SOUTH BURLINGTON —When the Vermont Legislature meets later this week, Lt. Gov. David Zuckerman stated Monday that he anticipates lawmakers will confirm John Rodgers’ win in the contest for the state’s second-highest office.
In the November election, Rodgers, a Republican, received more votes than Zuckerman, a Progressive/Democrat. However, neither candidate received more than 50% of the vote, which sets off a constitutional procedure in which the winner is chosen by the Legislature.
Though he acknowledged in a radio interview that lawmakers could theoretically still name him lieutenant governor and that they might have good reason to do so, Zuckerman conceded the race in the days following the election.
At the time, state political leaders, both current and former, sharply criticized his remarks.
At a press conference in South Burlington on Monday, which he called to give final remarks before he left office, Zuckerman stated that he had not contacted lawmakers regarding their votes “since a few days after” the election.
“The Legislature will decide what to do. I think John Rodgers will be elected. When asked by a reporter, “I haven’t heard anything else,” Zuckerman replied.
Throughout his time in office, Zuckerman has regularly attacked Republican Governor Phil Scott, whom Rodgers is close to.
Additionally, he attacked the governor once more in his remarks on Monday, urging Scott’s team to present lawmakers with “real options” on important issues, such as changing the state’s system for funding education and lowering the cost of housing and other necessities of life in the state.
He contended that during recent legislative sessions, that hasn’t always been the case.
According to Zuckerman, “the Legislature has no individual staff and is part-time for less than half the year, while the governor has hundreds of staff to develop policy proposals.
After eight years, it is the governor’s responsibility to take the lead — not by criticizing the Legislature, but by enacting laws that represent Vermonters’ desires for decent public schools and reasonably priced housing.”
Zuckerman highlighted elements of the progressive economic policies he has supported in the state for decades and urged lawmakers to take into account raising taxes on the wealthiest citizens and many second-home owners.
When asked if he had made up his mind to run for political office again, the three-term lieutenant governor told reporters that he had not. However, he stated that he intended to continue being involved in politics, at least temporarily, by hosting a radio program focused on public affairs.
“I’m not here to promote it,” Zuckerman stated. “However, I’ll be discussing issues with people on a weekly basis, inviting Vermonters to share their challenges, and attempting to raise awareness of what’s happening in the Statehouse.”