Gov. Peter Shumlin late Wednesday appointed former administration secretary Kathleen Hoyt to fill the House seat vacated by Rep. Margaret Cheney, D-Norwich, who resigned to join the state’s Public Service Board.
Hoyt, the widow of longtime public servant Norris Hoyt, is a past commissioner of employment and training, planning director for the Agency of Human Services, and was chief of staff and administration secretary under former Govs. Madeleine Kunin and Howard Dean.
Her husband, former Tax Commissioner Norris Hoyt, died in early August. Norris Hoyt held the same House seat for nine years, ending in 1983, according to a news release.
“The Legislature and my Administration have critical issues to start moving on early, including tackling a tight state budget, strengthening economic development, combating drug addiction and crime, and more. Kathy will hit the ground running,” Shumlin said in a news release. “She will bring a clear understanding of budgeting, taxes, human services needs, employment issues, and education, among other current issues facing Vermont.”
Kathleen Hoyt was also on the three-member Blue Ribbon Tax Structure Commission, created by the Legislature in 2009, charged with recommending changes to Vermont’s tax policies to make the tax system more “simple, sustainable, equitable, and economically competitive,” the news release said.
The release said that under Vermont statute, the governor has the option of requesting nominees and choosing among them, or making a direct appointment. On previous vacancies, Gov. Shumlin has requested submissions from the parties, a process he is currently using to fill a vacancy in the Randolph House district. However, given Hoyt’s experience and long connection to Norwich and her district, he chose to make a direct appointment.
“In this case, Kathy’s professional background, her close ties to her district, and her long track record of public service to the state of Vermont make her the ideal legislator,” the governor said. “I look forward to working with Kathy and the 2014 Legislature when they return to Montpelier in January.”
