Run For office
Friends -
Have you ever thought about running for office? Or do you know someone who you think could really make a difference, who you want to encourage and support to run? For a lot of people, we don’t always see ourselves in those roles at first. It takes encouragement and support, and sometimes it happens because we’ve worked hard to make change in other ways, and suddenly we see it as the way that we can be most effective. It can be a journey in how we get there. This week I want to share a few stories from our caucus members, about what motivated them to run - I hope these stories will inspire and encourage you. We need more Progressives making change at all levels of government.
“I studied government and politics in college. At first I thought I wanted to be a lawyer, but soon after I graduated, I realized that wasn’t for me. I started working on an organic farm, and that was where I realized I could be an activist and advocate, and I became more politically involved through that work. For 8 years, I saw myself as a farmer and an activist, and then one day I was approached by a former representative, who asked if I’d ever thought of running for office. I said no. I’d been disillusioned by the political process. He told me your voice is really underrepresented in the statehouse. As a young, queer, woman farmer, I would be a able to give voice to the groups I’m already working with on a much higher level. I didn’t realize how big of a difference I could make working from the inside. My first year campaigning, I couldn’t knock on doors because of covid. So I found other ways to get my name and my message out there. In rural communities people want to know what you can do to help and support them with the issues that affect their daily lives. People want to know that whoever is representing them can relate to what they’re experiencing, because I’m experiencing it alongside them. I spent a lot of my first year in the Statehouse learning. Absorbing the whole process and all of its details and nuances (particularly challenging on zoom) . One of the greatest assets I had coming in was that I was able to come into this space being exactly who I am, without feeling timid or nervous. My first year I introduced legislation for raw milk, and being able to see something through, to push it forward and make sure that my voice was heard, and center the things I was passionate about, it's been a really astonishing and humbling experience to carry something forward that means so much to so many. Not just at the policy level, but in terms of representing people who are often underrepresented. Starting conversations that weren’t happening before makes a big difference. I’m able to fight for the things that are important to me and the communities I represent, and win or lose, that’s been a really powerful and humbling experience. Working as a Progressive, I feel supported to be true to myself and my values. I could not imagine doing it another way. I am so grateful for the support and validation that is offered by the Progrssive Party. I don’t think I would have been able to do this otherwise.”
-Rep. Heather Surprenant (Windsor 4-1)
“Growing up in New Jersey, I dreamed of being the first person in my father’s family to graduate from college and of becoming a pediatrician, an astronaut, and the President of the United States. I became increasingly engaged and involved in politics from the local to the global level. I considered ways to address the great injustices that I experienced in my multicultural world, which led to involvement in activism through high school and college. When I first moved to Vermont after earning my undergraduate degree, I stepped up to be the co-chair of Pride Vermont, organizing with the LGBTQ+ community around the state during the tumultuous battle for marriage equality that resulted in the creation of civil unions. I became more curious about serving in government, but at the same time I felt like it wasn’t possible for a person with my background.
While attending Social Work graduate school, Rep. Ann Pugh was my professor and my advisor. For one of her social work policy classes, students were required to volunteer on a political campaign. I worked on Peter Clavelle’s campaign for Vermont Governor. In subsequent elections, I volunteered on the gubernatorial campaigns for both Scudder Parker and Peter Shumlin. As I gained more experience in electoral politics, policy, and social work practice, I came to a significant conclusion. As a social worker and an activist, I could spend my whole life doing advocacy, community organizing, social action, and direct service, and I would make a massive difference in the lives of many individuals, families, organizations, and communities. However, if I served as a social worker and activist in an elected position, I could amplify those efforts to create social change by working with social movements to organize people so that we could transform the systems and structures of our society that perpetuated injustice, discrimination, and poverty. Serving as an elected official would be part of my journey through this world as a social worker.
When a seat opened up on the Burlington School Board, several community members asked me to run. It turned out to be a difficult time to get elected to the School Board - the school budget failed, the superintendent resigned, and the community was very divided. Despite our many differences, we found common ground and overcame many obstacles.
After three intense terms as a School Commissioner, both State Representative seats were open in my House District. I decided to run alongside City Councilor Selene Colburn, as Senator Bernie Sanders ran for President, inspiring so many disenfranchised people to engage in democracy and in social action. There was so much hope during that campaign season, but we were voted into office on a night of great despair. Our federal election resulted in the rise of a regime that defied accountability, dismissed basic civility, and even promoted violence. I found myself stepping into a new position during yet another difficult time, but I was equipped for these troubled times with knowledge and skills attained through many years of experience as a social worker, activist, and community organizer. I was supported by many people connected with movements for economic, social, and environmental justice.
During the difficult moments, I find comfort in my deep faith in the fundamental goodness of humanity. As a “guardian of the people,” I work diligently to promote the healing of the planet and all people. When the time comes to move on, I shall make space for others to step up to lead. I view public service as a duty that all people should consider, yet public service should not necessarily be a life path of its own. I would encourage all people to find your own way to serve - and I discourage all people from clinging to power. Everybody has something special to share with the world. We need more people at every level of government who have lived experience with injustice, who have been marginalized, and who have been most impacted by the past and present harm caused by the government. What can you bring into an elected position? How can you prepare yourself to step up when the time is right?” -Rep. Brian Cina (Chittenden 6-4)
Interested in running? The filing deadline for Senate and State Representative races is May 26th. Go to https://www.progressiveparty.org/getinvolved or email Josh, Progressive Party Executive Director at Josh@progressiveparty.org. We’d love to hear from you.
Progressives in the Media:
Rep. Selene Colburn:UVM Staff United still in contract negotiations with university administration
Rep. Mollie Burke: Largest investments ever to transform our transportation system - VTDigger
Rep. Tanya Vyhovsky: Universal School Meals Act nears passage in House | Vermont Business Magazine
