David as Lieutenant Governor (2017 – 2021)

As Lt. Governor, David presided over the Senate for debate and votes on hundreds of bills and two propositions for constitutional amendment votes. During his time, he consistently encouraged diverse voices and respectful discussion on the floor and in the statehouse. The ability to hear and be heard is an integral part of our democracy.

David’s primary focus as Lt. Governor was bringing diverse voices to Montpelier and traveling the state connecting with constituents in their own communities about issues that are most important to them.

He created The Youth Initiative, which encourages youth voices in Montpelier.  He has said: “We are at a momentous point in history, and I believe youth are instrumental in shaping our future.”

He brought transparency and engagement to the legislative process by writing a monthly newsletter for constituents highlighting issues being debated in Montpelier and in local communities.

David as a State Senator (2013 – 2017)

David served in the Vermont Senate from 2012 to his election as Lieutenant Governor in 2016. He was the vice-chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, bringing his experience both as a legislator and a farmer to discussions about the future of Vermont agriculture.  Below is a summary of some of his accomplishments during these four years as a State Senator.  

Raising Wages & Pay Equity: Watching the rising cost of living, and no comparable increases in pay, David sponsored S.278 in the Senate: an act that focuses on ensuring a livable wage for employees of Vermont State Colleges and the University of Vermont.

In 2013, he worked with other Senators on the passage of Act 31 which targets pay equity, expands protections against discrimination, and assists businesses and employees in striking a work/family balance.  

Cannabis Reform: In 2014, David co-sponsored S.48, an act relating to decriminalization of possession of one ounce or less of cannabis. David was also the lead sponsor of S.306, and S.95, which proposed a taxation and regulatory system for cannabis in Vermont. In 2015, Seven Days acknowledged David’s work on cannabis reform, stating that he “has been championing marijuana reform since he was elected to the legislature nearly two Decades ago.”

Healthcare: Deeply affected by his wife’s battle with Lyme disease, in 2014 David co-sponsored S.112. The Valley News reported this was an Act relating to Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses that proposed to help health professionals pursue a broader range of treatment courses by immunizing them from professional conduct charges.

David also sponsored and worked to pass Act 86 that ensured that firefighters and rescue workers who become ill in the line of their work do not have to fight for compensation for that illness. Firefighters who suffer from lung disease and rescue workers who are exposed to infectious or blood-borne illnesses are protected.

Jobs & the Economy: In 2014, David was named as the Legislator of the Year by Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility (VBSR). VBSR specifically mentioned his work on GMO labeling and his ability to work across the aisle: “Zuckerman, an organic farmer, has worked more than 15 years to bring transparency to Vermont’s food system. The strong endorsement by the Vermont Senate this year on a bill requiring the labeling of genetically engineered food is a testament to his ability to build strong coalitions and pass meaningful legislation.”

Renewable Energy: David worked on developing and expanding renewable energy in Vermont, with the introduction of bills like S.105, which proposed to require regional planning commissions to plan for the siting of renewable electric energy plants. For his work on renewables, David was named the 2013 Legislative Champion by Renewable Energy Vermont.

Education: In the 2013/2014 legislative session, David sponsored S.52 that proposed to extend collective bargaining rights to childcare providers to help improve the quality of childcare and early education in VT.    

Farmer Dave

David as a State Legislator (1997 – 2011)

David served for 14 years (1997-2010) in the Vermont House of Representatives representing the City of Burlington in Chittenden 3-4. He served for six years on the Agriculture Committee with four years as committee chair, six years on the Natural Resources and Energy Committee, and two years on the Ways and Means Committee. 

Throughout his 14 years of service, David focused on many of the issues that were close to his heart: farming and agriculture issues, climate change, marriage equality, death with dignity, GMO labeling, and much more. Below are some highlights:

Raising Wages: David has consistently championed this issue, including introducing bills to increase wages and support workers almost every session. The Burlington Free Press reported David’s passionate critique of the Vermont legislature for voting to increase the minimum wage but rejecting a measure to index the wage to cost of living increases. The Associated Press said, “Rep. David Zuckerman of Burlington, caucus leader, noted, for example, that lawmakers voted to increase the minimum wage, but rejected indexing the wage so it could rise automatically as the cost of living increases.” A few years later, due to the hard work and strong collaboration of allies, the minimum wage in Vermont was indexed to inflation.

Supporting Farmers and the Rural Economy: David understands the importance of farms to our rural economy and Vermont landscape. In 2005, he worked to lower property taxes for landowners who keep their land as a farm and add on-farm processing to produce value-added products. The Rutland Herald reported “Rep. David Zuckerman, P-Burlington, chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, said part of the reason legislators are considering the change to current use law is to take into account the changing face of agriculture in the state. Farmers who add value to basic farm products like milk by turning it into cheese, or apples by making cider are going to be important to the state's rural economy, especially as the price for raw agricultural materials weaken, Zuckerman said.”

