Anthony Pollina

Anthony Pollina was born in Ridgewood, New Jersey on February 17, 1952, the son of Salvatore Pollina and Matilda (Corbo) Pollina.{{sfn|"Vermont Marriage Records, 1909-2008, Entry for Anthony Pollina and Deborah Wolf"}}{{sfn|"Vermont Birth Records, 1909-2008 Entry for Maya Wolf-Pollina"}} In 1977, he graduated from Johnson State College with a bachelor's degree in political science and environmental studies.{{sfn|Biographical Sketches, 2015-2016}}{{sfn|"Pollina: Candidate Urges End to Corporate Influence"}} At Johnson State, his professors included Bill Doyle, with whom he later served in the State Senate.

Pollina's career includes working as a teacher and the headmaster for an alternative school.{{sfn|Biographical Sketches, 2015-2016}} In addition, he has taught at Johnson State College, the Community College of Vermont and Vermont College.{{sfn|Biographical Sketches, 2015-2016}}

In addition to serving in the legislature, Pollina is head of the Vermont Democracy Fund.{{sfn|Biographical Sketches, 2015-2016}}

Pollina served as a Senior Policy Advisor for then Congressman Bernie Sanders from 1991 to 1996.{{sfn|Biographical Sketches, 2015-2016}}

He worked as policy director and executive director for the Vermont Public Interest Research Group in the late 1990s and early 2000s.{{sfn|Biographical Sketches, 2015-2016}}

During the 1997 and 1998 sessions of the Vermont Legislature, Pollina advocated for campaign finance legislation that established public funding for statewide political campaigns. In 2002, when his campaign for lieutenant governor failed to qualify for public funding, he filed suit in federal court to overturn the law.

In 2003, Pollina started Equal Time Radio, a political and current events radio show broadcast on Waterbury's WDEV.{{sfn|Biographical Sketches, 2015-2016}} He quit the radio program in 2007 in order to run for governor.

Pollina was a founding board member of the Vermont Milk Company, a farmer owned and operated dairy in Hardwick, Vermont. The company was established in 2006 with a focus on paying farmers a higher than average price for milk and marketing the products locally. Pollina resigned in 2008 to focus on his campaign for governor.

In 1984, Pollina won a Democratic Party primary for Congress against Paul Forlenza and John Tatro. Pollina received 44% of the vote, Forlenza received 24% and Tatro received 27%. Pollina was defeated in the general election by incumbent Republican Jim Jeffords, winning 27% of the vote to Jeffords' 65%."Vermont General Election Results - U.S. Representatives" {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20120215204758/http://vermont-archives.org/govhistory/elect/results3/pdf/Rep10.pdf Vermont State Archives]}}

In 1986 and 1988, Pollina was the Democratic nominee for State Representative from the Washington-1 district. He received 49% and 43%, respectively.{{Cite web |url=https://vtelectionarchive.sec.state.vt.us/candidates/view/Anthony-Pollina |title=VT Elections Database » Candidate Profile |access-date=2019-10-29 |archive-date=2019-10-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191030001029/https://vtelectionarchive.sec.state.vt.us/candidates/view/Anthony-Pollina |url-status=dead }}

{{main|2000 Vermont gubernatorial election}}

In 2000, Pollina ran for Governor of Vermont as a member of the Vermont Progressive Party, receiving 9.5% of the vote in the general election. Pollina ran against incumbent Democrat Howard Dean who received 50.4% of the vote and former State Representative Ruth Dwyer who received 38% of the vote."Vermont General Election Results - Governor" {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20090325191244/http://vermont-archives.org/govhistory/elect/results1/pdf/stoff1gov.pdf Vermont State Archives]}} Due to new campaign financing laws, Pollina became the first candidate in the US to qualify for full public funding of his campaign."Vermont's 'Clean Money' Law Will Finance Underdog's Campaign" [https://www.nytimes.com/2000/06/15/us/vermont-s-clean-money-law-will-finance-underdog-s-campaign.html NY Times]

{{main|2002 Vermont elections#Lieutenant Governor}}

In 2002, Pollina ran as the Progressive Party candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Vermont, receiving 25% of the vote against Republican Brian Dubie and State Senator Peter Shumlin."Vermont General Election Results - Lt. Governor" {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070927011635/http://vermont-archives.org/govhistory/elect/results1/pdf/stoff2ltgov.pdf Vermont State Archives]}}

