Press Release: Duval for State Senate campaign announces more than 50 endorsements; most small donors
VTDigger - July 5, 2022
Duval for State Senate Campaign Announces More Than 50 Endorsements; Most Small Donors
Montpelier – Jared Duval, a clean energy non-profit leader and former economic development director for Vermont, has announced a slate of endorsements showing strong support from voters across the Washington County District as early voting begins. The full list of endorsements is available at https://www.jaredduvalvt.com/endorsements
Endorsers include:
· Current elected officials: State Senator Andrew Perchlik, State Representative Kari Dolan (Washington-2, Duxbury, Fayston, Moretown, Waitsfield, and Warren), and Barre City Councilor Teddy Waszazak.
· Former State Senator Scudder Parker
· Democratic candidates for State Representative Ela Chapin (Washington-5, East Montpelier & Middlesex) and Scott Weathers (Stowe)
· Washington district residents from all walks of life, from young adults to parents to retirees; small business owners, employees, & unemployed folks; teachers and students; non-profit and community leaders, from volunteer firefighters to clean energy, housing, and conservation leaders; and many more
Duval also finished the most recent fundraising quarter with the most small donors (under $100) of any Democratic candidate for State Senate in Vermont. His campaign is excited to keep building on this grassroots support from a broad array of Vermonters.
In his endorsement, State Senator Andrew Perchlik of Marshfield said, “Jared has experience developing policy based on science and facts and also in listening to Vermonters. In addition to being smart and understanding good policy, he has what I call a stereotypical Vermonter’s common sense. Jared is skilled at balancing what might, on paper, seem like a perfect policy with common sense and how policy affects Vermonters on the dirt roads and farms of Vermont. And that is going to be very valuable in the Senate.”
Carolyn Wesley of Montpelier, Chief of Staff to the Vermont Senate President Pro Tem, endorsed Duval, saying: "Jared leads with deeply held values and a strong sense of integrity. His love of Vermont's landscape, people, and traditions are what drives him to work so hard for its future. The future he will fight for - just, green, thriving - is the one I want for my daughter."
"I've worked with Jared for several years, helping improve economic conditions for businesses in Vermont's forest economy, and I've witnessed first-hand his ability to bring people together, listen to all sides, and find common ground with respect to policy solutions. We need more of this at all levels of government, which is why I wholeheartedly support Jared Duval for Vermont State Senate," said Christine McGowan of Stowe.
Ela Chapin of East Montpelier is the former Director of the VT Farm and Forest Viability Program. In her endorsement she said, "Jared is one of the most sincere, caring, and understanding people I know. He is incredibly hard working and smart, and can explain most anything in a practical, down-to-earth way, which makes him very effective in his work. Working closely with Jared while he was at the VT Agency of Commerce & Community Development, I watched him work tirelessly to ensure small-scale farm, food, and forestry sector businesses better access to our State's economic development programs. He deeply understands the importance of working lands enterprises to Vermont's rural communities, culture, and natural environment." Chapin is also a candidate in the Democratic primary for the Washington-5 (East Montpelier and Middlesex) House seat.
Andrea Cohen of Montpelier, former Executive Director of Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility, said, "I support Jared because he is a thoughtful, intelligent, and independent thinker. He welcomes a diversity of perspectives and opinions and is respectful to all. Most importantly, he is passionate about supporting those who might not have a voice in the political process. Jared will make a great Senator for the Washington district."
Duval’s career has been committed to building a greener, more equitable economy that boldly responds to the climate crisis and works better for working Vermonters—especially lower- and middle-income families like the one he grew up in. “My main motivation to run comes from wanting to serve working class Vermonters who are struggling, as my parents did when I was growing up, and who deserve policy-makers who will look out for them.” When Duval was young, his father survived multiple heart attacks and weathered bankruptcy and housing insecurity caused by medical debt.
Duval previously served in state government as Economic Development Director at the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development, where he supported working lands and clean energy businesses and workforce development. For the past five years he has served as Executive Director of the Energy Action Network, a statewide non-profit organization that conducts research and analysis on energy, equity, and the economy while supporting a diverse network of members that work to achieve Vermont’s energy and climate commitments. Duval is a member of the Vermont Climate Council and a co-author of Vermont’s Climate Action Plan.
A resident of Washington County since 2014, Duval lives in Montpelier with his wife, Rev. Joan Javier-Duval, and their eight-year-old son. He earned his Master in Public Affairs (MPA) degree from Princeton University (2014), with a concentration in domestic policy. He is also an avid outdoors person who enjoys hiking, fishing, and hunting.
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