A 24-year-old South Burlington native is running as a Republican for a seat in the Vermont State Senate.
Javen Sears will seek to represent the Chittenden-Southeast district, which covers a portion of Burlington, South Burlington and eight surrounding towns.
Sears graduated from South Burlington High School in 2020 and coaches track and debate there while attending the University of Vermont as a business major. In a phone interview, Sears said he decided to seek elected office because he believes more young people need to get involved in politics.
He said the vast majority of his childhood friends have left Vermont and many of his UVM classmates plan to do so after graduation. A big reason, he said, is that they don’t believe they will have opportunities to succeed and raise families here.
“It’s about damn time we do something about that,” he said.
He says he’s running to “bring common sense back” to Montpelier and vowed to push policies that support economic growth and reduce taxes. He also called for expanding school choice.
The Chittenden-Southeast District is currently served by three Democrats: Thomas Chittenden, Virgina “Ginny” Lyons and Kesha Ram Hinsdale. Chittenden and Ram Hinsdale have said publicly that they plan to run again. Lyons told Seven Days on Tuesday that she will, too.
Joanna Grossman, a Burlington community activist and Democratic campaign manager, and Elizabeth Hunt, a pediatrician from Charlotte, are also running.
Sears will officially launch his campaign Tuesday evening at the Vermont National Country Club.
Vermont’s primary election is on August 11.
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