Douglas Ley Explained

Doug Ley
Office:Majority Leader of the New Hampshire House of Representatives
Term Start:December 5, 2018
Term End:December 2, 2020
Predecessor:Dick Hinch
Successor:Jason Osborne
State House2:New Hampshire
District2:Cheshire 9th
Alongside2:Richard Ames (2013–2021)
Term Start2:December 2012
Term End2:June 10, 2021
Predecessor2:Multi-member district
Successor2:Andrew Maneval
Birth Date:3 July 1958
Birth Place:Long Island, New York, U.S.
Death Place:Jaffrey, New Hampshire, U.S.
Party:Democratic
Spouse:Mary
Children:2
Education:Gettysburg College (BA)
University of Wisconsin, Madison (MA, PhD)

Douglas A. Ley (July 3, 1958 – June 10, 2021) was an American educator and politician who served in the New Hampshire House of Representatives from Cheshire District 9 from 2013 to 2021, as a member of the Democratic Party. During his tenure in the state house he served as Majority Leader from 2018 to 2020.

Early life and education

Douglas Ley was born in Long Island, New York and grew up in Valley Stream, New York, and Newtown, Connecticut. Ley graduated from Newtown High School. He graduated from Gettysburg College in 1980, with a bachelor's degree in history. He graduated from with a master's degree in history from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1983, and with a Ph.D. in history in 1990. He became a history professor at Franklin Pierce University in 1991. He served as president of his local American Federation of Teachers union from 2013 to 2021, and as president of the state American Federation of Teachers. He married Mary, with whom he had two children.[1] [2] [3] [4] [5]

New Hampshire House of Representatives

Elections

In 2012, Ley ran for a seat in the New Hampshire House of Representatives from Cheshire District 9 with the Democratic nomination and won in the general election alongside Richard Ames out of four candidates.[6] [7] Ley and Ames won reelection in the 2014 election out of four candidates in the general election.[8] [9] They won reelection in the 2016 election out of four candidates in the general election.[10] [11] They won reelection in the 2018 election out of three candidates.[12] [13] Ley and Ames won reelection in the 2020 election out of four candidates in the general election.[14] [15]

Tenure

During Ley's tenure he served on the Labor committee from 2013 to 2018. He defeated Representative Dick Hinch in the vote to become Majority Leader of the state house by a vote of 237 to 152 in 2018.[16] He served as Majority Leader from 2018 to 2020.

Death

Ley was hospitalized in May 2021, after cancer spread to his liver. Ley died on June 10, 2021, at the age of 62 at his home in Jaffrey, and was the third member of the state house to have died in the 2021-2022 session of the state house after Speaker Hinch and Representative David Danielson.

Notes and References

  1. https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/ledgertranscript/obituary.aspx?pid=199085671 Douglas Ley-obituary
  2. News: June 11, 2021 . Former NH House Majority Leader, five-term state Rep. Douglas Ley dies at 62 . . live . https://archive.today/20210613153107/https://www.wmur.com/article/former-nh-house-majority-leader-five-term-state-rep-doug-ley-dies-at-62/36701240 . June 13, 2021.
  3. News: December 7, 2018 . Questionnaire: Douglas A. Ley, NH House, Cheshire District 9 . . live . https://archive.today/20210614020909/https://www.sentinelsource.com/hub/questionnaire-douglas-a-ley-nh-house-cheshire-district-9/article_309881af-b2a5-5183-b34d-36706be27d50.html . June 14, 2021.
  4. News: June 11, 2021 . Jaffrey Rep. Douglas Ley, former N.H. House majority leader, dies . . live . https://archive.today/20210613153520/https://www.sentinelsource.com/news/local/jaffrey-rep-douglas-ley-former-n-h-house-majority-leader-dies/article_8f07d12c-4bc3-5fb6-9bd4-4c3e7254c73e.html . June 13, 2021.
  5. News: June 11, 2021 . Jaffrey Rep. Douglas Ley, former N.H. House majority leader, dies . . live . https://archive.today/20210613153842/http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/house/members/member.aspx?member=377135 . June 13, 2021.
  6. News: 2012 primary results . . live . https://archive.today/20210614021435/https://nh.electionstats.com/elections/view/49925/ . June 14, 2021.
  7. News: 2012 election results . . live . https://archive.today/20210614022841/https://nh.electionstats.com/elections/view/49617/ . June 14, 2021.
  8. News: 2014 primary results . . live . https://archive.today/20210614023826/https://nh.electionstats.com/elections/view/49001/ . June 14, 2021.
  9. News: 2014 election results . . live . https://archive.today/20210614023935/https://nh.electionstats.com/elections/view/48691/ . June 14, 2021.
  10. News: 2016 primary results . . live . https://archive.today/20210614024208/https://nh.electionstats.com/elections/view/81149/ . June 14, 2021.
  11. News: 2016 election results . . live . https://archive.today/20210614024217/https://nh.electionstats.com/elections/view/81757/ . June 14, 2021.
  12. News: 2018 primary results . . live . https://archive.today/20210614210310/https://nh.electionstats.com/elections/view/133410/ . June 14, 2021.
  13. News: 2018 election results . . live . https://archive.today/20210617173444/https://nh.electionstats.com/elections/view/133632/ . June 17, 2021.
  14. News: 2020 primary results . . live . https://archive.today/20210617173654/https://nh.electionstats.com/elections/view/145526/ . June 17, 2021.
  15. News: 2020 election results . . live . https://archive.today/20210617173847/https://nh.electionstats.com/elections/view/145052/ . June 17, 2021.
  16. News: December 11, 2018 . Jaffrey Democrat picked as Majority Leader in the state House of Representatives . . live . https://archive.today/20210614020306/https://www.ledgertranscript.com/Jaffrey-state-representative-named-House-Majority-Leader-22007100 . June 14, 2021.