[B]ENNINGTON — Local Democrats voted to leave the House seat of former Rep. Kiah Morris vacant until the next legislative session as a tribute to her.
Members of the committee from House District 2-2 voted unanimously during a special meeting Thursday to make that recommendation to Gov. Phil Scott. Morris resigned from her seat on Sept. 26, citing racially motivated harassment and threats, primarily online, as well as a need to help her husband recover from surgery.
Town and District 2-2 Democratic Committee Chairman Thomas Haley said the governor had earlier agreed to appoint a replacement recommended by the group to serve the remainder of the House term, if that was the decision. But the five committee members present Wednesday at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Bennington agreed with a motion from Mary Gerisch to “leave the seat open as a tribute to Kiah.”
Morris, who is African-American, dropped her reelection campaign Aug. 24. She later decided to resign immediately, saying there had been continued harassment and that she needed to concentrate on helping her husband, James Lawton, heal from recent heart surgery.
Reacting to the committee’s vote later Thursday, Morris said in an email, “It is an honor and a gift to learn of the decision of the county committee made in solidarity with me and my family at this time. I am deeply grateful.”
The district committee, with Morris voting in favor, decided in late August to name Select Board member Jim Carroll to take her spot on the Nov. 6 ballot. Like Morris, he will be one of two candidates listed in the two-seat District 2-2 race, along with Rep. Mary Morrissey, R-Bennington.
“Tom Haley and I talked before the meeting,” Carroll said after the vote. “I fully embraced what they did to honor Kiah. She deserves it.”
He added that Bennington “should not despair” about recent national news stories focusing on Morris’ resignation and race in mostly white Vermont.
Most people in the area are not racists, Carroll said. “We should remember that Kiah won five elections, three primaries and two general elections, including a primary win over a native son,” referring to himself during Morris’ first run for the House seat.
After his selection for the ballot spot, Carroll said Morris had quickly become an excellent lawmaker during her two terms in the House and said he’d be honored to succeed her.
Haley said the governor’s office had said that, while a special session of the Legislature before January is highly unlikely, the district committee could, if needed, meet again to recommend that a replacement be appointed to the open seat.
Haley told committee members at the meeting they had the option of naming Carroll as an immediate replacement for Morris, naming another person or leaving the seat vacant through the end of the year. Voting for Gerisch’s motion were Haley, Terri Hays, Lynn Massa, Jim Vires, and Mia Schultz.
The chairman said he also will issue a statement on behalf of the committee to honor Morris.
