# of departing House chairs grows to six
By Guy Page
Two Democrats, Amanda Janoo of Burlington and Aly Richards of Montpelier, are competing for the nomination for governor and the uphill task of trying to unseat Republican Gov. Phil Scott in November. The ‘nation’s most popular governor’ first won election in 2016 and is seeking a sixth term.
Richards (who grew up on a dirt road in Newbury, her campaign video says) first came to Vermonters’ attention as the leader of Let’s Grow Kids, the advocacy group behind Act 76, the 2023 law that raised about $120 million in its first year to subsidize childcare.
Whatever most voters think about subsidizing childcare with a share of their earnings, Act 76 was clearly a hit with mothers with children at home. Childcare still isn’t free but it’s reportedly more available and affordable than before Act 76.
A Richards campaign ad released last week shows her playing the Governor Mom role. Her kitchen – peanut butter jar and all – is her stage as she pitches Vermonters on why Scott was wrong to veto the data center bill.
Is data center siting an issue moms, or for that matter most Vermonters, are passionate about? Maybe, maybe not – but it’s clear that when Phil Scott takes his Number 14 race car persona on the campaign trail, in his rear view mirror he’ll see (at least before the August 11 primary) a backpack stuffing, sandwich-making Mom Would Be Governor.