David Zuckerman (politician)

For other people named David Zuckerman, see David Zuckerman (disambiguation).
David Zuckerman
Lieutenant Governor of Vermont
Elect
Taking office
January 7, 2017
Governor Phil Scott (elect)
Succeeding Phil Scott
Member of the Vermont State Senate
Assumed office
January 2013
Member of the Vermont House of Representatives
In office
January 1997 – January 2011
Personal details
Born (1971-08-16) August 16, 1971
Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Political party Progressive/Democratic
Spouse(s) Rachel Nevitt
Alma mater University of Vermont (BS)
Profession Farmer

David Zuckerman (born August 16, 1971) is a farmer and a Progressive Party member of the Vermont Senate, representing Chittenden County, in the state of Vermont. He served in the Vermont House of Representatives for six terms (1997–2011), and in the Vermont State Senate for two (2013–2017).

In 2016, ran for lieutenant governor as a Progressive and a Democrat. He defeated Speaker of the Vermont House of Representatives Shap Smith and Representative Kesha Ram to win the Democratic nomination for Lieutenant Governor of Vermont. He defeated Republican Randy Brock in the November 8th general election.[1][2] Because he received slightly less than 50 percent of the popular vote, the election will be decided by the Vermont General Assembly in January 2017. The legislature is heavily Democratic, and it almost always chooses the candidate who received the most popular votes.[3] In addition, Brock conceded the race and is not contesting the vote in the legislatuture.[4]

Zuckerman is the first candidate to win statewide office in Vermont running primarily as a Progressive.[5] Other Progressive-endorsed candidates who have won statewide, including Doug Hoffer for Vermont State Auditor, were primarily identified as Democrats.[6]

Early life

Zuckerman grew up in Brookline, Massachusetts where he attended Brookline High School and graduated in 1989.[7] He then attended the University of Vermont, and graduated in 1995 with a bachelor of science degree in Environmental Studies, with a minor in chemistry.

Legislative career

Zuckerman ran for the Vermont House in 1994 while still enrolled in college, losing by 59 votes. He ran again two years later and become the fourth Progressive Party member to serve in the Vermont State House, a seat that he held through 2011.[8]

Prior to serving in the House, he served on the Burlington Electric Commission. While in the House, he served for 6 years on the Natural Resources and Energy Committee as well as 6 years on the Agriculture Committee, including 4 as the Chairperson. He finished his time in the House of Representatives by serving on the Ways and Means Committee. In 2005, Zuckerman considered running for the sole Vermont seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in the 2006 U.S. House election, that was being vacated by Independent Rep. (now Senator) Bernie Sanders, eventually deciding not to run in order to continue serving as Agriculture Chair in the Vermont House of Representatives.

Zuckerman ran for Vermont State Senate in 2012 and won as a Progressive/Democrat.[9][10]

In his time in the General Assembly, Senator Zuckerman has been involved in the passage of Vermont's civil union and marriage equality laws, workers' rights legislation, increasing the minimum wage, sustainable (economic and environmental) agricultural policy, cannabis policy reform, election law reform, many renewable energy initiatives, progressive taxation policy as well as universal healthcare.

In January 2014, Senator Zuckerman introduced legislation[11] that would allow for recreational sale and use of cannabis. If passed it would allow for possession up to 2 ounces of cannabis, and the cultivation of up to 3 plants for anyone that is 21 and over. It would also have the penalty for underage consumption of cannabis be the same as the current penalty for underage drinking.

In 2016, Zuckerman ran for Lieutenant Governor as a Progressive and Democrat, earning the endorsement of Bernie Sanders before an August 9 primary.[12] He defeated House speaker Shap Smith and Representative Kesha Ram to win the Democratic nomination, and faced Randy Brock in the general election.[1] Zuckerman defeated Brock in the popular vote in the November 2016 general election. Because he finished with just under 50 percent of the total vote, the state constitution requires that the election be decided by the Vermont General Assembly; both the House and Senate are controlled by Democrats, and it almost always chooses the candidate who received the most popular votes. These circumstances, plus Brock's conceding of the election and decision not to contest the results in the legislature ensure that Zuckerman will win the legislative balloting in January 2017. Once elected, he will be the first active farmer elected to the office of Governor or Lieutenant Governor in over 50 years.[13]

Agriculture

Since 1999 Zuckerman and his wife Rachel Nevitt built a successful organic farm at Burlington's Intervale, a network of a dozen farms located in and serving the city. Zuckerman served on the American Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee and, from 2005–2009, chaired of the House Agriculture Committee. He is also a member the Vermont Farm Bureau and The Northeast Organic Farming Association chapter in Vermont.

