Rep. Sibilia Supports Rep. Priestley for State Senate

Representative Laura Sibilia (Independent, Dover) sent the following letter to area news outlets yesterday. Laura is one of the strongest leaders I’ve ever had the honor of working with in my life. I am proud to have her as a colleague, a mentor, but most importantly, a friend. She shares the following:

(October 15, 2026) To the Editor:

I serve alongside Representative Monique Priestley in the Vermont Legislature and as a co-chair of Vermont’s tripartisan Rural Caucus. I have seen her work ethic and leadership up close, and I strongly support her election to the Vermont Senate.

Monique is the Legislature’s leading expert on AI and data privacy, with expertise sought nationally and internationally. In my twelve years in the House, I have never seen someone so early in their legislative service take on such difficult issues with her courage and effectiveness. She helps colleagues understand those issues and develop the ability to address them.

She has been consistently willing to take on powerful technology companies and to challenge her own party’s leadership on behalf of rural communities.

The Rural Caucus brings legislators together across party lines. Our work requires finding common ground and carrying those shared concerns to the people who control the legislative agenda – the majority party leadership.

In 2024 and 2025, we proposed amendments as Act 181 moved through the House, pressed regional planners, municipal leaders and environmental advocates about public engagement. In 2026, we introduced legislation to slow implementation, held a public meeting to hear directly from Vermonters and organized a sign-on effort calling for repeal of Tier 3 and the Road Rule. Many of us also supported the Burtt Amendment and Representative Higley’s effort to have current-use land counted toward Vermont’s conservation goals.

Monique’s role as a Democrat in the House majority, and a leader of the Rural Caucus, has actually been quite important. Challenging your own party takes courage, especially as a newer legislator. Monique has done that work consistently and with integrity.

Rural communities need practical bipartisan voices who listen, understand what is at stake and work with whoever can help. That is the type of legislator Monique Priestley has been.

I am really proud of Monique, and grateful to have been able to serve with her in the House. She has already done a lot of good for rural Vermonters and for our state. I hope voters in the Orange Senate district will elect her to represent them in the Senate.

Representative Laura Sibilia
Independent, Windham-2
Rural Caucus Co-Chair