The Vermont Legislature has a new sergeant-at-arms.
Members of the House and Senate on Friday narrowly elected Agatha Kessler, deputy director of the state’s Office of Professional Regulation, to the position that includes many ceremonial duties as well as oversight of the Capitol Police Department.
Kessler beat out one other candidate — Mike Ferrant, director of the Statehouse’s Office of Legislative Operations — 84 votes to 82.
The close result drew gasps from around the House chamber when Lt. Gov. David Zuckerman, who oversaw the joint election, announced it. He noted that 84 was the minimum number needed for a candidate to secure a majority of the ballots cast.
In a brief interview after the vote, surrounded by lawmakers coming up to offer their congratulations, Kessler said that she was: “Excited. Ready to work. Honored.”
Kessler was expected to take office Friday. She replaces outgoing Sergeant-at-Arms Janet Miller, who is retiring. Miller has held the position — which also includes overseeing the Legislative page program and Statehouse maintenance — for nine years.
Miller made just under $125,000 a year in the position, which lawmakers vote to fill every two years. Miller told Seven Days this week that her replacement will also oversee major additions to the building’s accessibility, including a new western entryway, larger elevator and wheelchair-accessible ramps.
Kessler lives in Barre and, before working at the professional regulation office, had stints at the Green Mountain Care Board and the Office of Legislative Counsel.
Pitching herself to senators earlier this year, she said she was interested in making changes to the page program to account for steady decrease in paper communication in the building and would consider installing new security features there, too.
Since Friday’s election was contested, lawmakers cast anonymous paper ballots on which they checked a box for either Kessler or Ferrant. Several lawmakers gave speeches to formally nominate each candidate ahead of the vote.
Speaking in favor of Kessler, Rep. Diane Lanpher, D-Vergennes, praised the candidate’s interpersonal skills and said she was a reliable aide to lawmakers and Statehouse employees during her time working in the Capitol previously.
“She exhibits a genuine interest in each person she manages,” Lanpher said. “She is a patient problem solver, an excellent listener and a natural leader.”
Friday’s proceedings also saw a moment of tension immediately after Zuckerman announced the results, when Rep. Laura Sibilia, I-Dover, rose to request a “brief recess” in the proceedings. Sibilia had spoken just minutes before in favor of electing Ferrant.
The chamber broke for the recess and about a dozen lawmakers, including Sibilia, quickly swarmed the podium at the front of the chamber. Several minutes later, the group disbanded. Silibia then rose to ask, “The vote was very close. What is the process for a reconsideration?”
Zuckerman replied that if any lawmaker who voted for Kessler wanted to change their vote, it could prompt a full re-vote.
No member spoke up to do so, though — and Zuckerman gaveled in the result.
