MONTPELIER, Vt. (WCAX) – Vermont’s legislative session begins on Wednesday and there may be momentum building to elect a new House speaker.
Before lawmakers can dig into work for the new session, they need to elect a speaker of the House and a president of the Senate.
Burlington Democrat Jill Krowinski has held the speaker’s gavel since 2020. “Whether it’s with COVID or pension reform, I know what it takes to get these big things done and how to bring people together,” she said.
But Krowinski is facing a challenge from outside of her party’s ranks. Rep. Laura Sibilia, I-Dover, was elected in 2015 and hopes to oust the Democrat, saying the chamber needs a new direction. She says she will work to build consensus and bring members of all parties to the table.
“That is something that I’m good at, I have experience doing, and I am enthusiastic to work with leaders in the House to find those starting places,” she said.
Sibilia says the job of the speaker should be nonpartisan. “The majority runs the House, the speaker ensures the process is fair and that we are well structured to get work done,” she said.
The votes, which are expected to be close, are taken by secret ballot. Unless lawmakers are publicly supporting the candidates, we won’t know how they are voting or what kinds of deals are happening behind the scenes. Both Krowinski and Sibilia say they’ve garnered the necessary 75 votes to be elected. Both may need support from Republicans. “What’s important to me is that we come together, are open and transparent about what our challenges are ahead of us and how we are going to work together,” Krowinski said.
Election Day brought big losses for Statehouse Democrats, and though they still hold the majority, they can not unilaterally pass bills over Governor Phil Scott’s objections.
In the Senate, where Republicans will now control 13 seats, Chittenden County Democrat Phil Baruth is facing a challenge from Franklin County Republican Randy Brock.
The inauguration of officeholders is set for Thursday.