Lt. Gov.-elect John Rodgers names Elizabeth Brown as chief of staff

November 15, 2024  |  By Lisa Scagliotti 

Elizabeth Brown. Courtesy photo

Looking ahead to taking office in January, Lieutenant Gov.-elect John Rodgers this week announced his choice of Elizabeth Brown of Waterbury to be his chief of staff. 

The Glover Republican defeated Lt. Gov. David Zuckerman, P/D, in the Nov. 5 election, although neither candidate received more than 50% of the vote. That means the state legislature will formally vote to decide the winner of the race. The close margin allows Zuckerman to request a recount, but earlier this week he said he would not challenge the outcome of the vote.

According to the Vermont Secretary of State’s reported results, Rodgers won 46.09% of the vote to Zuckerman’s 44.48% with 5,978 votes separating the two.  

Zuckerman whose full-time occupation is running Full Moon Farm in Hinesburg, was running for re-election. He was first elected to the office in 2016 and in 2020 unsuccessfully challenged Gov. Phil Scott in the gubernatorial race. He then ran again in 2022 for the second-highest office and that term ends in January. Zuckerman also previously served in the Vermont House and Senate. 

Rodgers also served in the legislature, previously as a Democrat representing the Orleans Senate district. In this year’s campaign for lieutenant governor, Rodgers cast himself as a moderate and switched to the GOP label with a message of looking to work to bring down Vermont’s cost of living. He earned endorsements from former Vermont governors Republican Jim Douglas and Democrat Peter Shumlin. 

As he prepares to take office in January, Rodgers this week announced Brown as his chief of staff appointment. Brown ran for the Vermont House in the Democratic primary in August, coming in third in the two-seat race behind incumbent Reps. Tom Stevens and Theresa Wood. The two Waterbury Democrats went on to win re-election to their House seats last week. 

“Elizabeth has demonstrated a strong commitment of service to Vermont and Vermonters,” Rodgers said in his announcement, reported in Vermont Business Magazine. “A gifted team leader and trusted administrator, she brings valuable experience from the private sector to her new role, and I’m grateful for her willingness to serve Vermonters alongside me.” 

During the recent campaign, Brown served as Chief of Public Engagement for Rodgers. 

Brown’s career over the past 24 years has been in corporate development and strategy in banking and finance, experience that Rodgers’ announcement highlighted. “She excels in developing and implementing large-scale integrated strategies and supporting top-level executives to grow and optimize their organizations with the ability to plan, execute, and deliver measurable results,” the statement said. 

Brown also represents Waterbury on the Harwood Unified Union School Board. In April she was appointed to a vacant position on the board. Brown has two children in local schools, ages 11 and 16. 

Brown will join Waterbury neighbor Jason Gibbs who also holds a key role in state government administration. Gibbs serves as chief of staff to Gov. Phil Scott.  

Read more in this report from VtDigger that also includes news of Rodgers’ announcement of James Ehlers as a special advisor. Ehlers, a longtime environmental and clean-water activist, was a Democratic primary contender for governor in 2018 and also has run for the state legislature as an Independent.