By Guy Page
Following a secret ballot, the Vermont House of Representatives today, January 8 re-elected Speaker of the House incumbent Jill Krowinski by a 111-35 vote.
The vote ended the challenge of Rep. Laura Sibilia (I-Dover), who announced after the general election she would seek the Speaker’s gavel.
Krowinski received support from at least two members of the 56-member GOP House caucus: Reps. Ashley Bartley (Georgia-Fairfax) and Tom Burditt (West Rutland). Others rising in support of the incumbent included Dems. Theresa Wood (Waterbury), Kristi Woods of Springfield, Martin Lalonde of South Burlington, and recently re-elected Charlie Kimbell of Woodstock.
The all-in Republican vote Sibilia wished for failed to materialize. Neither were any Republicans put forth as Speaker candidates.
House members rising in support of Sibilia included Independent Jed Lipsky of Stowe, Democrat Elizabeth Burroughs of Westminster, Progressive/Dem Troy Headrick of Burlington, and Republican Mark Higley of Lowell.
Wood, a committee chair who shepherded the constitutional amendment enshrining abortion rights through House Human Services, referenced the strong advocacy by Krowinski – former Planned Parenthood lobbyist and vice-president – for the amendment. Woods noted the amendment was ratified on Election Day, 2022 “by every single town in Vermont – the towns that we all represent.’
LaLonde and Kimbell both praised Krowinski’s “even temperament.” LaLonde, an attorney, places strong emphasis on the words in his floor remarks. Neither denigrated Sibilia’s temperament, but listeners were apparently free to draw their own conclusions.
Independent Anne Donahue of Northfield – on record supporting Sibilia – reminded her colleagues that the secret ballot protects all voters (including House members) from the consequences of retaliation.