{{main|2008 Vermont gubernatorial election}}

In 2008, Pollina ran as an Independent candidate for governor, finishing second with 21.8% of the vote against Republican incumbent Jim Douglas, who won with 53.4% of the vote, and Democrat Gaye Symington who received 21.7% of the vote."Election Results" [https://archive.today/20120721055540/http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/99999999/NEWS03/80817001&theme=ELECTION&template=ELECTION Burlington Free Press] The Pollina campaign received unusually strong labor support for an independent candidate, receiving the endorsements of the three largest unions in the state. On September 14, the 10,000 strong Vermont AFL-CIO voted to endorse Pollina; the endorsement came on the heels of the previous endorsements from the Vermont State Employees Association (10,000 members) and the Abenaki Nation (1500 members).{{cite web|url=http://vtindymedia.org/newswire/display/355/index.php |title=Database Connection Error |access-date=2009-04-12 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090818010647/http://vtindymedia.org/newswire/display/355/index.php |archive-date=2009-08-18 }}

On May 15, Pollina received the endorsement of the Vermont-National Education Association{{cite web|url=http://vtindymedia.org/newswire/display/361/index.php |title=Vermont Indymedia: VT-NEA endorses Pollina |access-date=2009-04-12 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080919034004/http://vtindymedia.org/newswire/display/361/index.php |archive-date=2008-09-19 }} and its 11,500 members.{{cite web|url=http://www.vtnea.org/vtnea100.htm |title=Vermont-NEA About Vermont-NEA |access-date=2009-04-12 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090505010916/http://www.vtnea.org/vtnea100.htm |archive-date=2009-05-05 }} The endorsement by the NEA was the first time the union had backed an independent gubernatorial candidate. NEA-Vermont President Angelo Dorta stated that the endorsement of Pollina was partly because Symington "still tends to talk about our schools in terms of cost containment as opposed to investment".{{cite web|url=http://www.vnews.com/election08/windsor.html |title=Valley News Web Extra ~ Election 2008 |access-date=2009-04-12 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717230452/http://www.vnews.com/election08/windsor.html |archive-date=2011-07-17 }}

Pollina also garnered the support of the 3,000-member Gun Owners of Vermont.{{cite web|url=http://www.vnews.com/election08/windsor.html |title=Valley News Web Extra ~ Election 2008 |access-date=2009-04-12 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717230452/http://www.vnews.com/election08/windsor.html |archive-date=2011-07-17 }} Along with the labor support, Pollina also received the endorsements and support of many public officials in the state including U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I); former Governor Philip H. Hoff (D);{{cite web |url=http://www.progressiveparty.org/blog/?p=341 |title=Blog Beginnings |date=8 January 2007 |last=Pollina |first=Sen. Anthony}} Bob Kiss (Progressive), the mayor of Burlington (the state's largest city); Vermont House Agriculture Committee chair David Zuckerman (Progressive); and the Vermont Progressive Party. Several prominent Democratic party activists formed Democrats for Pollina. Some of those involved were former state senators Harvey Carter, Janet Munt, and grassroots organizer Rebecca Moore.{{cite web|url=http://www.politicker.com/vermont/22442/democrats-pollina-outline-opening-efforts |title=Democrats for Pollina outline opening efforts | Politicker.com |access-date=2009-04-12 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091113083828/http://www.politicker.com/vermont/22442/democrats-pollina-outline-opening-efforts |archive-date=2009-11-13 }} Several Vermont Democratic party officials also endorsed Pollina, such as Bristol chair Peter Grant.{{cite web|url=http://www.greenmountaindaily.com/showDiary.do?diaryId%3D2375 |title=Green Mountain Daily:: Democrats for Pollina. Progressives for Galbraith? |access-date=2009-04-12 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081128183524/http://www.greenmountaindaily.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=2375 |archive-date=2008-11-28 }}

In 2010, incumbent State Senator Phil Scott ran for the Republican nomination for lieutenant governor, while incumbents Bill Doyle and Ann Cummings ran for reelection in the three-member, at-large Washington County Senate District. Pollina ran as a Progressive with Democratic support, and won one of the Democratic nominations. In the general election, Doyle and Cummings were reelected, and Pollina won the third seat.{{cite web |url=http://www.progressiveparty.org/organize/state-officeholders |title=State Officeholders |website=Vermont Progressive Party}}{{cite web |url=http://www.progressiveparty.org/media/2010/pollina-will-run-vermont-senate |title=Pollina will run for Vermont Senate |date=9 June 2010 |website=Vermont Progressive Party}}

Democratic primary, August 24, 2010:

• Ann Cummings (D) 5,577 (nominated)
• Anthony Pollina (D) 4,902 (nominated){{cite web |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Vermont_State_Senate_elections,_2010#Washington_District |title=Vermont State Senate elections, 2010: Washington County |date=2010 |website=Ballotpedia.org |publisher= Lucy Burns Institute |location=Madison, WI |access-date=May 20, 2018 |ref={{sfnRef|"Vermont State Senate elections, 2010: Washington County"}}}}
• Donny Osman (D) 3,659 (nominated)
• Kimberly Cheney (D) 3,576
• Laura Moore (D) 2,909

