House Democratic Majority Leader Rep. Willem Jewett says he will step down from that role in the upcoming legislative session, he confirmed Wednesday morning.
Jewett, a Ripton Democrat, told the Addison Independent on Tuesday night that he had hoped to make the announcement after the election, but increased media scrutiny prompted him to make the announcement earlier than he would have liked.
“I made the decision some time ago,” Jewett told VTDigger on Wednesday. “I need to focus on my job and family a little more, and I think it’s good to have people cycle through these positions more.”
Jewett will return to being a rank-and-file member and told the Independent he hopes to spend more time on energy issues and constituent services in the Addison-2 District, which encompasses the towns of Cornwall, Goshen, Hancock, Leicester, Ripton and Salisbury.
Making the transition after losing ground to Republicans in both chambers isn’t a bad thing for Democrats, Jewett said, and an open majority leader election will allow for the caucus and leadership to do some soul searching.
“Maybe, especially with these results, a more robust discussion is in order,” he said. “It will allow for more exploration of our agenda and the election results.”
He said he is committed to ensuring a smooth transition for the next majority leader, and will impart the wisdom he has gained while holding the position in the last biennium.
