BRATTLEBORO — David Zuckerman is the better candidate for governor. He is the leading voice in the state for a living wage, green jobs, and racial and environmental justice.
His opponent, Gov. Phil Scott, is a governor of vetoes. He has vetoed bills to raise the minimum wage, to provide paid family leave, and to lower carbon emissions. Gov. Scott is holding Vermont back. David Zuckerman is working for a better future.
When on Sept. 15 Gov. Scott vetoed the Global Warming Solutions Act, he did so knowing that a week earlier the Vermont House had approved the bill 102–45 while in late June the Senate passed the bill 22–6. This is to say that the governor knew a two-thirds majority in the Legislature would be ready to override his veto. Still, he went forward and, indeed, his veto was overridden.
What does that say about Gov. Scott?
To my mind, it says that he is fighting against the overwhelming majority opinion of Vermonters who seek climate action now. It displays a curmudgeon mindset unwilling to grab onto a golden opportunity to lead. It reveals a man unwilling to keep up with the times.
David Zuckerman is a farmer who is keenly aware of the damage climate change is reaping on the soil, water, and air. He has a plan for a Vermont Green New Deal. He wants to put Vermonters back to work in renewable-energy jobs across the state. He wants to lay fiber optic cable to improve telecommunications statewide, and he wants to boost efforts to weatherize houses to lower Vermonters' heating bills.
In these dramatic times, when the only certainty is change, Vermont needs a governor prepared to innovate and to lead. David Zuckerman is that person.