ESTHER CHARLESTIN

MIDDLEBURY — Esther Charlestin a few years ago got a taste of public service as a member of the Middlebury selectboard.

Now she’s seeking to dramatically expand her network of constituents — as governor of the state of Vermont.

Charlestin, 33, confirmed her gubernatorial candidacy at a kickoff event held on Friday, Jan. 5, on the steps of the Vermont Statehouse.

“This is something I only thought was a dream, but now, I’m working on making it a reality,” the Democrat told the Independent during a phone interview on Monday.

Charlestin is the first Democrat to officially announce a run for governor this November. Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger and Rep. Caleb Elder, D-Starksboro, have expressed interest in the race, according to reports by VT Digger.

Incumbent Republican Gov. Phil School is widely expected to run for a fifth consecutive term but has yet to confirm his plans.

Charlestin lives in Middlebury with her husband, Jesse Norford, and her two young children. She runs a company called Conversation Compass LLC, through which she serves as a “facilitator, moderator and consultant to help individuals, companies, organizations, and school districts unlock understanding through compassion, one conversation at a time.”

She’s a first-generation Haitian American who first won a seat on the Middlebury selectboard in 2021, when her last name was Thomas. She was re-elected on Town Meeting Day 2022, and was the top vote-getter.

But Charlestin was unable to serve out her three-year term because she couldn’t find a new housing option in Middlebury after her previous lease expired. She ultimately had to move out of town, though has since returned. Charlestin, who is Black, told the Independent at the time that she’d received no call-backs from some prospective Middlebury landlords and home sellers, even though she’d met the income requirements. She was concerned about possible housing discrimination.

Formerly a residence director at Middlebury College, Charlestin was named the first Dean of Climate and Culture at Middlebury Union Middle School in 2022. She left that job a year later after being the target of racial slanders by a few students, and said she’d hoped for more support from Addison Central School District administrators.

Many people rallied to her support with comments to the ACSD and letters to the editor and commentary.

Asked what issues she’d likely to stress during her campaign, Charlestin listed Vermont’s dearth of affordable housing, improving the quality of public education, confronting the impacts of climate change, and boosting the state’s dwindling workforce.

“Knowing the floods that happened this summer are going to keep happening, we need to create communities that are climate resistant,” Charlestin said.

She said she’ll reveal, later on during her campaign, her proposed solutions to the problems she described.

“Right now, I want to introduce myself and let people know who I am, my intentions,” she said.

It was in 2022 that Charlestin first stated her goal to run for Vermont governor. She’s spent the past several months learning about the political process through programs at the Vermont Leadership Institute and Emerge Vermont, a nonprofit with the stated goal of recruiting, training and providing “a powerful network to Democratic women who want to run for office.”

Becca Balint’s successful 2022 run for Vermont’s lone congressional seat further inspired Charlestin to run for governor.

Though not a fan of Donald Trump’s policies, Charlestin said the former president’s successful 2016 run proved that one doesn’t necessarily have to build a vast resume of prior elective positions to justify a run for major statewide office.

“There’s no ‘right way’ to go about this,” she said. “It’s about being a citizen and being willing to engage and bring vision as a part of it.

“I believe there’s no perfect time, or that you have to have certain qualifications to make you ready,” she added.

Charlestin will continue to work full-time as she gets her campaign in order. She promised to release periodic statements on her website, estherforvt.com.

Though she’s new to the statewide election scene, she promised a vigorous campaign.

“I decided to go for it this year. I have the capacity to do it and wanted to be part of the shift that’s happening in Vermont. I believe more people are rising up to engage in helping to make our state better. And I believe, ‘Why not start now?’”

John Flowers is at [email protected].