David Zuckerman (politician)

David Zuckerman is a farmer and a Progressive member of the Vermont House of Representatives, representing Chittenden-3-4 district. He grew up in Brookline, Massachusetts where he attended Brookline High School, and then attended the University of Vermont.

Legislative career

Zuckerman ran for the Vermont House in 1994 while still enrolled in college, losing by 59 votes. He ran again two years later and become the fourth Progressive Party member to serve in the Vermont State House, a seat that he held through 2010.^[1]

Prior to serving in the House, he served on the Burlington Electric Commission. While in the House he served for 6 years on the Natural Resources and Energy Committee as well as 6 years on the Agriculture Committee, including 4 as the Chairperson. He finished his time in the House of Representatives by serving on the Ways and Means Committee. In 2005, Zuckerman considered running for the sole Vermont seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in the 2006 U.S. House election, that was being vacated by Independent Rep. (now Senator) Bernie Sanders, eventually deciding not to run in order to continue serving as Agriculture Chair in the Vermont House of Representatives.

Zuckerman ran for Vermont State Senate in 2012 and won as a Progressive/Democrat.^[2][3]

In his time in the General Assembly, Sen. Zuckerman has been involved in the passage of Vermont's civil union and marriage equality laws, workers' rights legislation, increasing the minimum wage, sustainable (economic and environmental) agricultural policy, marijuana policy reform, election law reform, many renewable energy initiatives, progressive taxation policy as well as universal healthcare.

In January 2014, Sen. Zuckerman introduced legislation that would allow for recreational sale and use of marijuana. If passed it would allow for possession up to 2 ounces of cannabis, and the cultivation of up to 3 plants for anyone that is 21 and over. It would also have the penalty for under-aged consumption of marijuana be the same as the current penalty± for under-aged drinking.

Agriculture

Since 1999 Zuckerman and his wife Rachel Nevitt built a successful organic farm at Burlington's Intervale, a network of a dozen farms located in and serving the city. Zuckerman served on the American Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee and, from 2005-2009, chaired of the House Agriculture Committee. He is also a member the Vermont Farm Bureau and The Northeast Organic Farming Association chapter in Vermont.

In 2009 Zuckerman and Nevitt moved their farm to 150 acres (610,000 m²) in Hinesburg where they grow 20 acres (81,000 m²) of vegetables, and raise 1000 chickens. Their produce is almost exclusively sold within Chittenden County. They operate a summer CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) with 275 members, a winter CSA with 125 members, and sell year round at the local Burlington farmers market.

Issues

On April 25, 2006, Zuckerman introduced a resolution for the Vermont legislature to ask the US Congress to impeach President George W. Bush.^[4] The motion failed 87-60 in a roll call vote, April 25, 2007.^[5]

In 2009, Zuckerman sponsored a same-sex marriage bill which was eventually passed after the house overrode the veto of Gov. Jim Douglas by the necessary 2/3 majority.

Sen. Zuckerman has also been a leader on the following issues; renewable energy, affordable housing, livable wages, instant run-off voting (and other election reform measures), GMO legislation, universal healthcare, progressive taxation and end of life choices.

References

External links

• VT Progressive Party