[S]ue Higby, the longtime executive director at Studio Place Arts, will announce her candidacy for the upcoming mayoral race in Barre on Monday.
Higby is challenging Lucas Herring, a fellow City Council member. Herring has been endorsed by the current mayor of Barre, Thomas Lauzon, who is retiring from office.
In a written statement, Higby said she is committed to improving the local economy and bringing a culture of transparency to city government.
“I am running for mayor because I want Barre to be known as one of the most attractive and economically vital cities in which to live and do business in Vermont,” Higby wrote. “I would like to be your future mayor and be more involved in developing our successful future.”
Higby had previously called out Lauzon for a lack of transparency and potential conflicts of interest related to an executive session the mayor called in June about a large downtown redevelopment project that he would have financially benefited from. Lauzon is a major landowner in Barre, and the plan involved one of his properties.
In an open letter to The Times Argus in August, Higby told constituents that she was committed to taking action to improve accountability standards for city government — regardless of whether her stance was perceived to be controversial.
“Granted, taking action to achieve improved standards can be greeted by awkwardness, defensiveness and sometimes even combativeness,” Higby wrote. “Nevertheless, we need to embrace the ideals of an engaged and open democratic process and I will do all that I can to improve our community’s standing in this regard.”
Higby described her “integrity and judgment” as the strongest qualities she would bring to the position of mayor.
Her top priority is addressing the housing vacancy that Barre is now experiencing. Higby said she has a plan to move people back into homes that have been empty for several years. She also wants to focus on bringing together people from the business and arts community to revitalize the city’s economy.
Higby began her work at Studio Place Arts in 2001 as a volunteer, before eventually being promoted to executive director. Prior to her tenure at SPA, Higby worked for 20 years at research institutions, including the National Council of Science and the Environment, as well as for Resources of the Future, both based in Washington, D.C.
Higby has also held positions with numerous Barre groups, including the Civic Center Committee, the Barre Promise Community initiative, the Charles Semprebon Fund Committee and the Barre Cultural Alliance, before being elected to City Council. She has helped lead Barre developments such as the Stone Sculpture Legacy Program, the Granite Zipper Pocket Park and the Heritage Stage at The Barre Heritage Festival.
Higby said she will not seek an endorsement from the Democratic or Republican parties because she doesn’t believe that smaller, locally elected positions should be backed by major political parties.
She said she is focused on environmental awareness, cautious economic spending, and improving housing and the business climate in Barre.
