Ann Cummings

Ann E. Cummings was born in Holliston, Massachusetts, on July 20, 1946.[1] She was educated in Wantagh, New York and Lexington, Kentucky, and graduated from Lexington Catholic High School.[1] In 1968, Cummings graduated from Cardinal Cushing College with a bachelor of arts degree in sociology. She received a Master of Science in Administration degree from Saint Michael's College in 1989.[1]

After college, Cummings was a VISTA volunteer in the Pittsburgh area. She has been involved in several business ventures, and has most recently worked as a real estate broker.[1]

Cummings became active in government and politics after settling in Montpelier, including terms on the city and regional planning commissions, and on the Montpelier City Council.[2] In 1988 she was an unsuccessful candidate for mayor, losing to Arthur J. Goss in a four-way race for the nonpartisan position.[3] In 1990, Cummings defeated Goss;[4] she served from March 1990 to March 1996,[5] and her time in office was most notable for her efforts to coordinate relief efforts after a 1992 flood inundated most of downtown Montpelier.[6]

In 1994, Cummings was an unsuccessful candidate for the Vermont Senate.[7][8] In 1996, Cummings was elected as one of three senators who represent Washington County at-large.[1] She has been reelected every two years since, and has served since January 1997.[1] From 2001 to 2003, she was the Senate's majority leader. Cummings has served on several committees in the State Senate, most notably Finance and Education.[9] She was chairwoman of the Finance Committee from 2011 to 2013, and the Education Committee from 2015 to 2017.[9] In 2017 she was again named to chair the Finance Committee.[9]

Cummings is married to Regis E. Cummings; they are the parents of four children, three daughters and a son.[1]