Carla Occaso
Longtime local politician Ann Cummings, veteran senator Andrew Perchlik, and seasoned leader Anne Watson have been challenged by real estate developer Gabriel LaJeunesse of Montpelier. Cummings has long spoken out on fiscal responsibility, lowering education spending, and meeting housing needs. Perchlik is known for environmental activism and the green economy. Watson is also known for her environmentalism as well as her support for bills on animal cruelty and data center regulation.
More on each candidate in alphabetical order by last name:
Ann Cummings
A native of Massachusetts, Democratic incumbent Sen. Ann Cummings of Montpelier is the dean of the senate. The dean is the longest running office holder in the senate. A former mayor of Montpelier, Cummings has been a senator since 1997. She is the chair of the Senate Committee on Finance and sits on the Senate Committee on Health and Welfare. She previously worked as a realtor.
Gabe LaJeunesse
Newcomer Gabriel LaJeunesse, of Montpelier, will run against the three incumbents for one of their state senate seats. LaJeunesse owns the real estate development firm Aacred Development Holdings, LLC, which has been planning a housing development on Isabel Circle in Montpelier for several years. Also, LaJeunesse is a former U.S. Air Force officer who advised the Joint Chiefs of Staff under the presidencies of George W. Bush and Barack Obama, according to his website: gabeforvt.com. He says his priorities are affordable health care and making Vermont more economically viable for working families.
Andrew Perchlik
Colorado native and incumbent Andrew Perchlik, a Democrat from Marshfield, has been in the senate since 2019. A former Peace Corps volunteer, Perchlik has served as director of Vermont’s Clean Energy Fund. Perchlik is a former member of the Marshfield Volunteer Fire Department and a current member of the board of directors of the Vermont Community Loan Fund. Perchlik is the chair of the Senate Committee on Appropriations and he sits on the Senate Committee of Transportation as well as the Government Accountability Committee.
Anne Watson
Burlington native and incumbent Senator Anne Watson, a Democrat from Barre City, has been in the Senate since 2023. She sits on the Senate committees of Appropriations and Natural Resources and Energy. She is also the chair of the Senate Sexual Harassment Prevention Panel. Many Montpelier parents know her as a science and math teacher as well as an ultimate frisbee coach at Montpelier High School until she embarked on her political career. Watson is also a former mayor of Montpelier as well as a former city council member.
The Vermont Primary election is scheduled to be held on Tuesday, Aug. 11, at your local polling place. Also on the ballot will be those seeking to be governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, auditor, attorney general, treasurer, and state House representatives. The U.S. House of Representatives has a heated primary race as well, with Republicans Gerald Malloy and Mark Coestar running against each other in hopes of unseating Democratic incumbent Becca Balint in November.
The polling place for Barre City voters is at the Civic Center Auditorium on 20 Auditorium Hill, Barre Town voters go to the Barre Town Middle School and Elementary School at 70 Websterville Road, and Montpelier voters cast their ballots at city hall, 39 Main Street, in Montpelier. All others need to call their town clerks for specific locations.
The candidates will be joining The Bridge for a public in-person forum on Wednesday, July 29 at Montpelier City Hall.
