Sue Minter
{{Short description|American politician}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2016}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name = Sue Minter
|image = Sue Minter in september 2016.png
|office = Secretary of the Vermont Agency of Transportation
|governor = Peter Shumlin
|term_start = January 1, 2015
|term_end = September 11, 2015
|predecessor = Brian Searles
|successor = Chris Cole
|state_house1 = Vermont
|district1 = Washington-Chittenden-1
|term_start1 = January 5, 2005
|term_end1 = January 5, 2011
|predecessor1 = Val Vincent
|successor1 = Rebecca Ellis
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1961|1|23}}
|birth_place = {{nowrap|Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, U.S.}}
|death_date =
|death_place =
|spouse = David Goodman
|children = 2
|party = Democratic
|education = Harvard University (BA)
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MUP)
}}
Sue M. Minter (born January 23, 1961) is an American politician from the state of Vermont. She served in the Vermont House of Representatives from 2005 to 2011, led Vermont's recovery efforts after Tropical Storm Irene, and became secretary of the Vermont Agency of Transportation in 2015. Minter was the Democratic Party nominee in the Vermont gubernatorial election of 2016. She lost to the Republican Party nominee Phil Scott.
Early life and career
Minter was born in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, the daughter of Evelyn and Robert Wilson "Bob" Minter, who managed a candy business, Minter's Candies.{{cite web|url=http://www.sueminter.com/meet-sue|title=Meet Sue|date=January 12, 2016|website=sueminter.com}}{{cite web|url=http://articles.philly.com/2010-12-03/news/25291950_1_jelly-beans-candy-factory-memorial-service|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150918102803/http://articles.philly.com/2010-12-03/news/25291950_1_jelly-beans-candy-factory-memorial-service|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 18, 2015|title=Archives - Philly.com|website=The Philadelphia Inquirer}} Her family moved to Providence, Rhode Island, while she was in high school. Minter graduated from Moses Brown School in 1979{{cite web|url=http://www.sevendaysvt.com/vermont/a-girl-in-the-race-sue-minter-weighs-a-run-for-governor/Content?oid=2789976|title='A Girl in the Race'? Sue Minter Weighs a Run for Governor|work=Seven Days|accessdate=September 11, 2015}} and from Harvard University with a concentration in sociology in 1983. She then earned a master's degree in urban planning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She moved to Vermont in 1991 to become a consultant for Conservation Law Foundation.
Political career
=State representative=
Minter ran for the Vermont House of Representatives in 2004, representing the Washington-Chittenden-1 district (Duxbury, Waterbury, and Huntington). She won, and was reelected for four terms.{{cite web|url=http://harvardmagazine.com/2012/09/vermont-strong|title=Sue Minter is Vermont's Irene Recovery Officer - Harvard Magazine|work=Harvard Magazine|accessdate=September 11, 2015}}{{cite web | title=Representative Sue Minter | website=Vermont Legislature | url=http://legislature.vermont.gov/people/single/2010/150 | accessdate=June 5, 2016}} She served on the Transportation and Appropriations committees, in positions which emphasized budgeting over policy-making, and earned a reputation as a "solid" but not "ultra-liberal" Democrat with a good understanding of complex budget issues.{{cite news|last1=Hallenbeck|first1=Terri|title=Sue Minter to Run for Vermont Governor|url=http://www.sevendaysvt.com/OffMessage/archives/2015/09/10/sue-minter-to-run-for-vermont-governor|accessdate=May 21, 2016|work=Seven Days|date=September 10, 2015}}
=Vermont Agency of Transportation=
Peter Shumlin, the Governor of Vermont, appointed Minter as Deputy Secretary of the Vermont Agency of Transportation in January 2011. Following Tropical Storm Irene, Shumlin appointed Neale Lunderville to lead Vermont's recovery efforts, and four months later named Minter to replace him.{{cite web | last=Panebaker | first=Alan | title=Shumlin taps Minter to replace Lunderville for Irene recovery post | website=VTDigger | date=December 29, 2011 | url=https://vtdigger.org/2011/12/29/minter-named-new-irene-recovery-czar/ | accessdate=July 5, 2016}}{{cite web | last=Costa | first=Jennifer | title=Minter replaces Lunderville for Vt Irene recovery efforts | website=WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports- | date=December 29, 2011 | url=http://www.wcax.com/story/16412777/minter-to-oversee-vt-irene-recovery-efforts | accessdate=July 5, 2016}} Minter was praised for her leadership as chief recovery officer. She later served on President Barack Obama's Task Force on Climate Preparedness and Resilience, co-chaired the White House Task Force Subcommittee on Disaster Recovery and Resilience, and led a Vermont team which assisted with Colorado's response to major flooding in 2013.{{cite web | last=Johnson | first=Mark | title=Minter: Timing, creativity keys to economic development | website=VTDigger | date=May 23, 2016 | url=http://vtdigger.org/2016/05/23/minter-timing-creativity-keys-to-economic-development/ | accessdate=June 5, 2016}}
