Democratic gubernatorial candidate Sue Minter announced Thursday that 53 current and 26 former lawmakers have “decided to join Team Sue.”
Seven lawmakers, both former and current, spoke at a Statehouse news conference about what inspired them to endorse Minter, including her environmental and gun safety stances.
Rep. Tony Klein, D-East Montpelier, chair of the House Committee on Natural Resources and Energy, said she understands that everything is about protecting the environment and preventing climate change.
Klein cited Minter’s days as the state’s Irene recovery officer, helping with the cleanup efforts after the tropical storm, and as deputy secretary and later secretary of the Department of Transportation as examples of her environmental consciousness.
“She doesn’t just talk the talk and walk the walk,” said Klein, who is not running for re-election.
Former Rep. Timothy O’Connor, D-Brattleboro, who retired from the Legislature in 1981 after serving as speaker of the House for six years, said that during the Irene crisis, it was only with Minter’s efforts to get people to collaborate and do the work that everything was fixed in his neighborhood.
Two of Minter’s supporters mentioned her gender.
Klein said Vermont is overdue to elect a female governor again, since it has been 25 years since Madeleine Kunin left the governor’s office.
O’Connor said he served with Kunin in the House and thought there was a good chance she would become governor someday. He said the same of Minter.
“I think we’ve got a real classy person who can do the job,” O’Connor said. “And why not vote for a woman?”
Sen. Anthony Pollina, P/D-Washington, said he believes Minter can achieve the goals that other candidates are only talking about.
Rep. Mary Sullivan, D-Burlington, talked about how she had recently been discussing who would be the next Vermont governor and a friend asked which candidate deserved it more. Sullivan said the friend should have been asking who Vermont deserved more.
“Vermont deserves the best, and I think we have it here in Sue Minter,” Sullivan said.
