Via Community News Service, a University of Vermont journalism internship, for the Other Paper
South Burlington voters will choose from a roster of Democratic candidates seeking state Senate seats in the statewide primary on August 11.
Among them is Elizabeth Hunt, a South Burlington pediatrician and Charlotte resident. Serving as a pediatrician at Timber Lane Pediatrics for over 15 years, Hunt has grown close with the families of South Burlington, a connection that she said motivates her to run for office.
“The No. 1 reason why I actually stepped into this race is the children. I treat them like my own family. And I’m really not depressed or freaked out about our future. I believe in these young people. I think they have great potential and need our support,” she said.
Hunt is seeking to represent Chittenden-Southeast, which includes all of South Burlington, eight surrounding towns and a small portion of Burlington.
She already faces competition. At least two of the district’s three incumbents – Sens. Thomas Chittenden and Kesha Ram Hinsdale – are running for reelection, they told Community News Service. Longtime Sen. Ginny Lyons didn’t return an interview request.
Burlington resident and political strategist Joanna Grossman has also declared her candidacy for the Democratic ticket. Javen Spears, a South Burlington resident, is so far the lone Republican in the race.
In an interview with Community News Service, Hunt said her experience as a doctor shapes the way she views public service. Both require taking an oath, and to succeed in either role, one must quickly admit to mistakes, she said.
“When you work on behalf of thousands of people, you have to know your strengths and limitations and work as a team,” she said.
Hunt’s campaign platform centers on health care and affordability. She emphasized youth wellness and also the need to support older and retired residents by focusing on affordability.
“Many older Vermonters who’ve worked their whole lives, busted their butts, who have property they love – some of them can’t afford to stay here,” she said.
Hunt also touched on property taxes pertaining to second homes, an increasingly salient issue across the state.
“If you live in Vermont and one of your homes is modest and your other property is a deer camp, I don’t think you should pay more tax,” she said. “I want to increase efficiency in state government and spend less.”
Hunt’s platform is also focused on Vermont youth, mainly education and public health. She said Vermont needs to “resize” its education system, including consolidating some schools to better serve the state’s “limited number of students into the future.”
She is also opposed to S.278, a bill sponsored by Ram Hinsdale that proposes increasing the transaction limits for various cannabis products. Supporters of the bill cite the economic benefits the expansion of cannabis sales might bring to communities. Hunt, however, worries about the broader health effects of cannabis use.
“I’ve seen cannabis-related apathy, hopelessness, depression, school absenteeism and physical ailments like cannabis hyperemesis syndrome,” she said, referring to recurring nausea and vomiting that presents itself in chronic cannabis users.
“It’s simply too easy to get your hands on,” she continued. “I would so much rather tax things that drive up healthcare costs.”
Hunt also emphasized that her proposed tax increase is not universal.
“I feel like alcohol’s pretty taxed already,” she said, but later explained that “I like that mechanism of paying more for something that’s bad for you so you can reinvest that money in children, our safety net.”
Hunt’s opponents said they welcome the competition.
“It’s a sign that people care deeply about the future of our communities and our state,” Ram Hinsdale said in a statement. “At the same time, I feel confident in the strength of our record as a delegation and in the way we’ve approached this work-grounded in results, responsiveness, and representing the full diversity of perspectives across our district.”
Fellow incumbent Chittenden, who will be running for his fourth term, said constituents already seem invested in the race.
“I would say it seems like there’s a lot more activity,” he said. “I think I saw a yard sign out already, which seems very early for me in April.”
Voters will narrow the field to three Democratic candidates in the August primary. The winners will appear on the November 3 general election ballot.