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'{{Infobox officeholder |image = Charlie Summers.jpg |office = 48th [[Secretary of State of Maine]] |governor = [[Paul LePage]] |term_start = January 5, 2011 |term_end = January 7, 2013 |predecessor = [[Matthew Dunlap]] |successor = [[Matthew Dunlap]] |state_senate1 = Maine |district1 = 31st |term_start1 = January 3, 1991 |term_end1 = January 3, 1995 |predecessor1 = Barry Hobbins |successor1 = Joan Pendexter |birth_date = {{birth date and age|1959|12|26}} |birth_place = [[Danville, Illinois|Danville]], [[Illinois]], [[United States|U.S.]] |death_date = |death_place = |party = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]] |alma_mater = [[Black Hawk College]]<br>[[University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign|University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign]] }} '''Charles E. "Charlie" Summers, Jr.''' (born December 26, 1959) is an American politician, businessman, [[Iraq War]] veteran and member of the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]] from the state of [[Maine]]. A member of the [[Maine Senate]] from 1991 to 1995, Summers ran for the Republican nomination for [[Maine's 1st congressional district]] in 1994, coming second in the primary. He was the nominee for the same seat in 2004 and 2008, losing on each occasion to the Democratic candidate. From 2011 to 2013 served as the [[Secretary of State of Maine]]. He was the Republican nominee for the U.S Senate to succeed the retiring Republican [[Olympia Snowe]] in the [[United States Senate election in Maine, 2012|2012 election]], but lost to former Independent Governor [[Angus King]]. ==Early life, education, and early political career== He was born in [[Danville, Illinois]] in 1959 . His family moved to Kewanee, Illinois where he grew up. In 1978 graduated from Kewanee High School in 1978 [[Kewanee, Illinois|Kewanee]]. He earned an AA from [[Blackhawk College]] and a BS in [[Leisure Studies ]] from [[University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign]] in 1984. After college he moved to Bangor, Maine where became the Assistant Manager of the Bangor Motor Inn. He and his late wife, Dr. Debra J. Summers, Ph.D., later moved to southern Maine where he worked as part of the management team of the South Portland Motor Inn. He later opened his own small business, "Charlie's Beverage Warehouse", in Biddeford, Maine. Summers was State Director for [[United States Senator]] [[Olympia Snowe]] from 1995-2004. He has served in various elected and appointed political positions, most recently (March 2005 - June 2007) as the New England Regional Administrator (Region I) for the U.S. [[Small Business Administration]] (SBA). He monitored oversight of SBA's Financing, Marketing, and Outreach efforts in Offices from six states: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.maine.gov/sos/bio/long-bio.htm |title=Department of the Secretary of State, Detailed Biographical Information |publisher=Maine.gov |date= |accessdate=2012-10-31}}</ref> ==Maine Senate== ===Elections=== He was elected in 1990, becoming the first Republican to represent Maine's 31st Senate District. He was re-elected in 1992, but decided to retire in 1994 in order to run for a seat in the [[U.S. House of Representatives]]. ===Committee assignments=== *Joint Standing Committee on Legal Affairs *Joint Standing Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife *Joint Standing Committee on Taxation (Ranking Member) ==Congressional elections== ===1994=== {{See also|United States House of Representatives elections, 1994}} Democratic U.S. Congressman [[Thomas H. Andrews]], of [[Maine's 1st congressional district]], decided to retire in order to run for the U.S. Senate. Opponents included Kevin Keogh (former Chairman of the [[Maine Republican Party]]),<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ZBwzAAAAIBAJ&sjid=XzgHAAAAIBAJ&pg=2068,2069184&dq=charles+summers+maine&hl=en |work=Bangor Daily News |date=March 8, 1994 |author=John S. Day |pages=1, 3 |title=Congressional shuffle prompts field of hopefuls}}</ref> Ted Rand (City Councilman), and [[James Longley, Jr.]] (son of former Governor [[James Longley, Sr.]]). Longley won the primary with 43% of the vote. Summers ranked second with 25%.