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By Guy Page
The Campaign for Vermont (CFV) is taking a strong stance against a Democrat senator as the possible next chair of the Senate Education Committee.
CFV describes itself as a nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy organization comprised of over 20,000 Vermonters committed to a more prosperous Vermont and growing middle class through transparent and accountable policymaking. Senate Education’s next chair will play a pivotal role in public school appropriations, operation, and funding sources, which in turn will strongly impact taxation and the quality of the Vermont workforce.
Ben Kinsley, interim director of the Campaign for Vermont, said Sen. Martine Gulick (D-Chittenden Central) has been a Vermont School Board Association lobbyist and thus has “an inherent conflict of interest.”
Gulick is the current vice-chair of Senate Education. Chair Brian Campion opted to not run for re-election. She also is co-chair of the State Aid for School Construction working group.
Kinsley wrote to Senate Pro Tem Phil Baruth: “While we do not have a specific candidate to recommend at this time, I am writing today to raise concerns about one potential candidate for this position. Senator Martine Gulick is (at least as recently as 2023) on the payroll of the Vermont School Boards Association, which (as you know) is a lobbying organization active in the state house. In addition to that, her largest donors in this year’s election were also from lobbying organizations active in the education policy space. In fact, three out of the four max donations to her campaign were from such organizations.
“This is an inherent conflict of interest to have a person employed, or even recently employed, by a lobbying organization leading a policy-making committee. We would strongly recommend you look for other candidates to fill the position of Senate Education Chair.
Kinsley said that Gulick’s position as a fellow (3-seat) Chittenden Central senator with Baruth might put the Senate Pro Tem in a difficult position.
“I realize that this may put you in an awkward position as she is your seatmate and you campaigned together, however I am hopeful that you will overcome this obstacle and do the right thing for Vermonters by appointing someone independent and thoughtful to this position who can rise to the occasion,” Kinsley said.
The committee chairs and co-chairs will be selected by the Senate’s three-person Committee on Committees, which includes Baruth, Lt.-Gov. Elect John Rodgers (assuming his election is ratified by the Senate next week), and a third senator.
VDC emailed Gulick and Baruth for comments late this morning and will publish responses as soon as they are received.
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Categories: Education, Legislation
I think it’s more common for legislators to go from the legislature to the private sector, which should also raise red flags, but to go from the private sector to the legislature where you can effect changes for the interests that formerly or even presently employ(ed) you ? Ding, ding, ding, buzzers, bells, flashing lights, and red flags ! No, no, no ! No how, no way this should be allowed to happen ! If it is legal now then a law should be made or changed to address this kind of possibility from happening !
The VSBA isn’t really a private sector organization like a building contractor or a McDonalds or Domino’s Pizza franchise. The vast majority of VSBA revenues come from public taxpayer funding, either through dues and fees from taxpayer funded school districts, or by providing consulting services to those public school districts. The VSBA is to Vermont public school boards what the VTNEA is to Vermont’s public school teachers.
The VSBA has annual revenue of over $900,000 annually, 70% of which goes to pay its half dozen or so employees. Further, its mission and purpose is based on the continuation and growth of the public school monopoly. Which is why Vermont’s public education system is the largest employer in the State, not even counting sub-contracted services.
School Choice and Homeschooling, for example, are the antithesis of VSBA dogma, which explains why the VSBA opposes those options.
Conflict of Interest is, therefore, an understatement, to say the least. But then again, the entire Vermont public education monopoly represents a massive Conflict of Interest.
It’s a racket, enabled by the legislature. Just ask Gulick and Baruth what they think about the H.405 School Choice bill collecting dust in the House Education Committee.
Absolutely!!! All hands on deck – contact your Senators. Make certain this doesn’t happen. Too much is at stake for our children. (A concerned lifetime educator now retired.)
You want a law to bar people from running for office? I thought that this was America
Like your party did when they removed Joltin Joe from the ticket because he couldn’t win? I bet you were applauding that like all libs. How very democratic. Now we listen to the other side of your mouth, just like a Dem.
Very well stated Ben. I totally support this concern, as a Board member of CFV, and also as a tax payer.
Absolutely not..this is not good ethics and not wise who ever it is should in good faith remove them selfs. From this position..
When is one of our esteemed contributors going to write a piece about the 500+ lobbyists that influence all of legislation in Montpelier? If you want to find out where some of this crap comes from, start reading about the lobbyists and who they work for! Remember 16 yr Senator Chris Bray and his girl friend lobbyist? Only a tip of the iceberg!
Conflict of interest. No question about it! Not even in a gray area! This one stinks by any standard. Oops! I forgot this is par for the course in a Dem-Prog Groupthink parallel universe.
Headline fixed:
Former school board Fox should not chair Senate Henhouse, CFV warns
😂