Today, I have the honor of being sworn in to my fifth term as your Governor.
I’m proud to be joined by Governors Shumlin, Douglas, Dean and Kunin today for our Inaugural Governor’s Luncheon.
Great to join Governors Healey (MA), Mills
(ME) McKee (RI), Lamont (CT) and Easter Canadian Premiers at Fenway last night to see a huge Sox win.
Also fun to help get the field ready!
When I first entered the State Senate more than 23 years ago, I knew nothing about politics. But one person, Senator Dick Mazza, immediately took me under his wing. It didn’t matter to him that I was a Republican and he was a Democrat. He became my mentor and has not left my side since. That’s why, it is such an honor that he asked to be by my side today as I announce I’m running for reelection.
History in Vermont ☀️🌑
Thanks to everyone who joined us for this once in a generation event. Safe travels home. Be smart, be kind, and stay an extra day or two if you can!
The roads around my house were completely impassable yesterday. Grateful for the VAST snowmobile trail network, which I was able to hike through to get to an open road and on to our emergency response center.
A scene from election night as we began receiving results.
First of all, I want to thank the people of Vermont for their faith in me.
On Tuesday, Vermonters spoke loudly and clearly.
They want their leaders to focus on the economy, affordability and protecting the vulnerable.
They want centrist moderation and balance.
They want us to be able to debate the issues with civility, seek consensus where possible, compromise when necessary, and agree to disagree when no compromise can be found.
They want a steady, balanced government with less partisanship because that’s what gives them the best results.
I believe the majority of Vermonters when it comes down to the problems they want to be solved, don’t really care about the labels.
They just want results.
They want us to put our work ahead of politics.
I think that’s where most Vermonters and Americans really are. They’re in the middle.
Unfortunately, the fringe coalitions on the right and left are driving the parties further and further apart and they get the most attention.
They’d rather focus on the issues that divide us rather than those that unite us.
We’ve got to stop this never-ending cycle in order to move our state and country forward.
We need to view each other as people first.
We need to judge people by their decency, their kindness, their generosity - not labels.
Because I believe, though we may not agree on every issue, the vast majority of people are good.
They want to make a difference in their communities. They want to make things better for their kids, family, and friends.
And as elected officials, we need to make the people we serve our priority.
It’s up to us to treat each other with respect and dignity, live up to the responsibility we’ve been given, and remember that our children are watching and some of them want to be just like us!
From the bottom of my heart, thank you, Vermont, for the faith you have once again placed in me.
I’ll work every single day to get the results you deserve, by listening, learning, and leading - and always putting people before politics.
Vermont has been a leader throughout this pandemic, and today, we're the first state to vaccinate 80% of its eligible population. Effective immediately, I'm lifting all remaining COVID restrictions. Our work continues, but Vermonters can be proud of what they've done.
There are so many are responsible for this achievement, but at the end of the day, the people who deserve the credit most are everyday Vermonters - those who wake up each morning wanting to do the right thing.
Vermonters met this difficult moment from the start. You have cared for one another, you have followed the science, and you have put others first. You stuck together, even while we had to be physically separated.
We have been united in our commitment, our sense of duty and our care and respect for one another.
The ingenuity, creativity and dedication of all Vermonters - to their friends and families, to their neighbors, and to their communities - has been incredible and we should all be very proud. I know I am.
Through it all, we have shown the nation - and much of the world - how to respond when there is no playbook, and how to do it with civility and respect.
But this is no surprise to me and should be no surprise to anyone who knows anything about what it means to be a Vermonter.
On the first day of the Battle in Gettysburg, General Sedgwick knew enough about our character and courage to send the order” “Put the Vermonters ahead.”
157 years later, we again showed that when the nation is in need of leadership and hope; when America needs to find its path forward to solve problems and help people; when in dark times, our country needs a state to light the way; Vermonters will always step forward and lead the charge.
I thank all of you for what you have done over the last year and a half and the work we will do together to recover stronger than ever before. We have still got a lot of work to do, so let’s keep moving Vermont Forward.
My full remarks from today: https://governor.vermont.gov/governor-scotts-blog/transcript-governor-phil-scott-vermont%E2%80%99s-80-vaccination-milestone
