Elections 2020 Initiative: Rebecca Holcombe
Former Secretary of Education, Rebecca Holcombe of Norwich, VT, will be running in the Democratic primaries for Governor of Vermont this August 11, 2020.
VCWA Elections 2020 Initiative
The VCWA, an independent, non-partisan, and apolitical non-profit, is working to raise awareness, education, and voter participation in the upcoming primaries through our 2020 Elections Initiative. The views and opinions expressed are those of the candidate and do not necessarily reflect the VCWA’s position, nor is this initiative an endorsement for any candidate
As an organization we want to encourage citizens of all ages and backgrounds to make their voices heard by voting in the August 11th primaries. As a result, we asked Governor and Lieutenant Governor candidates four interview questions relating to leadership style, platform, and their vision for Vermont. Our objective is to help future voters feel confident and secure in the votes they cast. The questions we selected will provide voters with a well rounded understanding of each candidate.
Former Secretary of Education Rebecca Holcombe
Running for Governor
Rebecca Holcombe
Democrat
How has a failure, or apparent failure, set you up for later success? Do you have a “favorite failure”?
I have many, of course, as does anyone who has worked for years. But one recent failure involved an effort to communicate as Secretary of Education, wherein describing how a policy related to different members of our Vermont student population, I referred to “rural students and students of color” as separate entities. I was rightly called out by a parent of a rural Black student, who pointed out that there are Black students in rural schools. This was the mother of an amazing young student who, when asked by a teacher to write an essay about why George Washington was a good president, wrote an essay pointing out that as a Black student, it was hard to praise a President who held slaves until the end of his life. This led to a series of meaningful exchanges with the parent. It was a powerful reminder that each of our students has multiple identities, and belongs to multiple communities in which they find meaning. Even more importantly, it was a reminder to think intentionally about labels and to be sure to use them only in ways that elevate or expand inclusion. I am still learning and working on this every day, as it is all of our responsibility to do so.
What strategies have you used to respond to diversity and equity challenges in the past? How will you apply these strategies to engage with the Black Lives Matter movement in Vermont?
As a white person who is seeking to lead this state, it will be my responsibility to lead on accountability for action. Most Vermonters want to be fair, but we also know that in policing, in education, in health care, and in environmental impact, our marginalized communities face barriers and biases that push them aside or make it even harder to succeed. I will make sure that this moment isn't just a flash in the pan, but the beginning of a longer effort to build a more just Vermont.
I will use what I have learned from a career in education in my work as your governor. First, we need to identify the racism and bias that shape our communities and commit to rooting it out. The lives of our neighbors depend on it, and for that, we have to see it. As your Secretary of Education, I made sure all our legislative reports provided data on equity in outcomes for our historically marginalized groups.
Second, to remedy bias and racism, we need to acknowledge that it is not enough to treat people equally. If racism causes injustice, then antiracism is what causes justice. We need to hold ourselves accountable for seeing racism and discrimination, then work actively to confront them in all their forms. As your secretary of Education, I asked the Human Rights Commission to provide implicit bias training for all our staff. That was only the start.
Third, we must identify what policies create racism or bias, or serve as barriers to people from marginalized groups in Vermont. To help us at the Agency of Education, we developed equity audit tools, which we used to evaluate proposals coming out of the legislature in terms of their impact on marginalized groups in Vermont. Before a bill became a law, we wanted to make sure we knew how it might affect equity.
But most importantly, those of us who seek to be your leaders must be accountable for identifying and creating space for members of marginalized communities, including Black and Brown Vermonters, to be at the table, to be helping design new policies from the start in ways that undo racism and bias, and proactively protect and ensure the freedom of all members of our marginalized communities to enjoy the same life, liberty and happiness we all desire.
As Secretary of Education, I leaned heavily on the advice of those most likely affected by the decision I made, and whenever I could, to the best of my ability, I privileged equity first. I could not have issued good guidance protecting transgender students, or guidance on how to protect the right of undocumented students to education, or guidance on how to administer federal funds in ways that helped, rather than harmed, marginalized groups without your help.
These are equity practices that will be at the core of my leadership. As your Governor, I don’t promise that I will have all the answers, but I do promise that a commitment to equity will be at the core of my work.
In the last five years, what new belief, behavior, or habit has most improved your life? How will you apply this to strengthen your vision as the Lieutenant Governor or Governor of Vermont?
We have very hard challenges before us now, and we need hard-earned solutions to make our lives better. In the last few years, I have learned that at a moment in which we face a health crisis, and economic inequality and opportunity crisis, an environmental crisis, and a social justice crisis, there are two behaviors that help me hold true to my values while trying to make a difference.
The first is to lean into controversy-- when people criticize, go to them in person and hear them out, no matter how scary it feels. At the Agency of Education, I made a point of meeting in person with boards, even when they were upset, and I frequently traveled alone, so as to not be sheltered by a phalanx of aides. I found people wanted to be heard, and when I came without a lot of staff, we were able to de-escalate and get to their true concerns.
Second, I have worked hard to be less afraid of making mistakes. Racism, for example, is something white people will be unlearning for the rest of our lives. I can’t let the fear
of making a mistake keep me from engaging in the conversations that need to be had to get better. And I have worked hard to take feedback and use it to get better!
VCWA’s motto is, "Bringing Vermont to the world and the world to Vermont". What do you believe Vermont’s primary role is in engaging in an interconnected world? What can Vermont contribute to the world that other states or countries cannot?
I spent much of my childhood overseas, in Afghanistan, Pakistan, the Fiji Islands, Sudan, Spain, and China. This enabled me to see common challenges in different contexts and also taught me a deep appreciation for my chosen home of Vermont.
First and foremost, we need to make our state a place where people from other places want to come and make their homes. In particular, we see that our population of new Americans is the bright spot in a bleak demographic forecast. Our new Americans are younger and more likely to be working than the average Vermonter, and in recent years, their presence has brought great strength and energy to the state.
We need to make our businesses a place that recognizes and seeks inclusion and diversity because they understand that Vermont businesses will be better positioned to engage with a more diverse United States and with the world when we have Vermonters in leadership with experience and connections in those other contexts.
As a state, with our strong and long commitment to a green, sustainable and just future, we can model how to make the changes on green energy, health care, and strong local food systems that other states need to make as well.