General election, November 2, 2010:

• Ann Cummings (D) 12,213 (elected)
• Bill Doyle (R) 11,971 (elected)
• Anthony Pollina (P/D) 10,689 (elected)
• Donny Osman (D) 10,120
• Ed Larson (R) 7,791
• David Harrington (R) 7,175
• Gaelan Brown (I) 2,270{{sfn|"Vermont State Senate elections, 2010: Washington County"}}

Pollina was reelected in 2012, along with Washington County incumbents Bill Doyle and Ann Cummings, who defeated Republicans Buddy Barnett and Dexter LeFavour, and Independent Jeremy Hansen. Doyle finished first with 25.4% of all votes cast, Cummings placed second with 24.5%, and Pollina finished third with 21.8%.Vermont Secretary of State, 2012 General Election Results, Washington County State Senate District, accessed February 5, 2013

In November 2012, Pollina won the "Lawmaker of the Year" award during his freshman term along with fellow lawmaker Rep. Bill Botzow, D-Bennington, by "Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility". He scored perfectly for the award based on his stance on health care reform, establishing a Genuine Process Indicator, and attempting to overturn the Citizens United court decision.{{cite web |url=http://www.stowetoday.com/waterbury_record/news/article_267c61f2-290b-11e2-824a-0019bb2963f4.html |title=Pollina named lawmaker of year |date=8 November 2012}}

In 2014, Pollina was elected to another term, as Washington County reelected all three incumbent Senators. Incumbent Bill Doyle, a Republican, finished first with 10,918 votes. Democrat Ann Cummings had 10,669. Pollina received 9,923 votes, placing ahead of fourth-place finisher Republican Patricia McDonald, who received 8,488.{{cite news |last= Brown |first= Tom |date= 4 November 2014 |title= Republicans gain two seats in Vermont Senate |url= http://vtdigger.org/2014/11/05/republicans-gain-two-seats-vermont-senate/ |newspaper= VT Digger}}

Pollina was reelected to another term, as was incumbent Democrat Ann Cummings; incumbent Bill Doyle was defeated by Francis Brooks, the former majority leader of the Vermont House of Representatives and former Sergeant at Arms of the Vermont State House.{{cite news |date=December 16, 2016 |title=Vermont Washington State Senate Results |url=https://www.nytimes.com/elections/results/vermont-state-senate-washington |newspaper=New York Times |location=New York, NY}}

• Ann Cummings (D), 17,013, 22.4%
• Anthony Pollina (P/D), 15,212, 20.00%
• Francis Brooks (D), 13,689, 18%
• Bill Doyle (R), 13,350, 17.6%
• Mike Doyle (R), 8,384, 11%
• Josh Fitzhugh (R), 8,233, 10.8%

Pollina was reelected, as was Ann Cummings. With Francis Brooks not running for another term, the third seat was won by Democrat Andrew Perchlik. Pollina, Cummings, and Perchlik defeated Republicans Chris Bradley, Ken Alger, and Dwayne Tucker and independent Barre Wadle.{{cite web |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Vermont_State_Senate_Washington_District |title=Vermont State Senate Washington District |date=November 6, 2018 |website=Ballotpedia.org |publisher=Lucy Burns Institute |location=Middleton, WI |access-date=November 5, 2019}}

• Ann Cummings (D), 16,834, 24.5%
• Anthony Pollina (P/D), 14,547, 21.2%
• Andrew Perchlik (D), 12,614, 18.4%
• Chris Bradley (R), 7,523, 11.0%
• Ken Alger (R), 7,244, 10.6%
• Dwayne Tucker (R), 7,195, 10.5%
• Barry Wadle (I), 2,565, 3.7%
• Other/Write-in, 87, .01%

Pollina, Cummings, and Perchlik were all reelected.{{cite web |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Vermont_State_Senate_Washington_District |title=Vermont State Senate Washington District |date=November 3, 2020 |website=Ballotpedia.org |publisher=Lucy Burns Institute |location=Middleton, WI |access-date=February 24, 2022}}

Democratic Primary:

• Ann Cummings, 8,590, 31.0%
• Andrew Perchlik, 7,643, 27.6%
• Anthony Pollina, 6,558, 23.6%
• Theo Kennedy, 4,812, 17.3%
• Write-ins, 134, 0.5%

General election:

• Ann Cummings (D), 21,159, 25.2%
• Anthony Pollina (P/D), 17,200, 20.5%
• Andrew Perchlik (D), 15,029, 17.9%
• Dwayne Tucker (R), 9,258, 11.0%
• Dawnmarie Tomasi (R), 9,191, 11.0%
• Ken Alger (R), 9,113, 10.9%
• Paul Vallerand (I), 2,678, 3.2%
• Write-ins, 186, 0.2%

