Vermont Progressive Party

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The Vermont Progressive Party

About

The party states that it does not accept corporate donations, stating that his frees them up to "put the interests of farmers, laborers, students, small business owners and seniors ahead of the interests of the large corporations that influence the other major parties." They believe that health care is a human right, and support single-payer health care, birth to death, free of private corporate interests (insurance companies), provided through a non-profit, publicly-financed system. They believe that a vibrant and sustainable economy is one that recognizes preeminence of “quality of life” concept & insists on a decent standard of living for all Vermonters. They also believe that "a safe, affordable place to live is the birthright of every Vermonter." One of the aims of the Party is to decommission Yankee Nuclear plant in Vernon, Vermont.^[1] The plant currently employs approximately 600 people.^[2]

Statement of Principles

The following is the statement of principles of the Party:^[3]

• The purpose of the Progressive Party is to promote economic, social and environmental justice and sustainability through electoral and other democratic political activities, and to become the majority political party, while protecting minority and individual rights and opportunities.
• Our country, state and localities can reach their highest social and economic aspirations through truly representative democracy.
• All people have a right to equal participation in society.
• Democracy requires empowering people not only in government, but also in the workplace, schools and in the overall economy.
• Society's wealth should not be concentrated in the hands of a few, and a wealthy minority should not control the conditions under which we live.
• Collective organizing is essential for people of low and moderate income to attain economic justice.
• Everyone is entitled to decent work at a living wage in a safe working environment.
• We need to create an economy that is sustainable and reverses the destruction of our global environment.
• The burden of taxes should be shared based on ability to pay.
• Basic needs, including housing, food, health care, education and energy should be affordable to all and not the means for private profit.
• Directing more resources toward the care and development of children is essential to a health and prosperous society.
• Our society's deeply rooted racism and white privilege, whether overt, subtle or institutional, need to be abolished wherever they exist.
• The prevalence of sexism, both overt and subtle, limits and damages us all. More than merely encouraging women to fully participate, we must affirmatively assure their inclusion in all aspects of economic and civil society.
• Seniors and people with disabilities should be able to participate fully in society without economic deprivation or social isolation.
• All people, regardless of sexual orientation, should be able to participate fully in society without interference. We must affirmatively ensure their inclusion in all aspects of society.
• Our society's deeply rooted discrimination against low-income people, whether overt, subtle or institutional, needs to be abolished wherever it exists.
• Consistent with the rights and equality of others, religious and cultural minority groups deserve respect and freedom from governmental interference.
• Community members should be fully integrated into decision-making about the economic destinies of their communities. Those who operate a small business or farm, or are self-employed, must be protected from the overreaching power of mega-corporations.
• Human labor is the key to creation of wealth. We challenge the assumed right to derive vast wealth from ownership or position.
• No nation should exploit the labor or resources of another nation or people.
• Human survival requires the elimination of nuclear weapons and the redirection of military spending to human needs.

2001 officers

The following were present at the Party State Committee Meeting, held July 9, 2000, 4-5pm at the Vermont Law School, South Royalston, Vermont:^[4]

Ellen David Friedman, E. Montpelier; John Bloch, Montpelier; Sarah Edwards, Brattleboro; Robert Miller, Brattleboro; Kathleen Keller, Brattleboro; Dean Corren, Burlington; Mike Bayer, Monkton; Jason Baker, Burlington; Bill Stahl, Burlington; Claude De Lucia, Bennington; Theresa Del Pozzo, Barnet; Shoshana Rihn, Brattleboro; Peter Zilliacus, Shelburne; Elaine Curry-Smithson, Marlboro; John Scagliotti, Guilford; Chris Halpin, Essex; Alex Potter, Brattleboro; Terry Bouricius, Burlington; Glenda Botsford, South Strafford; Liz Blum, Norwich; Ross Laffan, Rochester; Charlotte Dennett, Burlington; John Potthast, Plainfield; Andrew Perchlik, Marshfield; Kim Huisman, Winooski; David Zuckerman, Burlington; Martha Abbott, Underhill; Charlie Curry-Smithson, Marlboro; Anita Bellin, Bennington; Tom Kingston, Montpelier

Ellen David Friedman, Vice Chair, presided and called the meeting to order.

STATE COMMITTEE OFFICERS The first item of the business was the resignation of Heather Riemer as State Committee Chair. Heather submitted a letter of resignation citing changed job requirements and that she is pregnant. A motion was made and seconded to accept Heather's resignation with regret and congratulations. The motion was approved on a voice vote. A motion was made, seconded and approved to accept the resignation of Alex Potter as Secretary of the State Committee.

Mike Bayer spoke to the idea of appointing an interim chair, and looking to the formal reorganization of the party (required on off election years) to consider the forward direction of the party. A motion was moved and seconded to appoint an interim chair until decided otherwise by the State Committee. The motion was unanimously approved on a voice vote.

The floor was opened for nominations for chair. Terry Bouricius was nominated and seconded. Liz Blum was nominated and seconded, but declined. Bob Miller was nominated and seconded. Richard Kemp was nominated and seconded but was not present, and therefore the nomination was withdrawn. Mike Bayer was nominated and seconded but declined.

Concerning nominations for secretary, Ellen Oxfeld, an at-large member of the Coordinating Committee, has offered to take over the Secretary duties. Seeing no further nominations, Ellen Oxfeld was elected by acclamation.

Ellen Oxfeld moving to the Secretary position opens one at-large member position for a woman on the Coordinating Committee. Nominations were opened. Martha Abbot was nominated and seconded. Jean Lowell was nominated and seconded.

Ballot votes were taken for chair and the at-large position. The vote for chair was a tie, and a revote was conducted. On the second ballot, Bob Miller was elected chair. Jean Lowell was elected to the at-large CoCo position.

Personnel

As at Aug. 31, 2010, the following were listed as party contacts:^[5]

State Coordinating Committee

County Chairs

2010 Candidates

The following are candidates for the Vermont Progressive Party for the Vermont Statehouse:^[6][7]

Elected Progressives

As at August 31, 2010, the following were listed on the Party's website as elected progressives in Vermont:^[8][9][10]

Local Officeholders

• Bob Kiss, Burlington Mayor
• Marrisa Caldwell, Burlington City Councilor, Ward 3
• Emma Mulvaney-Stanak, Burlington City Councilor, Ward 3

State Officeholders

• Sen. Tim Ashe, Burlington
• Rep. Susan Hatch Davis, Washington
• Rep. Mollie Burke, Brattleboro
• Rep. Sarah Edwards, Brattleboro
• Rep. David Zuckerman, Burlington
• Rep. Sandy Haas, Rochester

Federal Officeholders

• Sen. Bernie Sanders

References