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=514697 |title=ME District 1 - R Primary Race - Jun 14, 1994 |publisher=Our Campaigns |date= |accessdate=2012-10-31}}</ref> ===2004=== {{See also|United States House of Representatives elections, 2004}} Summers decided to challenge Democratic U.S. Congressman [[Tom Allen]], of the 1st CD. He lost 60%-40%. <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=4163 |title=ME - District 01 Race - Nov 02, 2004 |publisher=Our Campaigns |date= |accessdate=2012-10-31}}</ref> ===2008=== {{See also|United States House of Representatives elections in Maine, 2008}} Allen decided to retire in 2008 in order to run for the U.S. Senate. Summers decided to run for the seat again. In the Republican primary, he defeated Dean Scontras 60%-40%. <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=363858 |title=ME District 01 - R Primary Race - Jun 10, 2008 |publisher=Our Campaigns |date= |accessdate=2012-10-31}}</ref> In the general election, he lost to Democratic State Senator [[Chellie Pingree]], 55%-45%.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=338237 |title=ME - District 01 Race - Nov 04, 2008 |publisher=Our Campaigns |date= |accessdate=2012-10-31}}</ref> ==Military service== Summers has served in the [[U.S. Navy]] since 1995, currently holding the rank of Commander (CDR). As of December 2016, he serves as Director, Navy Office of Information, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet. He was recalled after the [[September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks]], serving at the Pentagon under [[Gordon R. England]], the [[U.S. Secretary of the Navy]]. In July 2007, he was deployed to [[Iraq War of 2003|Iraq]] to participate in [[Operation Iraqi Freedom]] with [[Multi-National Forces - Iraq|Multi National Forces-Iraq]] Strategic Effects Directorate. He returned home in May 2008. From October 2009 to October 2010, he served on active duty on the staff of the [[Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff]], [[Admiral Mike Mullen]]. During this time, he completed a temporary assignment as a member of Combined Forces Special Operations Component Command-Afghanistan (CFSOCC-A). He served on active duty as Director of Public Affairs for [[Vice Admiral Robin R. Braun]], Chief of the [[Navy Reserve]] from 2014-2016. His military decorations include the [[Defense Meritorious Service Medal]], Meritorious Service Medal, [[Joint Service Commendation Medal]], Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (four awards), U.S. Army Combat Action Badge, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal and various other service awards. ==Maine Secretary of State== On December 1, 2010 Summers was elected Maine's Secretary of State<ref>{{cite web|url=http://votesmart.org/candidate/biography/37258/charles-summers-jr |title=Secretary Charles Summers, Jr. Biography - Project Vote Smart |publisher=Votesmart.org |date= |accessdate=2012-10-31}}</ref> by the state legislature in Augusta. His two-year term began on January 6, 2011. On June 26, 2012, Summers faced criticism from the [[Maine Democratic Party]] over a shortage of voter registration cards for candidates to distribute. A spokesperson for the Party claimed it was another example of Summers attempting to make it harder to vote, along with his support of a failed effort to eliminate same-day voter registration in Maine the prior year, as well as his investigation of college students for alleged voter fraud. <ref>{{cite web|author=Matthew Stone |url=http://bangordailynews.com/2012/06/25/politics/secretary-of-state-office-has-voter-registration-card-shortage-dems-blame-charlie-summers/?ref=regionaugusta |title=Secretary of state office has voter registration card shortage; Dems blame Charlie Summers|work=Bangor Daily News |date=June 25, 2012 |accessdate=2012-10-31}}</ref> Summers noted that potential voters can print a card from the Internet at any time, and that updated registration cards will be available in a few weeks.