The race for lieutenant governor might not be the one compelling voters to head to the primary polls on Aug. 11. It doesn’t have the local import of the state representative races, and it isn’t the office that will solve Vermont’s biggest challenges.
But it is an office where character matters, which is why I’m supporting Ryan McLaren.
I have come to know Ryan as someone who is in public service for the right reasons. He listens. He works hard. He treats people with respect. And he does it without the self-importance we see so often in politicians. Ryan also loves Vermont, and cares deeply about the future of our state.
For years, Ryan served on Peter Welch’s team here in Vermont, spending countless hours listening to Vermonters and helping connect them with their government in Washington in response to their needs. The people I know who have worked with Ryan speak about him with immense admiration, and are supporting his candidacy wholeheartedly.
The determination he has shown in recovering from a devastating ski accident further persuades me that he is a person of high character. Rather than making that experience the center of his story, he seems to have turned it into a wellspring of empathy and resilience.
Vermonters have always valued neighbors who listen before they speak, show up without seeking the spotlight, and put in the work. That’s Ryan. And he will bring those qualities to Montpelier.
I hope you’ll join me in supporting Ryan McLaren in the August 11 Democratic primary.