[W]hen Nader Hashim beat out Cindy Jerome in the Democratic primary for the House seat left vacant by Rep. David Deen, D-Westminster, he knew he would be making history in November.
“It’s in my nature whenever I want to accomplish something,” Hashim said, “I sink my teeth into it and I keep going at it until I reach the end goal.”
When the results came in on Nov. 6, it became official that Hashim would become the first active state trooper to serve as a legislator in Vermont’s history.
Hashim and incumbent Rep. Mike Mrowicki, D-Putney, ran unopposed in the general election, and claimed the two House seats with almost identical vote totals — Hashim received 2,786 and Mrowicki 2,787.
Hashim, who decided to run for public office because of his interest in criminal justice reform and racial justice, said he will bring more to the Legislature then simply the point of view of a law enforcement officer.
The 30-year-old who lives in Dummerston was born in Boston to parents who emigrated from Egypt and Iran. After earning a degree in political science and international relations from Clark University, Hashim moved to southern Vermont with his daughter in 2011 to begin his career with the Vermont State Police, where he has served since.
In January, Hashim will join a handful of people of color in the predominantly white state Legislature; he said it is important to have people from diverse backgrounds serving in the Statehouse.
Hashim said he intends to utilize his perspective of being a first generation American to hopefully “allow other legislators to question their own ideas” about what it means to be a person of color in Vermont and in the United States.
Mrowicki, who has a long history as a social worker, said that he and Hashim have a strong working relationship, rooted in their experiences of working in the community.
Mrowicki and Hashim both expressed concern over the alleged harassment of former Rep. Kiah Morris, D-Bennington, and the recent FBI report that showed hate crimes in Vermont were at a 23-year high.
Mrowicki said he and Hashim are prepared to start serious “conversations which may be uncomfortable for Vermont” in the Legislature and in the community about racial justice issues, but that Hashim’s presence will be an integral aspect to deepening this debate.
“I think it is essential that we have him there,” Mrowicki said, “Vermont is a predominantly white state, but if you look at our school demographics, Vermont is changing.”
Between Hashim’s time as a state trooper and as a member of the fair and impartial policing committee, he said that police officers are capable of much more than “just writing tickets or arresting people” and that law enforcement officers have the capacity to be “great community builders.”
Lt. Garry Scott, director of the state police’s fair and impartial policing program, said he hopes having Nashim in the Legislature will add a nuanced understanding of law enforcements’ place in the community and its efforts to combat implicit bias within its ranks.
“My hope is he will bring a voice to this,” Scott said. “I think he has unique perspective as a police officer and now a legislator to shape that conversation.”
Hashim said he has spent years talking with other police officers and lawyers about their frustrations with the criminal justice system. He specifically pointed to the bail and bond system as an example of this frustration.
Hashim said that the current bail and bond structure has “exacerbated the incarceration rates between white and black people” and that this is an issue that is both a criminal justice reform issue and a racial justice issue.
“Bringing that perspective, that is what I’m most excited about,” Hashim said. “I’m ready to hit the ground running.”
During the legislative session, Hashim will go on unpaid leave from the state police and will not perform law enforcement duties. After the session adjourns, he will be stationed at the Royalton barracks or he will join a private law firm in Brattleboro.
“Both paths whether I stay with state police or don’t, I already have those paths planned out,” Hashim said.
