Kelly Adams: An open letter to Zoie Saunders

Dear Zoie Saunders,

I would imagine when you were in conversation with Gov. Phil Scott’s team late last year that the “advice and consent” aspect of a potential nomination seemed like a formality because of how rarely the Vermont Senate has rejected a nominee for the governor’s cabinet.

However, it is not a formality. It is the right of the Senate to accept or reject such nominations. In your case, the nomination was resoundingly rejected. I would imagine this has been a painful time and process.

Perhaps there are times when you feel wronged by someone or by the whole state, but stepping into the “interim” role hours after that rejection is a choice you did not have to make. You are denigrating the Vermont Constitution, the Vermont Senate and the will of the people here who made our perspective known to our senators. It is a slap in the face of public education here for you to flout this process so completely.

You have a privileged education and an esteemed career. It is not, however, a career where you showed commitment to public education. While you may have delighted in the thought of living here in Vermont, it should not be via a shady and insulting “interim” appointment.

Please resign so that we can move on. Scott is showing you his disrespect by putting you in this position, and you should not want to serve someone who is rejecting the Senate and the people of Vermont this forcefully.

Kelly Adams

Essex Junction

Read the story on VTDigger here: Kelly Adams: An open letter to Zoie Saunders .