Pollina announced he was not running for reelection to his State Senate seat in May 2022, and retired from the Senate upon the end of his term in 2023.{{Cite web |last=Duffort |first=Lola |date=2022-05-05 |title=Anthony Pollina to retire from the Vermont Senate |url=https://vtdigger.org/2022/05/05/anthony-pollina-to-retire-from-the-vermont-senate/ |access-date=2023-06-03 |website=VTDigger |language=en-US}}

He resides in Middlesex, Vermont with his wife Deborah;{{sfn|"Vermont Marriage Records, 1909-2008, Entry for Anthony Pollina and Deborah Wolf"}}{{sfn|Biographical Sketches, 2015-2016}} they are the parents of two daughters, Alessandra and Maya.{{sfn|"Vermont Birth Records, 1909-2008 Entry for Maya Wolf-Pollina"}}{{sfn|"Vermont Birth Records, 1909-2008 Entry for Alessandra Wolf-Pollina"}}

Pollina was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease after first noticing the symptoms during his 2008 campaign for governor.{{cite news |last=Johnson |first=Mark |date=January 16, 2017 |title=Digger Dialogue: Surgery gives Sen. Anthony Pollina new lease on life |url=https://vtdigger.org/2017/01/16/digger-dialogue-surgery-gives-sen-anthony-pollina-new-lease-life/ |newspaper=VT Digger |location=Montpelier, VT |ref={{sfnRef|"Digger Dialogue: Surgery gives Sen. Anthony Pollina new lease on life"}}}} His condition worsened until he underwent surgery following his 2016 reelection.{{sfn|"Digger Dialogue: Surgery gives Sen. Anthony Pollina new lease on life"}} In a media interview, Pollina reported that post-surgery his symptoms had regressed significantly, though he did not know his future prognosis.{{sfn|"Digger Dialogue: Surgery gives Sen. Anthony Pollina new lease on life"}}

{{reflist|30em}}

• {{cite web |url=https://www.ancestry.com |title=Vermont Marriage Records, 1909-2008, Entry for Anthony Pollina and Deborah Wolf |work=Ancestry.com |publisher=Ancestry.com, LLC |location=Provo, UT |access-date=February 21, 2017 |url-access=subscription |ref={{sfnRef|"Vermont Marriage Records, 1909-2008, Entry for Anthony Pollina and Deborah Wolf"}}}}
• {{cite web |url=https://www.ancestry.com |title=Vermont Birth Records, 1909-2008 Entry for Maya Wolf-Pollina |work=Ancestry.com |publisher=Ancestry.com, LLC |location=Provo, UT |access-date=February 21, 2017 |url-access=subscription |ref={{sfnRef|"Vermont Birth Records, 1909-2008 Entry for Maya Wolf-Pollina"}}}}
• {{cite web |url=https://www.ancestry.com |title=Vermont Birth Records, 1909-2008 Entry for Alessandra Wolf-Pollina |work=Ancestry.com |publisher=Ancestry.com, LLC |location=Provo, UT |access-date=February 21, 2017 |url-access=subscription |ref={{sfnRef|"Vermont Birth Records, 1909-2008 Entry for Alessandra Wolf-Pollina"}}}}

• {{cite book |last=Condos |first=James |date=December 1, 2014 |title=Biographical Sketches of Federal and State Officers and Members of the General Assembly of 2015-2016 |url=https://www.sec.state.vt.us/media/645867/Bio-Sketch-Book.pdf |location=Montpelier, VT |publisher=Vermont Secretary of State |page=19 |ref={{sfnRef|Biographical Sketches, 2015-2016}}}}

• {{cite news |last=Page |first=Candace |date=October 13, 2000 |title=Pollina: Candidate Urges End to Corporate Influence |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/200011498/ |newspaper=Burlington Free Press |location=Burlington, VT |page=6 |url-access=subscription |ref={{sfnRef|"Pollina: Candidate Urges End to Corporate Influence"}}}}

{{Portal|Biography}}

• [http://www.anthonypollina.com/ Anthony Pollina for Governor] Official Campaign Website
• [http://www.progressiveparty.org/ VT Progressive Party website]

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Category:1952 births

Category:Johnson State College alumni

Category:Living people

Category:People from Middlesex, Vermont

Category:Vermont Progressive Party politicians

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Category:21st-century members of the Vermont General Assembly

Category:Candidates in the 1984 United States elections

Category:Candidates in the 1986 United States elections

Category:Candidates in the 1988 United States elections

Category:Candidates in the 2000 United States elections

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Category:Candidates in the 2008 United States elections

Category:Hispanic and Latino American state legislators in Vermont

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