Tuesday, January 14, 2020
Former Vermont legislator Kesha Ram and State Rep. Dylan Giambatista (D-Essex) separately announced Tuesday that they will each seek one of Chittenden County’s six Senate seats this November, in two of the latest of a cascade of political declarations since Lt. Gov. David Zuckerman announced his run for governor.
A third candidate, Louis Meyers, an internal medicine physician at Rutland Regional Medical Center and a past Senate candidate, also said he would run. A physician's experience would benefit the Senate on health care issues, he said.
Ram, 33, told Seven Days that she is seeking to return to the legislature after a four-year hiatus. She was elected to the House at age 22 and served four terms representing Burlington. In 2016, she ran for lieutenant governor, finishing third in the Democratic primary. She now works as a social and environmental equity consultant.
Ram has named Skyler Nash, a member of the Vermont Racial Justice Alliance, as her campaign manager, and a press release announcing her candidacy included endorsements from Chittenden County State’s Attorney Sarah George and Rep. Hal Colston (D-Winooski).
“I’ve always been a relationship builder, someone who strives to build consensus with conviction," Ram said in a phone interview. "I want to help restore that faith that we can work together to get important things done for Vermonters."
Giambatista, 33, shared his plans Tuesday morning on WVMT’s "The Morning Drive" radio show. Giambatista told Seven Days that the opportunity to serve a broader area appeals to him. He is in his second term and sits on the House Committee on Education.
A lifelong Vermonter, Giambatista worked as chief of staff to then-House speaker Shap Smith from 2014 to 2016 prior to taking a job in the Office of the State Treasurer. Before he became a politician, he was best known as a founding member and lead guitarist of the Vermont punk band Rough Francis.
Tags: Dylan Giambatista , state senate , Chittenden District , Web Only , Image
Monday, January 13, 2020
After a week of playing coy, Lt. Gov. David Zuckerman has officially confirmed that he will run for governor.
The Progressive/Democrat formally declared his candidacy for Vermont's top office during a Monday morning press conference at the Capitol Plaza Hotel.
“Through the years, I have listened to many Vermonters as they have shared their economic struggles, and I’ve observed well-intentioned leaders trying to find solutions,” Zuckerman said. “But these last three years, we have not seen the vision or action that Vermonters need.”
Tags: David Zuckerman , Phil Scott , governor , lieutenant governor , election , Web Only , Image
Sunday, January 12, 2020
Jillian Scannell, 22, won the majority of votes during Sunday night’s caucus at Edmunds Elementary School. With 27 of 51 votes cast, she beat independent incumbent Councilor Sharon Bushor (14 votes) and newcomer Zoraya Hightower (10 votes).
“It was really exciting to be a part of the grassroots democratic process,” Scannell said. “I’m just really looking forward to the race ahead.”
Of eight council spots up for election in March, only the Ward 1 seat was contested during Sunday's caucus. The same was true during the Progressive Party caucus last month, when Hightower earned the nomination over Bushor. The Progs had previously backed Bushor during each of her campaigns since her first in 1987.
On Sunday, each candidate was given five minutes for a stump speech. Scannell, who is the UVM student body president, said her relationship with UVM trustees would help in conversations about student housing, long a point of contention between the city and university. She also promised to be more engaged than current councilors, some of whom she criticized for using their cellphones during meetings.
Tags: Burlington City Council , democratic caucus , Miro Weinberger , mayor , Brandon del Pozo , Jan Wright , Charles Winkleman , FaRied Munarsyah , Jillian Scannell , Web Only , Image
Friday, January 10, 2020
A prominent Vermont Democrat who was mulling a race for lieutenant governor said Friday that he won't seek the job. Former House speaker Shap Smith, a Morrisville Democrat, told Seven Days he would not run for statewide office this year.
"I don't think it's any secret that I have a great love for the state of Vermont and really enjoy public service, and I think that Vermont has incredibly difficult challenges in front of it," Smith said.
But, he added "I am coaching nordic skiing, my kids are a senior and a freshman in high school and my wife has a very challenging job. It's time for me to do my public service on the home front and at the local level."
The news comes days after VTDigger reported that incumbent Lt. Gov. David Zuckerman, a Progressive-Democrat, would vacate the job to run for governor. That set off a scramble of potential candidates for what will almost certainly be an open seat. Smith initially said he was considering joining the field and would decide by the end of the week.
Smith spent 14 years in the Vermont House, including eight as speaker. He stepped down in 2016 to run for lieutenant governor but lost to Zuckerman in the Democratic primary.
Tags: Shap Smith , David Zuckerman , Web Only , Image
Moments earlier, climate activists had interrupted Gov. Phil Scott's State of the State address and — rhetorically, at least — taken over the Vermont House chamber. "Listen to the people!" the red-shirted activists chanted from the rear of the room. "We are here for the climate collapse emergency!"
