In a move that will create further electoral intrigue in the state’s most populous county, Chittenden County Sen. Diane Snelling, a Republican, has resigned from the Vermont Senate in order to take a new role as new chairwoman of the Natural Resources Board.
Democratic Gov. Peter Shumlin announced Snelling’s appointment on Tuesday. The Natural Resources Board is a nine-member panel that administers Vermont’s land-use law, called Act 250. Snelling, a Republican, says she doesn’t have any immediate plans for major changes at the board.
“I think it’s a little early to be thinking about reforms,” Snelling says. “I want to understand where the status of everything as it is now, and talk with the people who are working there and find out what changes might be necessary.”
Shumlin appointed former Republican lawmaker Helen Riehle to fill out the remainder of Snelling’s term. Riehle, however, says she doesn’t plan to seek reelection in November. And that means that two of the county’s six seats will be up for grabs in 2016, since Chittenden Sen. David Zuckerman is giving up his seat to run for lieutenant governor.
In a news release announcing the appointments, Shumlin said Snelling's 15 years in the Senate, which includes several terms as a member of the Senate Committee on Natural Resources, will serve her well in the new job.
“Her deep policy knowledge of Act 250 as well as her well-deserved reputation for being thoughtful and non-partisan make her an ideal candidate for this position,” Shumlin said in a statement.
Snelling replaces Jon Groveman, who left the position earlier this year to take a job as head of water policy at the Vermont Natural Resources Council.
Riehle previously served for five terms in the Vermont House and four terms in the Senate, and currently is chairwoman of the South Burlington City Council.
A University of Vermont graduate, Riehle served in the Vermont Legislature for almost two decades – 10 years in the House and eight years in the Senate – representing Chittenden County. She currently serves as Chair of the South Burlington City Council.
