By Guy Page

Legislators and State House activists are expressing a mixed reaction to Rep. Laura Sibilia’s announcement that she’s running for Speaker of the House. 

Sibilia (I-Dover), is vice-chair of the influential House Environment and Energy Committee and perhaps the leading advocate for broadband services in the House. 

A West Dover resident, Siblia has been a state representative since 2014. She is the eldest of 12 siblings and, together with her husband TJ, has raised three children in Dover. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and an Associate of Science in Hospitality Management from Champlain College in Burlington, with additional studies at the Massachusetts College for Liberal Arts in North Adams, MA. According to her House bio, she is the Director of Regional Economic Development Strategies at the Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation (BDCC), a role she has held since 2017.

Anne Donahue is a longtime incumbent Republican House member for Northfield-Berlin who is running this year as an independent. She said a contested Speaker election is better than virtually no election at all, which is what happened in January 2023.  

“I was pleased to see Laura’s announcement, because the process is always strengthened by having a contested election,” Donahue said. “I was the sole “no” vote for last term’s vote for last term’s vote for Speaker “by acclamation,” which did not even allow for expressions of dissent to the nominee.”

A former House Republican from Chelsea likened Sibilia to presidential candidate Kamala Harris in more ways than one: “In her announcement, Laura says a lot of words that don’t amount to anything, just like Kamala. And she should change the “I” after her name to a “P” since she’s on board with all the wacky progressive policies; don’t believe her lip service to bipartisanship,” Bob Frenier said. 

Annette Smith of Danby, executive director of Vermonters for a Clean Environment and a longtime opponent of 5G cell towers and large renewable energy siting projects, echoed Frenier’s concerns about the promise of collaboration.

I find it curious that Rep. Sibilia is promoting collaboration, non-partisan problem-solving and open communication,” Smith said. “My experience working on issues that are primarily heard in committees on which she serves — House Energy and Technology, and House Environment and Energy — Rep. Sibilia has had zero interest in hearing what I have to say, let alone talk to me.  

“I feel the cold shoulder whenever I have testified in her committees and the only time I have had a conversation with her is when I approached her over telecom issues in 2019. My best work has been in collaboration with those with whom I do not agree, and often the biggest challenge is getting people to come to the table to talk, rather than shun me. I am always open and willing to work with anyone who wants to work with me.  

“Rep. Sibilia has shown no interest in communicating with me or my staff on the issues that are very much within her area of interest.  Since I have so little direct experience with her, I can only share that my observation is that she seems to be open to working with people who already agree with her, pushing agendas that serve special interests, no different from the super-majority already in power,” Smith concluded.

Incumbent Clarendon Rep. Art Peterson, who is not seeking re-election, said he just hopes there are enough Republicans in the House to make a difference in the majority-rules vote for Speaker.

“I respect Rep. Sibilia’s hard work and passion as she represents her district. However, unless there is significant positive change in the numbers of Republicans in the House I would say her chances of unseating the present Speaker are slim. If I were there, and for a number of reasons, she would have my vote.”

Behind the Lines columnist Rob Roper offered this comment on the VDC news story published last night: 

“Sibilia is the lead sponsor/lead advocate for the Clean Heat Standard in the House. She was also chief pusher of the Renewable Energy Standard, and the lead on the new pupil weighting law that blew up the property tax. She certainly has the reverse Midas touch!”