[G]ov. Phil Scott has appointed, Kristi Morris, a Democrat from Springfield who chairs the town’s selectboard, to finish out the term of Rep. Bob Forguites, who died in April.
Morris, who is the manager of engineering at Lovejoy Tool Co. in Springfield, where he has worked for 45 years, will be sworn in and seated in the Vermont House later this month.
“I’m pleased to appoint Kristi to the House of Representatives and appreciate his enthusiasm for serving the people of Springfield,” Scott said in a statement. “His engineering, management and business experience will bring an important perspective and expertise to his work and will be valuable to the Legislature.”
After Forguites died suddenly in April, Democrats put forward three candidates for the seat to the governor.
Besides Kristi, the other candidates were Walter Wallace, a local historian, and Kurt Staudter, a brewmaster.
Morris could not immediately be reached for comment Thursday afternoon, but in a statement he called his appointment “an honor.”
“I look forward to getting to work and appreciate the opportunity to become more involved in supporting my community and moving Springfield forward, while offering stability and accountability as we transition to the future,” he said.
House Majority Leader Jill Krowinski, D-Burlington, said: “We all miss Rep. Forguites a lot and it will be nice to be able to welcome Kristi into the fold and into our caucus and have full membership in the House again.
“I think he comes with incredible experience that will do him really well in serving his community at the Statehouse,” she said.
Forguites died earlier this year while serving his third term at the age of 80.
He had previously served as Springfield’s town manager for 16 years and comptroller for four years.
This story has been updated to include a comment from Rep. Jill Krowinski, D-Burlington.
