Via Community News Service, a University of Vermont journalism internship, on assignment for the Waterbury Roundabout
Most towns in Vermont struggle to convince young people to run for office, but that’s not the case with Waterbury’s Select Board.
Waterbury currently has three millennials on its five-person Select Board: Chair Alyssa Johnson, 30, Vice Chair Kane Sweeney, 31, and member Ian Shea, 40.
Meanwhile, three of the five candidates on the ballot Tuesday for Waterbury Select Board are under 40. Sweeney is running unopposed for a three-year term. Meanwhile, deli clerk Evan Karl Hoffman, 28, and attorney Tori Taravella, 32 are two of the four candidates running for two one-year seats.
This is unusual for Vermont, where almost half of local government officials are over 60, according to a 2021 study by the Center for Research on Vermont.
These young leaders overcame the challenges that often prevent people like them from participating in town government, especially a lack of money and time.
“Trying to get younger people to serve on these positions will continue to be a challenge as long as boards, legislatures, and councils are all volunteer,” said Sweeney, who works as a chef at The Reservoir and has been on the board for two years.
As Vermont’s population ages, it’s important to convince young people to become involved in town government.
But young adults face financial pressures that older generations did not, especially the growing cost of housing, health insurance and education. For example, child care for two young children in Vermont now costs more than $26,000 a year.
“Vermont has a long history of volunteer government, for better or for worse,” Sweeney said. “For people to find the time for work and child care, it becomes straining to take up volunteer positions in government.”
While everyone in local politics brings representation to the table, Sweeney thinks this is especially important to his generation.
“Millennials and Generation Z want to see people who look and talk more like them on their boards,” he said.
Having younger people in town government encourages other young people to run for office. This is due to the role model effect. As individuals see characteristics and attributes of themselves in the elected officials who represent them, they are more willing to run for office.
Additionally, creating mentorships can help build self-confidence in younger people, which in turn makes the likelihood of running for elected offices greater.
This is an issue that’s been on Johnson’s mind. In October, she moderated a panel for the Vermont League of Cities and Towns about young professionals and local government. It was part of a town fair event encouraging youth participation in public service.
“It’s really important to think about how we can support the next generation in stepping up into these roles,” Johnson said. “and doing that early, while there’s still opportunities for mentorship and learning.”
Johnson’s own leadership role began following a conversation with veteran Waterbury Select Board member Roger Clapp, 71.
When Clapp was chair of the board, he offered to mentor Johnson so she would be ready to take over.
Johnson and Sweeney took on their roles as board chair and vice chair respectively in January when Clapp stepped down as he began a new job as executive director at Revitalizing Waterbury. Johnson moved up from vice chair and the board voted unanimously on the reorganization.
Clapp said he has enjoyed working with younger members and appreciates the perspective they bring.
“It brings a great energy and a viewpoint that maybe some other boards don’t benefit from,” Clapp said.
Fellow board member Bard agrees.
“Having as many perspectives available is invaluable,” Bard said, “because sometimes older people don’t see what younger people feel.”
It isn’t always easy to serve, but for Stowe Middle School science teacher Ian Shea, the rewards were worth it.
“One thing that I knew from the onset was how much it would bring me closer to the town of Waterbury, a town I very, very much care about,” Shea said.
Shea is ending his one-year term and is not running for re-election, but he said he met many new, incredible folks through his time in office.
“What I didn’t realize as much was all the amazing people that you get connected with through this work,” he said.