This commentary is by Pelin Kohn, a student advising coordinator at the Community College of Vermont and second-term Montpelier city councilor.
On July 29, I was at a community screening of “Man With a Plan,” John O’Brien’s film about Fred Tuttle. It’s a low-budget mockumentary about a retired Vermont farmer who runs for Congress. In a strange case of life imitating art, Tuttle actually won the 1998 Republican primary for U.S. Senate, though he declined to campaign seriously in the general election and endorsed the Democratic incumbent.
I loved the film, and the first time I saw it, I remember thinking that I wanted to bring it to Montpelier and watch it with my community. Four months later, I joined O’Brien and members of the film crew for a panel discussion. And now my own name was on a Vermont ballot.
Tuttle and I could hardly have come from more different Vermont stories. He was a dairy farmer from Tunbridge with deep roots in this state. I came to Vermont from Turkey in 2017 and later became an American citizen.
Still, I saw a little of myself in Tuttle.
He didn’t seem worried about whether he was the kind of person whom people expected to see on a ballot. I understood that.
On Aug. 11, 865 people voted for me in the Democratic primary for the Vermont House.
I finished third. And I am really glad I ran.
I knew from the beginning that it would be a challenging race. I was running against candidates with years of established relationships. But I thought voters should have a choice, and I believed I had something to offer.
The experience also made me think about my own path into political life in Vermont. Since coming here, I have been part of several political and leadership programs. I have met wonderful people, learned a lot, made friends and built relationships that I value. And many times, I was the only immigrant in the room.
I was grateful to be in those rooms. But I also know what it feels like to walk into a room and wonder if you quite belong there. Someone has to walk in first. Maybe that makes it a little easier for the next person.
I have spent nine years building my life in Vermont. I have worked here, raised my family here, volunteered, become an American citizen and been elected and reelected to the Montpelier City Council. I have had the privilege of serving twice as council president.
Still, this campaign made me realize something about myself that I hadn’t really put into words before. My gender is visible. My accent is audible. My name suggests I probably wasn’t born here. Who I am takes a little longer to know.
And 865 people took the time. They saw something in me, and they trusted me with their vote.
I think that is the part of this election I will remember most.
Vermont talks a lot about bringing new people here, keeping young people here and welcoming new families. I hope we also make room for those people to become part of our civic and political life. I hope some of the people who come here today become our school board members, selectboard members, city councilors and legislators tomorrow.
We need Vermonters whose families have been here for generations. We also need people who arrived yesterday, nine years ago or somewhere in between.
Tuttle’s Vermont story began long before mine did. But both are Vermont stories.
Since the election, I have received many texts, calls and emails that I wasn’t expecting. People thanked me for running. They thanked me for giving them another choice. Many thanked me for keeping the campaign positive. I have been touched by those messages.
Running gives people a choice. It puts another voice and another set of ideas into the conversation. You meet people you probably never would have met otherwise. You listen. You learn. And maybe somebody sees you doing it and starts wondering if they could do it, too.
I hope so.
I will continue my work on the Montpelier City Council. I will keep doing my best for the community I love. And someday there will be another person wondering if they belong in the room. Maybe another immigrant with an accent. Maybe someone without the expected political background. Maybe simply someone with an idea and a desire to serve who isn’t sure they are the kind of person who runs for office.
I hope they run. Because after this experience, the question I took from Fred Tuttle feels a little more personal:
Why are you running?
Why not?
