Paul Lefebvre (Vermont politician)

Paul D. Lefebvre (born January 26, 1945) is an American journalist and politician who served as a member of the Vermont House of Representatives from the Essex-Caladonia-Orleans district as an independent from 2015 to 2023. He previously served as a Republican in the legislature, but left during the 2020 election citing the "polarizing times".

Paul Lefebvre
Member of the Vermont House of Representatives
from the Essex-Caladonia-Orleans district
In office
2015–2023
Preceded byBill Johnson
Personal details
Born (1945-01-26) January 26, 1945
Newport, Vermont, U.S.
Political partyRepublican (before 2020)
Independent (after 2020)
EducationSpringfield College (BA)
Arizona State University (MA)

Early life and education

Paul D. Lefebvre was born in Newport, Vermont, on January 26, 1945, to Theodore Lefebvre. During his education at Brighton High School before his graduation in 1962, he served on the student council, as class president in the 10th and 12th grades, and as a delegate to Boys/Girls State in 1962.[1][2][3][4][5] He graduated from Springfield College, during which he studied abroad in Europe, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1967, and from Arizona State University with a master's degree in European history.[6][7][4] He has worked for The Chronicle since 1978.[8]

Vermont House of Representatives

Bill Johnson, a member of the Vermont House of Representatives for seventeen years, retired during the 2014 election. Lefebvre ran for the Republican nomination after Johnson announcement as he believed that Johnson was "unbeatable as he was highly respected in all the towns he served".[9] He defeated Kenn Stransky and Maurice G. Connary in the Republican primary and faced no opposition in the 2014 and 2016 elections.[10][11][12][13] He defeated Democratic nominee Martha W. Allen in the 2018 election.[14][15] He ran for reelection in the 2020 election as an independent candidate stating that he would "rather be an independent with Republican leanings" due to the "polarizing times" and defeated Allen.[16][17][18]

He serves on the Joint Energy committee, and as vice-chair of the Natural Resources, Fish, and Wildlife committee.[4] Lefebvre endorsed Phil Scott during the 2018 gubernatorial election and Scott Milne during the 2020 lieutenant gubernatorial election.[19][20] He voted in favor of legislation to increase the minimum wage in 2020, but later voted to sustain Scott's veto of the legislation.[21]

Electoral history
2014 Vermont House of Representatives Essex-Caladonia-Orleans district Republican primary[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Paul Lefebvre 271 62.01%
Republican Kenn Stransky 124 28.38%
Republican Maurice G. Connary 42 9.61%
Total votes 437 100.00%
Blank and spoiled 22
2014 Vermont House of Representatives Essex-Caladonia-Orleans district election[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Paul Lefebvre 927 96.26%
Independent Write-ins 36 3.74%
Total votes 963 100.00%
Blank and spoiled 155
2016 Vermont House of Representatives Essex-Caladonia-Orleans district Republican primary[12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Paul Lefebvre (incumbent) 289 98.30%
Republican Write-ins 5 1.70%
Total votes 294 100.00%
Blank and spoiled 72
2016 Vermont House of Representatives Essex-Caladonia-Orleans district election[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Paul Lefebvre (incumbent) 1,590 98.03%
Independent Write-ins 32 1.97%
Total votes 1,622 100.00%
Blank and spoiled 309
2018 Vermont House of Representatives Essex-Caladonia-Orleans district Republican primary[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Paul Lefebvre (incumbent) 239 95.60%
Republican Write-ins 11 4.40%
Total votes 250 100.00%
Blank and spoiled 77
2018 Vermont House of Representatives Essex-Caladonia-Orleans district election[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Paul Lefebvre (incumbent) 827 55.39%
Democratic Martha W. Allen 664 44.47%
Independent Write-ins 2 0.13%
Total votes 1,493 100.00%
Blank and spoiled 38
2020 Vermont House of Representatives Essex-Caladonia-Orleans district election[18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Paul Lefebvre (incumbent) 1,067 52.43%
Democratic Martha W. Allen 958 47.08%
Independent Write-ins 10 0.49%
Total votes 2,035 100.00%
Blank and spoiled 108

References
  1. "Paul Lefebvre, BHS Student Chosen To Attend Boys' State". Essex County Herald. April 13, 1962. p. 3. Archived from the original on December 19, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. "Student Council In Island Pond Elects Officers". The Burlington Free Press. October 15, 1962. p. 3. Archived from the original on December 19, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. "Brighton High Alumni Banquet Held Saturday Night". The Burlington Free Press. June 10, 1963. p. 2. Archived from the original on December 19, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. "Representative Paul Lefebvre". Vermont General Assembly. Archived from the original on December 19, 2021.
  5. "Paul Lefebvre". Vermont Digger. Archived from the original on December 17, 2021.
  6. "Brighton Graduate To Study Abroad". The Burlington Free Press. March 18, 1965. p. 12. Archived from the original on December 19, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. "Island Pond Man Receives Degree, Wins Fellowship". The Burlington Free Press. June 21, 1967. p. 2. Archived from the original on December 19, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. "When Journalists Run for Office". Seven Days. August 6, 2014. Archived from the original on December 19, 2021.
  9. "First chance in years". The Burlington Free Press. August 24, 2017. p. C6. Archived from the original on December 19, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. "2014 State Representative Republican Primary". Secretary of State of Vermont. Archived from the original on December 19, 2021.
  11. "2014 State Representative General Election". Secretary of State of Vermont. Archived from the original on December 19, 2021.
  12. "2016 State Representative Republican Primary". Secretary of State of Vermont. Archived from the original on December 19, 2021.
  13. "2016 State Representative General Election". Secretary of State of Vermont. Archived from the original on December 19, 2021.
  14. "2018 State Representative Republican Primary". Secretary of State of Vermont. Archived from the original on December 20, 2021.
  15. "2018 State Representative General Election". Secretary of State of Vermont. Archived from the original on December 20, 2021.
  16. "Dems and Progs Lose Supermajority in the Vermont House By a Hair". Seven Days. November 4, 2020. Archived from the original on December 19, 2021.
  17. "Candidates". The Chronicle. Archived from the original on December 19, 2021.
  18. "2020 State Representative General Election". Secretary of State of Vermont. Archived from the original on December 19, 2021.
  19. "Republican leaders endorse Gov. Phil Scott". Vermont Digger. August 7, 2018. Archived from the original on December 19, 2021.
  20. "Scott Milne announces endorsements from Republican legislators". Vermont Digger. July 23, 2020. Archived from the original on December 19, 2021.
  21. "Final Reading: Democrats cinch minimum wage veto override". Vermont Digger. February 26, 2020. Archived from the original on December 19, 2021.
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