Minter became Secretary of VTrans on January 1, 2015, following the retirement of Brian Searles.{{cite web|url=http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/news/politics/2014/11/18/minter-replaces-searles-secretary-vtrans/19225581/|title=Minter to replace Searles at VTrans|date=November 18, 2014|work=Burlington Free Press|accessdate=September 11, 2015}} In response to an August workplace discrimination lawsuit against VTrans, she boosted employee training in harassment prevention and established an affirmative-action task force.{{cite web | last=Hewitt | first=Elizabeth | title=Former VTrans employees allege workplace discrimination because of their sexuality | website=VTDigger | date=August 3, 2015 | url=http://vtdigger.org/2015/08/03/former-vtrans-employees-allege-workplace-discrimination-because-of-their-sexuality/ | accessdate=June 5, 2016}}
=Candidate for governor=
In September 2015, Minter resigned from her position at VTrans to run for governor in the 2016 gubernatorial election.{{cite web|url=http://vtdigger.org/2015/09/10/sue-minter-joins-the-race-for-governor/|title=Sue Minter joins the race for governor|work=VTDigger|last=Craven|first=Jasper|accessdate=September 11, 2015}} Minter's former House colleagues described her as left-of-center and praised her as a "good Democrat" with a talent for understanding complicated budget issues, but questioned her preparedness for a gubernatorial run. Minter was endorsed by former Vermont Governors Madeleine Kunin, Howard Dean{{cite web | last=Heintz | first=Paul | title=Howard Dean Endorses Sue Minter for Governor | website=Seven Days | date=July 28, 2016 | url=http://www.sevendaysvt.com/OffMessage/archives/2016/07/28/howard-dean-endorses-sue-minter-for-governor | accessdate=July 28, 2016}} and Phil Hoff; former lieutenant governor Doug Racine; and former state representative Jason Lorber;{{cite web|title=Sue Minter: Supporters|url=https://www.sueminter.com/supporters|website=sueminter.com|access-date=May 21, 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160515050055/http://www.sueminter.com/supporters|archive-date=May 15, 2016|df=mdy-all}} along with 52 current legislators and 25 more former legislators, as well as the pro-choice Democratic group EMILY's List.{{cite web | title=EMILY's List Endorses Sue Minter for Governor of Vermont | website=EMILY's List | date=February 29, 2016 | url=http://www.emilyslist.org/news/entry/emilys-list-endorses-sue-minter-for-governor-of-vermont | accessdate=May 21, 2016}} Environmentalist Bill McKibben initially supported her rival Matt Dunne, but switched his support to Minter after Dunne revised his position on wind power.{{cite web | last=Heintz | first=Paul | title=Environmentalist Bill McKibben Dumps Dunne for Minter| website=Seven Days | date=July 31, 2016 | url=http://www.sevendaysvt.com/OffMessage/archives/2016/07/31/environmentalist-mckibben-dumps-dunne-for-minter | accessdate=August 3, 2016}}
Minter proposed job creation efforts involving strategic investments in infrastructure and housing, as well as industry-government collaboration to promote the technology, energy, and agricultural sectors.{{cite news|last1=Minter|first1=Sue|title=Minter: Spread Barre-style success across Vermont|url=http://www.benningtonbanner.com/columnists/ci_29961603/minter-spread-barre-style-success-across-vermont|accessdate=June 3, 2016|work=Bennington Banner|date=May 31, 2016}} Her proposed "Vermont Promise" initiative would have paid for Vermont high school graduates to attend the Community College of Vermont or Vermont Technical College for two years for free, and for half of the current price afterwards.{{cite web | last=Neubauer | first=Kelsey | title=Minter plans to offer free tuition to state colleges | website=VTDigger | date=June 7, 2016 | url=https://vtdigger.org/2016/06/07/minter-plans-to-offer-free-tuition-to-state-colleges/ | accessdate=June 11, 2016}}
Minter believes Vermont's pension fund should divest from coal holdings because they are "bad for our economy and bad for our environment."{{cite web | title=Protecting Our Environment | website=Sue Minter | date=January 12, 2016 | url=http://www.sueminter.com/issues/protecting-our-environment | accessdate=May 21, 2016}} Minter followed her rival Matt Dunne in rejecting campaign contributions from corporations, writing "Whether you are a multimillionaire or a major corporation, you shouldn't be able to buy the governor's office."{{cite web | last=Heintz | first=Paul | title=Facing Pressure From Matt Dunne, Sue Minter Returns Corporate Cash| website=Seven Days | date=May 12, 2016 | url=http://www.sevendaysvt.com/OffMessage/archives/2016/05/12/facing-pressure-from-dunne-minter-returns-corporate-cash | accessdate=May 21, 2016}} After the 2015 Colorado Springs Planned Parenthood shooting, she called for universal background checks on gun sales in Vermont, a position later taken up by her rivals. She also supports a ban on assault weapons.