As Scott attempted to restore order, Zuckerman approached him from behind and whispered in his ear. The governor shook his head, staring straight ahead, and appeared to say, "No, thank you."
The protesters continued their chants. "There are climate refugees in Vermont right now!" they shouted.
Zuckerman hovered just behind Scott and, a moment later, whispered in his ear again. This time, the governor nodded. "OK, I think we've had enough," he told the crowd of unruly activists and impassive politicians.
With a dramatic sweep of his right hand, Scott gestured at the lieutenant governor. Zuckerman stepped forward and took Scott's place at the dais, banging his gavel three times. "The chamber will please come to order," he said.
Tags: Phil Scott , David Zuckerman , Rebecca Holcombe , Web Only , Image
Wednesday, January 8, 2020
Senate President Pro Tempore Tim Ashe (D/P-Chittenden) said Wednesday that he intends to seek Vermont’s No. 2 office.
“My plan is to run for lieutenant governor,” he told Seven Days. “It’s the right time for me to take on a different challenge and take some of my skills and bring them to [a] statewide approach to these issues.”
The news comes as the incumbent lieutenant governor, Progressive/Democrat David Zuckerman, prepares to vacate the position to run for governor. Zuckerman has said publicly only that he will announce his own plans next week, but VTDigger.org reported Tuesday and Seven Days later confirmed that he expects to challenge Republican Gov. Phil Scott.
Ashe informed colleagues of his plans at a meeting of Senate committee chairs Wednesday morning. He told them he intends to continue leading the chamber until the close of the legislative session.
Ashe said his candidacy is contingent upon Zuckerman moving on from the job. “I would not be running if his decision was to stay put,” the pro tem said.
Tags: Tim Ashe , David Zuckerman , Phil Scott , Web Only , Image
Tuesday, December 10, 2019
Cameron Russell, 34, a former state party staffer who managed the Democrats’ unsuccessful bid for the governor's office in 2018, will lead the Holcombe campaign "as it begins to move into a more public phase," Russell wrote in a press release announcing his hire.
Russell is Holcombe's second campaign manager since she announced in July. His predecessor, Kyle Quinn-Quesada, stepped down in November due to an “unexpected health emergency,” Holcombe told Seven Days on Tuesday.
“I’m very pleased that Cam has decided that he wants to join us and help us build a very strong grassroots campaign,” Holcombe said.
Tags: Holcombe campaign , Rebecca Holcombe , Governor Phil Scott , Vermont , Cameron Russell , campaign manager , Democrats , primary , 2020 , election , T.J. Donovan , David Zuckerman , lieutenant governor , attorney general , Web Only , Image
Thursday, December 5, 2019
It’s the first time the Vermont Dems have hired a field director to focus on Queen City council races, party spokesperson Christopher Di Mezzo said.
“Time and time again, the state party maybe hasn’t tried, maybe hasn’t fielded a staff member devoted specifically to this mission, and we’re changing that,” Di Mezzo said. “We hope the resources we’re investing in the community in Burlington will bring about Democratic leadership that will support a Democratic agenda in Vermont’s largest city.”
Tags: Burlington City Council , Election 2020 , Town Meeting Day , Vermont Democratic Party , Vermont Progressive Party , Web Only , Image
"It was an incredibly tough call," Wright announced on his radio show, WVMT's "The Morning Drive," on Thursday. "I don't make this decision lightly, and I don't feel great about it, but I think for now, I am out of politics as of the end of March."
Wright has served the New North End for nearly 25 years as a city councilor, state representative or both. After losing his House seat to Democrat Bob Hooper last fall, Wright vowed he wouldn't run again for political office. But he said he'd reconsidered in recent months after his council constituents urged him to stay on.
Wright's new talk radio gig, however, posed a problem. Federal broadcasting rules require that WVMT must afford equal time on-air to both Wright and his challenger, Sarah Carpenter, during a campaign. That wasn't feasible, so station ownership told Wright he'd have to take a 60-day hiatus from the airwaves. It was too long a break, he told listeners.
Tags: Burlington City Council , caucus , Election 2020 , Kurt Wright , Sarah Carpenter , Web Only , Image
Wednesday, December 4, 2019
Hightower clinched 42 votes to Bushor’s 17 in the caucus' only contested race. The loss was unprecedented for Bushor, an independent who had earned the Progs' endorsement every time she'd campaigned since first winning election to the city council in 1987.
“I'm disappointed,” Bushor said at Edmunds Elementary School. “It was clear to me from the people who came to the caucus that the support seemed to be in [Hightower's] favor.”
Bushor said the vote signals “a parting ... from the Progressive party, and one that’s sad for me.” She still plans to run for reelection as an independent and noted she welcomes the competition from Hightower, a relative newcomer who has called the Queen City home for four years.
Tags: Burlington City Council , Vermont Progressive Party , caucus , Web Only , Image