MONTPELIER – Citing their strong commitment to public education and their dedication to making Vermont a better, more affordable place for working families, the board of the state’s largest union unanimously recommends the election of Amanda Janoo for governor and Molly Gray for lieutenant governor.
“Vermont has a real opportunity to elect a team of leaders who support public education and who are dedicated to making Vermont more affordable for middle-class families,” said Don Tinney, a high school English teacher who serves as the elected president of the 13,000-member Vermont-NEA. “We are thrilled to recommend Amanda and Molly to lead a team of elected officials who will work hard on behalf of working Vermonters.”
The board also recommends the reelection of Treasurer Mike Pieciak, Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas, and Attorney General Charity Clark. The board also gave the nod to Auditor of Accounts candidate Tim Ashe.
The board was impressed with Janoo’s keen focus on the role public education plays in the success of the state, particularly in rural areas. “We are excited to have a candidate for governor who really gets it,” Tinney said. “Amanda’s commitment to public education, economic fairness, progressive taxation, universal primary care, and the needs of working families is in stark contrast to the current governor’s agenda.”
“I’m incredibly proud to have the support of Vermont’s educators. Our public schools are so much more than buildings where kids go to learn, they are at the heart of our communities, particularly in rural Vermont,” Janoo said. “At a moment when too many are talking about closing and consolidating schools, I believe we should be investing in them: supporting our educators, expanding access to lifelong learning, and building community schools that can serve as hubs for healthcare, food, recreation, and connection. As Governor, I will always stand with our educators and fight to ensure every child, in every community, has access to an extraordinary public education.”
In her interview with the union’s board Saturday, Gray was outspoken in her commitment to rural Vermont – and the local public schools that anchor them. “When Molly said ‘when we close a rural school, we close that community,’ it was clear that the needs of students and our small towns are important to her,” Tinney said. “As she told us, no amount of school consolidation will bring down the cost of health care.” Health care costs are rising much higher than inflation, and they are one of the biggest drivers of increased costs for schools.
“Schools and educators are the heart of our communities, and when we invest in our schools, we invest in the future of Vermont,” said Gray. “I'm proud to have earned the endorsement of Vermont-NEA and the members they represent. As Lt. Governor, I'll continue to fight for working families and ensure that every Vermonter can live, work and retire with dignity in our state. I'll also continue fighting for equitable access to high-quality education for all Vermont students."
The board’s recommendations were made after reviewing candidates’ records, positions, interviews, and public statements. All of the recommended candidates are committed to working people, unions, public education, and economic fairness.
“For too long, we’ve heard the current governor lament that Vermont isn’t affordable, and that he alone can make it so,” Tinney said. “He’s had a decade to do more than talk about affordability. Now Vermont has the opportunity to elect people who will actually get the job done.”