In 2009 Zuckerman and Nevitt moved their farm to 150 acres (610,000 m2) in Hinesburg where they grow 20 acres (81,000 m2) of vegetables and raise 1000 chickens. Their produce is almost exclusively sold within Chittenden County. They operate a summer CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) with 275 members, a winter CSA with 125 members, and sell year round at the local Burlington farmers market.

Issues

Property Tax Reform

Senator Zuckerman supported a bill to lower property tax rates for households earning less than $200,000 in the 2015–16 session. He also helped pass legislation to model this reform in time for the 2017 session.

Equal Pay

Zuckerman was a sponsor of H.440[14] in 2001, a bill demanding equal pay for equal work.

GMO Labeling

In 2014, Zuckerman was the lead Senate author of Vermont's first-in-the-nation GMO Labeling Law.

Labor

Zuckerman has been a strong advocate of raising the minimum wage and increased protections for workers during his 18 years in office.

On April 25, 2006, Zuckerman introduced a resolution for the Vermont legislature to ask the US Congress to impeach President George W. Bush.[15] The motion failed 87–60 in a roll call vote, April 25, 2007.[16]

References

  1. 1 2 DeSmet, Nicole Higgins (9 August 2016). "Zuckerman wins race for Dems lt. governor". Burlington Free Press. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
  2. ↑ http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/news/politics/2016/11/09/results-zuckerman-wins-lt-governors-race/93444430/
  3. ↑ "Legislators to decide governor's race this week". Addison Independent. Middlebury, VT. January 5, 2015.
  4. ↑ McCullum, April (November 9, 2016). "RESULTS: Zuckerman wins lt. governor's race". Burlington Free Press. Burlington, VT.
  5. ↑ True, Morgan (November 9, 2016). "Zuckerman Takes Lieutenant Governor Post". VT Digger. Montpelier, VT.
  6. ↑ Office of the Vermont Secretary of State (2014). "General Election results, Auditor of Accounts: 1884-2014" (PDF). www.sec.state.vt.us/. Montpelier, VT: Vermont State Archives and Records Administration. p. 12.
  7. ↑ Muddy River Annual. Brookline: Brookline High School. 1989.
  8. ↑ "About Dave". Zuckerman for Chittenden County. David Zuckerman. Retrieved 24 January 2013.
  9. ↑ Galloway, Anne (November 7, 2012). "Dems sweep all but one statewide seat, hold "supermajority" in House, Senate". VT Digger. Retrieved 24 January 2013.
  10. ↑ Remsen, Nancy (7 January 2013). "The everyday farmers' perspective Work informs goals for two new Senators". Burlington Free Press. Retrieved 24 January 2013.
  11. ↑
  12. ↑ Heintz, Paul (2 August 2016). "In Race for LG, Sanders Endorses Zuckerman, Dean Backs Smith". Seven Days. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
  13. ↑ Callahan, Gail (21 July 2016). "Zuckerman balances work, campaign duties". The Citizen. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
  14. ↑ "The Vermont Legislative Bill Tracking System". www.leg.state.vt.us. Retrieved 2016-05-27.
  15. ↑ "Vermont lawmakers introduce impeachment resolution". Associated Press (via Boston Globe). 25 April 2006. Archived from the original on March 15, 2007. Retrieved 2006-04-30.
  16. ↑ Vermont House Rejects Impeachment Resolution

External links

Political offices
Preceded by
Phil Scott		 Lieutenant Governor of Vermont
Elect
Taking office in 2017 		Incumbent
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