In 2008, he was recognized by the founder of Jasper Hill Farms in a letter to the editor in the Burlington Free Press for his work recognizing the value of farms and their businesses saying, “I know I speak for many farmers when I say that David has been a great leader in promotion and passage of bills to keep Vermont’s working landscape profitable for small farmers.”

Marriage Equality: David was an ardent supporter of marriage equality and worked to raise awareness and support for this issue around Vermont. A longtime supporter of LGBTQIA rights, David co-sponsored the bill that codified marriage equality in Vermont. The Valley News highlighted the process it took for David, other key legislators, and the LGBTQIA movement and all of its allies to make this a reality. The Rutland Herald reported on David’s 2004 marriage equality proposal that would “permit same-sex marriage outright, ending the need for future civil unions.”

Single-Payer Health Care: David has sponsored bills in support of a single-payer health care system since 1997, his first term in the Vermont House. In 2003 and 2004, David was part of the movement to call for a universal single-payer healthcare system in Vermont. The Rutland Herald quoted David saying “I don’t think people should be making money off investing and gambling on people being sick.”

David has also raised awareness about the need for Vermont to address the high prescription drug costs for the elderly and low-income people, especially for necessary and preventative medicines, according to the Burlington Free Press.

Transparency and Engagement: The Rutland Daily Herald reported that, rather than legislating solely from Montpelier, as chair of the Agriculture Committee, Zuckerman led the committee to visit agricultural operations around the state to hear which issues were important, particularly about new federal water regulations.

Medical Aid in Dying: In 2005, David also worked across the aisle to lead sponsor H.168, the “Death With Dignity Act”, with both a Republican and a Democrat. According to Seven Days VT, “If politics makes for strange bedfellows, a bill now pending before the Vermont House of Representatives promises to be a veritable orgy of unlikely liaisons.” The bill’s purpose was to allow a mentally competent patient who is expected to die within six months to end his or her life in a humane and dignified manner by prescription medication.  

GMO Labeling: David led the fight for the first in the nation GMO labeling law, which passed in 2014 with tripartisan support. The Associated Press reported on this victory, noting it was the culmination of David’s work over years. “Rep. David Zuckerman, P-Burlington, an organic farmer, has introduced four bills in the Legislature that would require the labeling of genetically engineered foods; hold companies that produce the seed liable for the ill effects of the crops; and ban the use of genetically engineered plants and seeds in Vermont altogether.” David’s dedication to this issue had stretched over his entire career up to this point. 

Cannabis Reform: A constant theme throughout David’s public service has been decriminalization of cannabis and increased access for those who use cannabis for medical reasons. In 2003, David demonstrated his ability to cross the aisle and bring in wide political support for his medical cannabis proposal. The Burlington Free Press described that “Three Republican lawmakers led the floor fight to pass the bill, while the bill's sponsor, Rep. David Zuckerman, P-Burlington, worked the hall to recruit supporters.” In 2002, the Associated Press reported that David sponsored a bill to allow patients with certain disorders to grow cannabis for personal consumption if recommended by a physician. In 2001, David had also led the effort to amend a crime bill that would strengthen the state’s drug laws to legalize cannabis, reported by the Burlington Free Press.

Campaign Finance Reform: In 2001, David doubled down on one of his most consistent issue area focuses: campaign finance reform. David opposed a proposal to limit the state’s public campaign finance program to state House and Senate races. The Vermont Press Bureau reported that Zuckerman argued, "If we believe in public funding we should believe in it for all races, not just some of them, and find the money for it.” 

LGBTQIA Rights: In 1999, years before Vermont moved towards same-sex marriage legalization, David came forward and said he would be willing to sponsor a bill allowing same-sex couples to marry if the “gay and lesbian community wanted the bill considered after the Vermont Supreme Court’s decision” on the issue.

David as a Student and Candidate (Early years - 1996)

In 1996 David succeeded in his second campaign for the Vermont House of Representatives representing the City of Burlington in Chittenden 3-4.. 

David graduated from the University of Vermont in 1995 and was awarded the Keith M. Miser award from UVM, presented to a senior who demonstrates outstanding leadership and service, as announced in the Burlington Free Press.

David first ran for office as a student from the University of Vermont. During the campaign, David openly supported a single-payer healthcare plan for Vermont to ensure that all Vermonters were covered with insurance, as well as the equal marital rights bill. Read David’s interview in the Cynic about his positions.

David’s political career began because he was inspired by then-Representative Bernie Sanders’ to stand up for your values and fight for what is right regardless of the odds. And in 1994, David was honored with Bernie Sanders endorsement in his first race for the Vermont House of Representatives. The Burlington Free Press reported David and Bernie’s collaboration encouraging students to get involved in environmental and social justice issues. In addition to writing in support of Sanders’ position against PACs, the Burlington Free Press published David’s letter to the editor arguing that Sanders was on the side of the “little guy” because he refused contributions from “corporate political action committees.”