A Charlotte pediatrician is running for a seat in the Vermont Senate.
Dr. Elizabeth Hunt, 52, says she will run as a Democrat in the Chittenden-Southeast District, which includes a small slice of Burlington, South Burlington and eight surrounding towns.
Hunt, a partner physician at Timber Lane Pediatrics, said she believes Vermont’s citizen-legislature would benefit from her more than two decades of experience treating Vermont children.
“Having someone at the policy table who understands the realities of our health care system — and the broader economic pressures on families — is essential,” she said in a press release announcing her campaign last week.
The Chittenden-Southeast District is currently served by three Democrats: Thomas Chittenden, Virgina “Ginny” Lyons and Kesha Ram Hinsdale. All are expected to run again. Joanna Grossman, a Burlington community activist and Democratic campaign manager, is also running.
Hunt completed residency at the University of Vermont Medical Center and is an assistant professor at the college of medicine.
In a phone call on Thursday, she described herself as a political moderate who would seek realistic solutions to Vermont’s affordability and demographic challenges. Her campaign website calls for “responsible” housing growth, increased spending on childcare and lower health care costs.
She also supports school-consolidation efforts, she said: “Making changes now instead of kicking the can down the road.”
And Hunt said she would advocate for a stronger primary care system, starting with less regulation and more financial support. “I see so much opportunity to very inexpensively boost the health outcomes across the population,” she said.
Vermont’s primary election is on August 11.
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