Senate President Pro Tempore Tim Ashe (D/P-Chittenden) presents former senator Bill Doyle with a signed photo Tuesday. Credit: Terri Hallenbeck
For 48 years, Bill Doyle had a seat in the Vermont Senate. On Monday, he sat off to the side as his former colleagues honored him at the start of their first legislative session without him.
Senators officially declared this year’s Town Meeting Day, which takes place March 7, in honor of the longtime lawmaker. The Montpelier Republican is known throughout the state for the annual Town Meeting Day poll he started in 1969.
Bill Doyle listens as senators honor him, while Gov. Phil Scott looks on. Credit: Terri Hallenbeck
Doyle, 90, sat quietly in his wheelchair as several former colleagues spoke glowingly about his commitment to democracy, free buffet food and his constituents. Among the speakers was newly installed Gov. Phil Scott.
Lt. Gov. David Zuckerman, who, at 45, is half Doyle’s age, noted that Doyle had served in the Senate “longer than I have served as a human on this planet.”
“It was like a lesson on civics,” Sen. Jeanette White (D-Windham) said of her time serving with Doyle on the Senate Government Operations Committee.
Gov. Phil Scott congratulates former senator Bill Doyle. Credit: Terri Hallenbeck
Vermonters can thank Doyle for creating Vermont’s open primary election system with no political party enrollment, said former senator Vince Illuzzi. And it is because of Doyle’s insistence on fairness that Vermont legislators have a tradition of allowing minority party members to hold committee chairmanships, he said.
Terri Hallenbeck was a Seven Days staff writer covering politics, the Legislature and state issues from 2014 to 2017.
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One reply on “Senate Declares March 7 ‘Bill Doyle Town Meeting Day’”
Prior to Sen. Illuzzi’s remarks I had not known that Sen. Doyle was responsible for the precedent setting fairness and respect of sitting minority party Senators as Chairs. I have spoken of this great civility and cross partisan respect (in the House and Senate 100% of the time I have served other than under Speaker Walt Freed), that is pervasive throughout Vermont government. How fortunate we are to have this respect for skills in this day and age of such partisan rancor in Washington. Thank you Sen. Doyle for this and so many other acts and words that have shaped Vermont policy, community and politics.
Prior to Sen. Illuzzi’s remarks I had not known that Sen. Doyle was responsible for the precedent setting fairness and respect of sitting minority party Senators as Chairs. I have spoken of this great civility and cross partisan respect (in the House and Senate 100% of the time I have served other than under Speaker Walt Freed), that is pervasive throughout Vermont government. How fortunate we are to have this respect for skills in this day and age of such partisan rancor in Washington. Thank you Sen. Doyle for this and so many other acts and words that have shaped Vermont policy, community and politics.