Senate committee confirms five gubernatorial appointees, including lived‑experience representative to Vermont State Housing Authority

Senate Committee on Economic Development, Housing & General Affairs members voted to confirm five gubernatorial appointees during a committee meeting, including Kevin Gordon to the Electricians Licensing Board as the fire insurance representative and Brian Plant to the Vermont State Housing Authority.

The confirmations matter because they fill positions that advise or govern state programs affecting housing policy and safety regulation. Committee members emphasized nominees’ professional backgrounds and, in Plant’s case, lived experience with homelessness as a reason for his selection to the housing authority.

Kevin Gordon was presented as the governor’s nominee to serve on the Electricians Licensing Board as the fire‑insurance representative. Committee members said Gordon graduated from Middlebury Union High School and Champlain College and has worked in the insurance industry since the early 1980s, including roles at John Hancock. He was described as holding Vermont and New Hampshire life, health, property and casualty licenses and having experience with electrical‑heating safety, premises life‑safety issues and property valuation; speakers also said he previously served as president of the Professional Insurance Agents of Vermont and has been on the relevant board for about 11 years.

Brian Plant was described by committee members as the governor’s nominee to serve as a commissioner on the Vermont State Housing Authority. Members said Plant previously worked in finance, including at JPMorgan Chase, lost that job during the COVID‑19 pandemic, experienced periods of disability and homelessness, and later entered transitional housing and obtained a Section 8 voucher. Committee members said Plant now lives in Bristol’s Firehouse Apartments and serves locally on housing‑related organizations, including Addison County housing groups and the Bristol Equity Committee; his appointment was characterized as filling a seat intended to represent people with lived experience of homelessness.

Committee members also reported support for Emily Wadhams (reappointment to the Vermont Housing & Conservation Board, described as the board’s vice chair), Lindsey Curley (confirmation as secretary of the Agency of Commerce and Community Development; committee members noted her background as a certified public accountant, prior service as commissioner of the Department of Labor and prior private‑sector roles including ownership of Curley Fuels and Transport), and Jeffrey Boettcher (nomination supported by committee members identified in the meeting record). The committee discussion consisted largely of brief professional summaries and the committee’s recorded affirmative votes.

The meeting record shows committee members registering “yes” on the confirmations during roll‑call prompts. Named affirmative votes captured in the committee exchange included Senators Weeks, Clarkson, Ron Hinsdale and Riggs on various items as the committee progressed through the list of nominees. Committee members indicated they would take the confirmed nominations forward to the floor.