker Automotive. Despite heavy competition from other states, the deal was successfully completed in roughly two months. With significant private-sector funding and a sizable loan from the federal government, Fisker is due to begin producing hybrid vehicles as early as 2011. The company will invest at least $175 million to upgrade the plant and intends to employ more than 2,500 people.

Governor Markell and the First Lady live in Wilmington with their two children, Molly and Michael.