<ref name="notresign"></ref> ==2012 U.S. Senate election== {{Main|United States Senate election in Maine, 2012}} In 2012, Summers announced that he would be a candidate for the [[United States Senate]] to succeed incumbent [[Olympia Snowe]], who decided to retire. On June 12, Summers won a multi-candidate primary with 30% of the vote and faced former Independent Governor [[Angus King]], and Democratic State Senator [[Cynthia Dill]] in the general election. Despite the support of Senator Snowe and the other Senator from Maine [[Susan Collins]], Summers lost the election to King. The [[Maine People's Alliance]] called on Charlie Summers to resign his position as [[Secretary of State of Maine]], stating that it was a conflict of interest for the Secretary of State to oversee their own election to another office. They also had concerns over past actions in sending letters to college students about voter registration requirements. A spokesperson for Summers stated that he had turned over all election oversight to a deputy Secretary of State. No Secretary of State or [[Maine Attorney General]] who was seeking higher office in the last 30 years has resigned. <ref>{{cite web|url=http://bangordailynews.com/2012/06/21/politics/maine-peoples-alliance-wants-summers-resignation/?ref=regionaugusta|title=Maine People’s Alliance wants Summers resignation|publisher=Bangor Daily News|date=June 21, 2012|accessdate=June 21, 2012}}</ref> Summers has stated that his critics "want me to resign and I'm not going to do it."<ref name="notresign">{{cite web|url=http://www.kjonline.com/news/Summers-to-keep-state-job-during-Senate-campaign.html|title=Summers won't resign as Secretary of State during Senate campaign|publisher=Kennebec Journal|date=June 26, 2012|accessdate=June 26, 2012}}</ref> ==Personal life== His parents are Patricia and Charles Summers and he is the 2nd youngest of 5. Kathy, Jim, Deb, Charlie and Ray Summers. He has several nieces and nephews. David Scott from Kathy, Jessica Lynn Hanko-Summers and T.J. Summers from Jim, and Charlie Harker, Erin and Thomas from Deb. He is married to Ruth Summers, and has three children, Patricia, Chas, and Thomas. ==See also== {{Portal|Biography}} {{-}} ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== *[http://www.summersformaine.com Charlie Summers for Senate] official campaign website *{{CongLinks | congbio = | votesmart = 37258 | washpo = | govtrack = | opencong = | ontheissues = senate/Charlie_Summers.htm | surge = | legistorm = | fec = S2ME00133 | opensecrets = | followthemoney = | c-span = charliesummers | rose = | imdb = | nyt = | guardian = | worldcat = | nndb = | findagrave = }} *[http://www.opensecrets.org/races/summary.php?cycle=2012&id=MES1 Campaign contributions] at [[OpenSecrets.org]] *[http://www.boston.com/news/local/maine/articles/2007/06/18/recalled_to_active_duty_ex_business_agency_chief_eyes_congress/ "Recalled to active duty, ex-business agency chief eyes Congress," Boston Globe - June 18, 2007] *[http://www.nytimes.com/cq/2007/07/06/cq_3024.html "Maine Republican Enters House Race — Then Reports for Iraq Duty," New York Times - July 6, 2007] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20080518082031/http://kennebecjournal.mainetoday.com/view/columns/4163525.html "The Virtue of Valor: The Virtues of Charlie Summers' Absentee Campaign," Kennebec Journal - August 2007] {{s-start}} {{s-off}} {{s-bef|before=[[Matthew Dunlap]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Secretary of State of Maine]]|years=2011–2013}} {{s-aft|after=[[Matthew Dunlap]]}} |- {{s-ppo}} {{s-bef|before=[[Olympia Snowe]]}} {{s-ttl|title={{nowrap|[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] nominee for [[United States Senator|U.S. Senator]] from [[Maine]]}}<br>([[Classes of United States Senators|Class 1]])|years=[[United States Senate election in Maine, 2012|2012]]}} {{s-inc|recent}} {{s-end}} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Summers, Charles E., Jr.}} [[Category:1959 births]] [[Category:American military personnel of the Iraq War]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Maine Republicans]] [[Category:Maine State Senators]] [[Category:People from Scarborough, Maine]] [[Category:People from Kewanee, Illinois]] [[Category:Secretaries of State of Maine]] [[Category:Small Business Administration personnel]] [[Category:United States Navy officers]] [[Category:University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign alumni]]'