Matt Dunne

Office Seeking: Governor, Vermont

Position Held: Private Sector

Progressive Credentials:

• Encouraged environmentally-friendly practices by holding polluters accountable and re-developing industrial land for commercial development

• Established hands-on outreach efforts to aid those in poverty through his leadership in VISTA

• Advocated a Vermont-based health care plan to cover all residents of the state

• Pushed for a fairer system of taxation to more equally share the burden

Primary Election Opponents: Deborah Markowitz, Susan Bartlett, Doug Racine, Peter Shumlin

Primary Election Date: September 14, 2010

Primary Election Results: TBD

General Election Opponents: Brian Dubie, Trav Fryer, Dennis Steele

General Election Date: November 2, 2010

General Election Result: TBD

Why we like him: Matt Dunne has been a strong advocate for comprehensive health care reform including a public option and has spoken in support of clean, renewable energy jobs as a way of increasing employment. We also appreciate his efforts to improve the economy by supporting small businesses across Vermont.

Candidate Quote: "In the history of our nation, small states have often been the catalysts for great transformation, and Vermont has never been shy about leading the charge. We were the first state to abolish slavery, the first to bring civil rights to gays and lesbians, and the first to cover healthcare for all children. Today, Vermont can once again lead the nation by developing the first universal healthcare system, by providing high speed Internet access to every corner of the state, and by creating a template for government transparency that others will follow."

Candidate website: http://www.mattdunne.com/


First elected to Vermont's legislature by his community at the age of 22 after graduating from Brown University with a degree in Public Policy, Matt focused on progressive economic development issues and engaged entrepreneurs and undergraduates in identifying new ways to create jobs. At age 30, Matt was appointed by President Clinton to run and transform AmeriCorps*VISTA, a 6,000 employee public service program nearly the size of Vermont's state government. Returning home, Matt won a seat in the Vermont State Senate and served for two terms. More recently, Matt took his values and management experience to Google, where he built the company's first community affairs program and helped to develop local philanthropic and broadband initiatives.

Today, Matt brings his progressive values, experience, and spirit of innovation to his campaign for Governor. His goals include piloting the first truly universal healthcare system in the United States to cover all and cut costs, bringing broadband-speed internet to all Vermonters to create jobs, creating renewable energy opportunities to reduce pollution and increase economic opportunity, and investing in next generation sustainable agriculture. Matt is also committed to transforming Vermont state government into a model for government efficiency, citizen participation and transparency.

Matt lives with his wife Sarah Stewart Taylor and their two boys Judson and Abraham in Matt's childhood home in Hartland, Vermont.

Race Type: Democratic Challenge