Like other capital city mayors that came before her, Montpelier’s Anne Watson is looking to move down the street. Late Thursday, the four-year mayor announced her Democratic bid for state Senate.
Watson’s run comes after the announced retirement of Washington County’s 12-year incumbent Sen. Anthony Pollina, P/D-Washington, who has been a fixture in Vermont progressive politics since the 1980s.
At a news conference Friday, Watson said her priorities in the Statehouse would be curbing fossil fuel emissions, expanding health care access and improving affordability for working families. Having been a public school teacher, she said she is in touch with the concerns of young Vermonters and could bring their perspectives to the Legislature.
Two of the Legislature’s most powerful members have roots at Montpelier City Hall, as well. Mary Hooper, D-Montpelier, who chairs the budget-writing House Appropriations Committee, and Sen. Ann Cummings, D-Washington, who helms the tax-writing Senate Finance committee, both served as mayor before making their Statehouse bids.
Should she prevail in her Senate run in November, Watson said Friday that she would step down from her role as mayor.