Governor of Vermont

Governor of Vermont. The governor is the head of government of the U.S. state of Vermont and commander-in-chief of the state's military forces. The officeholder is responsible for enforcing state laws, signing or vetoing bills passed by the Vermont General Assembly, and appointing officials to various state agencies and the judiciary. The current governor is Republican Phil Scott, who took office on January 5, 2017.

History

The office was established in 1778 upon the declaration of the independent Vermont Republic, with Thomas Chittenden serving as its first governor. Vermont functioned as a sovereign republic for fourteen years, with governors elected by the freemen of the republic, before joining the United States as the fourteenth state in 1791 under the leadership of Governor Chittenden. The early political landscape was dominated by figures from the American Revolutionary War, such as Moses Robinson and Isaac Tichenor. Throughout the 19th century, the governorship was largely controlled by the Vermont Republican Party, which held the office for over a century following the founding of the national party in 1854, with notable governors including Redfield Proctor and William W. Stickney. This "Mountain Rule" tradition informally rotated the office between eastern and western candidates. The Republican monopoly was broken in 1962 by Democrat Philip H. Hoff, and the office has since become more competitive, with recent governors including Democrats Madeleine Kunin, the state's first female governor, and Howard Dean, and Republicans Jim Douglas and Phil Scott.

Election and succession

The governor is elected by popular vote every two years in even-numbered elections, coinciding with the United States House of Representatives elections, with no term limits. Candidates are chosen through partisan primary elections administered by the Vermont Secretary of State. To qualify, a candidate must be at least 18 years old, a resident of Vermont for at least four years preceding the election, and cannot hold any other federal or state office. If the office becomes vacant due to death, resignation, or incapacity, the lieutenant governor ascends to the governorship, as occurred when Consuelo N. Bailey succeeded to the lieutenant governorship upon the death of Governor Lee E. Emerson in 1955. Further succession is detailed in the Vermont Statutes and involves the president pro tempore of the Vermont Senate.

Powers and duties

The governor's formal powers are derived from the Constitution of Vermont and state statutes. The governor possesses a strong veto power over legislation passed by the Vermont General Assembly, which can be overridden by a two-thirds vote in both the Vermont House of Representatives and the Vermont Senate. As the chief executive, the governor oversees the administration of all state agencies, including the Vermont Agency of Transportation and the Vermont Department of Public Safety, and appoints members to numerous boards and commissions, subject to confirmation by the Senate. The governor serves as commander-in-chief of the Vermont National Guard and can deploy them during emergencies, such as the 1927 Vermont flood or the COVID-19 pandemic in Vermont. Other duties include presenting a budget to the legislature, granting pardons and reprieves (except in cases of impeachment), and representing the state in interactions with other states and the federal government.

List of governors

Since 1778, Vermont has had 82 individuals serve as governor across 96 distinct terms. Thomas Chittenden served the most total time, leading the republic and state for nearly 18 years. The longest consecutive service belongs to Republican Richard A. Snelling, who served from 1977 to 1985 and again from 1991 until his death in office, succeeded by Lieutenant Governor Howard Dean. Other notable governors include Civil War-era leader Frederick Holbrook, Progressive Era figure John G. McCullough, and modern executives like Jim Douglas and Peter Shumlin. A complete roster is maintained by the Vermont Office of the Secretary of State and the Vermont Historical Society.

Residences and traditions

Vermont is one of the few states without an official governor's mansion. Historically, governors have resided in their private homes, with the state providing a housing allowance. Governor William H. Wills (1941-1945) lived at the Woodstock Inn, while Governor Ernest W. Gibson Jr. resided in Brattleboro. The working office is located in the Vermont State House in Montpelier, one of the oldest and smallest state capitols in the U.S. Notable traditions include the governor's annual "State of the State address" to the Vermont General Assembly and the ceremonial tapping of the maple tree at the Vermont State Fair. The governor also participates in events like the Vermont Maple Festival in St. Albans and the dedication of the Bennington Battle Monument.

Category:Governors of Vermont Category:Vermont state agencies