State Treasurer Beth Pearce will face a challenger in the Democratic primary this year.
Richard Dunne, a health care analyst, said Tuesday he wants the job so he can aggressively pursue divestment of fossil fuel stocks from the state’s pension fund. Pearce has opposed divestment.
Dunne, 30, of Burlington, said he felt “an overwhelming need” to run. He quit his job at Choice Strategies, a health care consulting firm, to devote himself to the race. He admits he faces an uphill battle unseating an incumbent.
Divesting the state pensions of fossil fuel-related investments makes financial sense, Dunne said. He also said Vermont was “morally responsible’’ to lead the way on an issue he said could help fight climate change. Pearce has said investments should be decided on whether they make financial sense and not as a way to direct social policy.
“I really want to be involved in getting (divestment) done,” Dunne said. “Then when I started looking into the grander scheme of things in the Vermont political world, I started to see how I could contribute and how the treasurer’s office could be a great place to effect a lot of good change.”
Pearce and Gov. Peter Shumlin have fought publicly over divestment the past few months, with Shumlin favoring getting rid of coal-related investments and stock in Exxon Mobil.
The board that oversees the state’s pension investments is reviewing whether divestment makes sense, after lawmakers encouraged it to do that review.
The primary is Aug. 9.
