Robert Gilligan Explained

Robert Gilligan
Office:Speaker of the Delaware House of Representatives
Term Start:January 13, 2009
Term End:January 8, 2013
Predecessor:Terry R. Spence
Successor:Peter Schwartzkopf
State House1:Delaware
District1:19th
Term Start1:January 9, 1973
Term End1:January 8, 2013
Successor1:Kimberly Williams
Party:Democratic
Education:Saint Joseph's College (BS)
Villanova University (MA)
Nationality:American

Robert Gilligan is an American politician. He was a Democratic member of the Delaware House of Representatives for over 40 years, where he also served as Speaker of the House.[1] Elected to the House in 1972, he was the longest-serving member of the legislature at the time of his retirement in 2013. He became Speaker in 2009 after Democrats took control of the House for the first time in 24 years.[2] He had previously served as the majority leader from 1983 to 1985, minority whip from 1985 to 1995, and minority leader from 1995 to 2009.[3]

Gilligan obtained a BS in political science from Saint Joseph's College and a MA in education from Villanova University.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Former Representative Robert F. Gilligan (D) . . . January 20, 2019.
  2. Web site: Speaker Gilligan won't seek re-election . Jonathan . Starkley . . July 1, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120703223912/https://www.delawareonline.com/article/20120701/NEWS02/307010052/Speaker-Gilligan-won-t-seek-re-election . July 3, 2012.
  3. Web site: Representative Kimberly Williams' Biography . . January 20, 2019.