Brenda Siegel, a progressive activist who finished third in the 2018 Democratic primary for governor, said in an interview Friday morning that she will seek the lieutenant governorship.
After VTDigger reported on Tuesday that Lt. Gov. David Zuckerman is running for governor, the first week of the legislative session has been jammed with speculation and announcements about who will run to replace him. Former House Speaker Shap Smith said Friday that he will not enter the race.
Siegel had been considering a second run for governor, but she decided to run for lieutenant governor instead after news came out about Zuckerman’s joining former education secretary Rebecca Holcombe in the 2020 governor’s race.
In 2018, Siegel, a political novice and the founder of the Southern Vermont Dance Festival, captured 21% of the vote after getting into the race only three months before the August primary. She quickly garnered attention with a four-part strategy to combat the opioid crisis backed by Chittenden County State’s Attorney Sarah George.
Since 2018, Siegel has worked to advocate for progressive policies in Montpelier, including a bill that would decriminalize buprenorphine, a drug used to treat opioid addiction. She is also a backer of the progressive economic bills that fell victim to Democratic squabbling last session.
“I am really excited about the opportunity to be in the lieutenant governor’s seat and really be able to continue the work that I’ve been doing across the state in the last two years,” she said.
Siegel said she would continue to advocate for climate change policies and initiatives to fight the opioid crisis in the statewide office.
“We need to have real people at the helm helping to solve these problems,” she said.
Siegel, a single mother who has struggled financially, will run against Senate President Pro Tem Tim Ashe, D/P-Burlington, who announced his bid for lieutenant governor this week. Other candidates may also jump into the race: Sen. Debbie Ingram, D-Chittenden, and Assistant Attorney General Molly Gray have both indicated they will also likely run for lieutenant governor.
At least three Republicans, Meg Hansen, Dana Colson and Dwayne Tucker are running for lieutenant governor. And Sen. Corey Parent, R-Franklin, has expressed interest.
Smith, who had been considering a second run for lieutenant governor, said this isn’t his year. Smith briefly ran for governor in 2016 before dropping out because of an illness in his family. Since then, his name has been bandied about whenever there’s an opening.
“I thought a lot about it,” Smith said. “It’s no secret that I really enjoy public service, but given where I am in life, it’s better to serve at the local level and have time for my family.”
Smith has an 18-year-old son and a 14-year-old daughter. “I don’t want to be thinking about, should I go to a graduation ceremony or should I be campaigning in Brattleboro or Bennington?” he said.
He also expressed reservations about the office. “What I loved about being speaker was getting things done,” Smith said. “The lieutenant governorship doesn’t present the same opportunities.”
Although he’s ruling out a run in 2020, Smith is leaving the door open to a second political act somewhere down the road. “There are always opportunities and different paths to take,” he said.
