MONTPELIER — Democratic members of the Vermont House of Representatives this morning selected their leadership slate for the coming 2023–2024 biennium during a public Democratic Caucus held at the State House in Montpelier.
Rep. Jill Krowinski of Burlington was elected by the 104-member caucus to return for her second term as Speaker of the House. Rep. Krowinski’s nomination as Speaker must come before the tri-partisan House of Representatives for full confirmation on the first day of the 2023 session, Wednesday, January 4, after she is sworn in for her seventh term.
Another veteran member of the House Leadership team, Rep. Emily Long of Newfane, was re-elected by her Democratic peers as Majority Leader. Long also held this position during the previous 2021–2022 biennium and before that, served as Assistant Majority Leader (Whip). She was recently re-elected by her constituents to a fifth term.
In a speech to her caucus, Rep. Krowinski acknowledged the opportunities and challenges that come with her party’s newly expanded majority. “We’re a diverse party, with 104 members representing every corner of Vermont and a wide range of experiences and perspectives,” she said. “Our goal is to come together as a caucus, build consensus, and pass legislation that helps Vermonters in all 14 counties, builds a more vibrant future, and leaves no one behind.”
“On the campaign trail, we ran on our values and on everything we’ve done to create communities that support individuals, working families, and an economy that works for everyone. We listened to voters. It’s clear that Vermonters are counting on us to continue investments in building housing opportunities for all walks of life, expand access to affordable high-quality child care, increase workforce and educational opportunities, pass legislation to reduce our carbon footprint and protect our state’s natural resources, pass legislation to protect us from gun violence, and so much more,” said Speaker Krowinski.
In her speech to the Democratic caucus, Majority Leader Long highlighted the stable foundation that Krowinski has created for her to build on and the importance of expanding upon the successes of the previous biennium. “I know from experience that any success we achieve will require that we work together every day, listen to each other, and respect our different views before coming to consensus,” says Long. “It’s all about teamwork, clear communications, and trust. Our collective job is to make Vermont a safe and supportive place for every Vermonter to be able to live and work, in all 14 counties.”
Krowinski and Long are joined by three legislators who will round out the 2023–2024 House Democrats leadership team: Rep. Kathleen James of Manchester as Assistant Majority Leader (Whip); Rep. Will Notte of Rutland as Assistant Majority Leader (Leadership Development); and Rep. Jana Brown of Richmond as Assistant Majority Leader (Communications).
Rep. John L. Bartholomew of Hartland was re-elected to the post of At-Large Rules Committee Member, responsible for overseeing rules and parliamentary procedures on the House floor and training new members in their use.
Biographical information:
Rep. Jill Krowinski of Burlington was appointed to the House in 2012. For nearly eight years, she worked at Planned Parenthood of Northern New England, her last role as Vice President of Education and Vermont Community Affairs. She has also served as Commissioner for the Fletcher Free Library, Vice Chair of the Health Care Oversight Committee, and Chair of the Vermont Poverty Council. Krowinski also served as Executive Director of Emerge Vermont, an organization that recruits, trains and provides a network for Democratic women who want to run for office.
Rep. Emily Long of Newfane grew up in Vermont on a small farm and helped operate a family art business for more than 40 years. A passionate supporter of public education, she has served since 1994 on local school boards. She was a longtime member and president of the Vermont School Boards Association and a member of the board of directors of the Vermont School Boards Insurance Trust. Long was elected to the Vermont House in 2014.
Rep. Kathleen James of Manchester was first elected to the House in 2018 and has served on the Education Committee since then. In 2020, she was appointed to the Select Committee on the Future of Public Higher Education in Vermont. The following year, she worked on a legislative task force focused on updating Vermont’s education finance system. She’s a 2022 Toll Fellow (Council of State Governments) and joined the Democratic leadership team in December 2021 as Assistant Majority Leader (Communications).
Rep. Will Notte of Rutland City was first elected to the House in 2018 and has served on the Judiciary Committee since joining the legislature. In 2020 he was appointed to the Judicial Retention Committee. He also serves on the Rutland Free Library Board of Trustees. He previously served eleven years on the Rutland City Board of Aldermen, including two years as president, and served seven years on the Rutland Redevelopment Authority.
Rep. Jana Brown of Richmond grew up in rural Rutland County and has devoted her professional career to state government and the nonprofit sector. She served for seven years as an Assistant Attorney General in two different states and since 2014 has worked for a literacy nonprofit serving communities throughout Vermont and New Hampshire. She is currently a member of the Richmond Free Library board of trustees. She was elected to her first term in 2020 and sits on the House Education Committee.