{{cite web | last=Heintz | first=Paul | title=The Gun: How I Bought an AR-15 in a Five Guys Parking Lot | website=Seven Days | date=June 15, 2016 | url=http://www.sevendaysvt.com/vermont/the-gun-how-i-bought-an-ar-15-in-a-five-guys-parking-lot/Content?oid=3421127 | accessdate=June 24, 2016}}{{cite web | last=Craven | first=Jasper | title=Minter takes the lead on gun control in aftermath of Orlando massacre | website=VTDigger | date=June 13, 2016 | url=https://vtdigger.org/2016/06/13/minter-takes-the-lead-on-gun-control-in-aftermath-of-orlando-massacre/ | accessdate=June 24, 2016}}
On August 9, Minter won the Democratic Party nomination for governor, defeating Dunne and Peter Galbraith in the primary election. She faced Republican Phil Scott, the Lieutenant Governor of Vermont, in the November general election.{{cite web | last=Johnson | first=Mark | last2=Hewitt | first2=Elizabeth | last3=Faher | first3=Mike | title=Minter cruises to Democratic nomination for governor | website=VTDigger | date=August 9, 2016 | url=http://vtdigger.org/2016/08/09/minter-cruises-democratic-nomination-governor/ | accessdate=August 10, 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/news/politics/2016/08/09/sue-minter-wins-democratic-nomination-governor/88292776/|title=Sue Minter wins Democratic nomination for governor|first=Jess|last=Aloe|work=Burlington Free Press|date=August 9, 2016|accessdate=August 10, 2016}} Minter lost to Scott, 52% to 44%.{{cite web|url=http://www.stowetoday.com/waterbury_record/news/local_news/sue-minter-gracious-in-defeat/article_5a306a6e-a69f-11e6-8a88-dbc6069cb767.html|title=Sue Minter gracious in defeat|first=Caleigh|last=Cross |work=Waterbury Record|date=November 9, 2016|accessdate=November 9, 2016}}
Post-political career
In September 2017, Minter became the president and chief executive officer of Special Olympics Vermont.{{cite web|url=https://www.sevendaysvt.com/OffMessage/archives/2017/09/28/sue-minter-named-president-and-ceo-of-special-olympics-vermont|title=Sue Minter Named President and CEO of Special Olympics Vermont|first=Sasha|last=Goldstein|website=sevendaysvt.com}} She resigned from the job in September 2018.{{cite web |title=Special Olympics Vermont CEO Resigns After A Year |url=http://www.wamc.org/post/special-olympics-vermont-ceo-resigns-after-year |website=WAMC |publisher=Associated Press}} In December 2018, Minter became executive director of Capstone Community Action, a community action agency in Vermont that works to meet basic needs, advocate for economic justice and lift low-income people out of poverty.{{Cite web|url=https://www.timesargus.com/news/local/former-gubernatorial-candidate-to-lead-capstone/article_fa2b4d38-fe5f-5e53-b774-3d179926315f.html|title=Former gubernatorial candidate to lead Capstone|last=Writer|first=David Delcore Staff|website=Times Argus|language=en|access-date=2019-06-27}} In November 2024, Minter announced she would be stepping down from her position at Capstone Community Action at the end of 2024.{{Cite web|title=Minter Steps Down from Capstone Community Action after Six Successful Years; Two long-standing leaders to take the helm |url=https://capstonevt.org/blog/press-release-minter-steps-down-from-capstone-community-action-after-six-successful-years|access-date=2025-04-14}}
Personal life
Minter lives in Waterbury, Vermont, with her husband David Goodman (brother of Amy Goodman, a journalist for Democracy Now!).{{cite web|url=http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20150911/NEWS03/709119907|title=Minter resigns, announces campaign|work=rutlandherald.com|accessdate=September 14, 2015}} They have two children.{{cite web|url=http://www.wptz.com/news/sue-minter-to-enter-governors-race/35197598|title=Transportation Secretary Sue Minter to resign to run for governor|author=Stewart Ledbetter|date=September 13, 2015|work=WPTZ|accessdate=September 14, 2015}}
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20161026081020/http://www.sueminter.com/ Official 2016 campaign website] (Archived)
{{CongLinks|votesmart=51198}}
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{{s-bef|before=Peter Shumlin}}
{{s-ttl|title=Democratic nominee for Governor of Vermont|years=2016}}
{{s-aft|after=Christine Hallquist}}
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{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Minter, Sue}}
Category:Harvard University alumni
Category:MIT School of Architecture and Planning alumni
Category:Democratic Party members of the Vermont House of Representatives
Category:21st-century members of the Vermont General Assembly
Category:People from Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania
Category:People from Waterbury, Vermont
Category:State cabinet secretaries of Vermont
Category:Moses Brown School alumni
Category:Women state legislators in Vermont