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Former school board lobbyist should not chair Senate Education, CFV warns

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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