April 2, 2023 Breaking News, Latest News, and Videos

Kesha Ram: Roosevelt Elementary Class President To Vermont Legislator:

Kesha Ram, a Santa Monican by birth and a prominent student leader in Santa Monica is now a Vermont resident, a member of the Vermont Legislature, and a candidate for Lieutenant Governor in Vermont. She is working her way around the State of Vermont, meeting voters, talking to people and, in her own words, “just generally having a good time.”

It’s early days in this campaign. The election isn’t until Aug. 9, 2016. Believing that “now is the time to have conversations,” Ram was in the living room of Jill Michaels home in Strafford Vermont on Sunday, Dec. 13. That weekend she had also been to Woodstock, Vermont for the Wassail Weekend Horse Parade and Craft Market and in Bellows Falls Vermont to visit with local business people and to attend the Windham County Democratic Committee Awards Dinner.

In Michaels’ living room Ram sat with a dozen or so people, an impressive group including State Treasurer Beth Pearce, a DNC superdelegate, local business people, and individual Straffordites such as Ned Coffin, an eminent member of the Strafford community. They were there to meet the candidate and talk issues.

Called a “kitten in lipstick” in her first Vermont campaign eight years ago Ram said the comment may have been sexist and rude but it gave her the advantage of being underestimated. While others were making snide comments she was talking to people.

“I would sit in everyone’s living room and we would talk about their lives, their families, their stories and their problems,” she said. “I felt, win or lose, it was all worth it because Vermonters have great stories and are so welcoming.”

Registering hundreds of new voters in the process Ram won her seat in the Vermont State Legislature. To put this in context, the City of Burlington – where Ram was running – has a population of 42,284. The population of the entire state is 626,562.

It was Ram’s first bid for public office.

“I was graduating from the University of Vermont,” she said, “and I felt my generation needed a voice.”

Now in the 8th year of holding her part time legislative position she talks about her work: helping to achieve statewide recognition for the Abenaki people – who called Vermont home before the United States was a country; making first time home-buying more affordable; and planning a path to a clean energy future for the State.

“Vermont has over 16,000 jobs supported by renewable energy,” she said. “We are moving toward energy independence and have committed to 90 percent renewable energy by 2050. I want to make sure we stay the course.”

Ram is on the campaign trail for the position of Lieutenant Governor of the State. Ram calls the position one of “Connector-in-Chief.”

Her responsibilities would include presiding over the Senate with fairness and impartiality; traveling the State listening to people; and helping people solve problems by connecting them to other people and agencies and businesses.

Win or lose her priorities will remain making early childhood education, higher education, home ownership and high speed broadband accessible to every Vermonter.

“Vermonters can’t afford to pay a Vermont premium on their cost of living while at the same time having a Vermont discount on their wages,” said Ram. “Vermont is a special place to live and people are paying more to live here. Our small villages, our rural resiliency, our natural landscape all give Vermonters a great quality of life and we need to make that work.”

Ram said Vermont has more organic farms per capita than any other State in the Union.

“I understand the real value in sustainable farming,” she said. “My mother was president of Co-Opportunity, a health food cooperative in Santa Monica and my father was the owner of McGinty’s Irish Pub in Santa Monica. I draw on their work.

“My grandmother was a big influence in my life. The Big Blue Bus was our ticket to independence and to go interesting places together. So I understand when Vermont seniors express feelings of isolation because of lack of transportation and it is an issue I want to work on.”

She said her interest in service has been with her all her life.

“When I was in 1st grade I could already read and my teacher had me work with other students who needed help learning to read,” she said. “I gained so much from that experience. By the time I was in the 5th grade at Roosevelt I ran for and won the office of Student Body President.”

Ram’s endorsements for Lieutenant Governor include Vermont officials Former Governor Madeleine Kunin, Former Secretary of State Don Hooper, House Majority Leader Rep. Sarah Copeland-Hanzas (D-Bradford), and House Assistant Majority Leader Rep. Kate Webb (D-Shelburne).

Ram is also endorsed by more than 20 of the sitting State Representatives and a long list of community leaders, and it’s early.

Kesha Ram says, “Vermont is now my home. But my commitment to service, learned in my childhood in Santa Monica, is central to my life and I now give my service in Vermont.”

For more information on her campaign, visit kesharam.com.

RELATED:

Hometown Hero column on Kesha Ram, Santa Monica Mirror, Sept. 24, 2009: smmirror.com/articles/news/Hometown-Hero-Kesha-Ram-Member-Vermont-House-of-Representatives/29160

in News
Related Posts

Santa Monica Approves $9.7M Loan for Affordable Housing Development

April 1, 2023

April 1, 2023

Berkeley Station to serve transition-age youth and low-income families, designed with NEST Toolkit by Brooks + Scarpa The City of...

​​Santa Monica Ocean View Home Hits the Market for $9.65 Million

April 1, 2023

April 1, 2023

4,200 square-foot home features a wine cellar, a bright kitchen with a La Cornue range, and an indoor pizza oven...

Iconic Hotel The Georgian in Santa Monica Set to Reopen on April 3 after Extensive Restoration

April 1, 2023

April 1, 2023

BLVD Hospitality’s Jon Blanchard and Nicolo Rusconi team up with ESI Ventures to bring back to life the 1933 hotel...

Unconventional Art Festival “The Other Art Fair” Returns to Santa Monica This Weekend

March 31, 2023

March 31, 2023

140 independent artists, immersive installations, performances, DJs, and a fully stocked bar await visitors at Barker Hangar The Other Art...

Prosecutor Jonathan Hatami Announces Bid for Los Angeles District Attorney

March 30, 2023

March 30, 2023

Hatami, a prosecutor in the Complex Child Abuse Unit at the Hall of Justice in downtown LA, has been vocal...

Peace Activist and Artist Marissa Rubin to Be Honored With ‘Tree of Gratitude’

March 30, 2023

March 30, 2023

Tree to be planted in memory of Rubin’s life and work on Earth Day in Palisades Park By Keemia Zhang...

Santa Monica’s The Daily Pint Reopens Following Extensive Renovation

March 30, 2023

March 30, 2023

Long-standing pub boasts over 500 whiskeys, rotating selection of craft beers, and improved facilities under new ownership The Daily Pint,...

Over 100 Organizations Unite to Oppose Kroger-Albertsons Merger

March 30, 2023

March 30, 2023

Critics say the proposed merger, which is currently under review by the FTC, would create a monopoly in many areas...

New Neapolitan Pizza Concept, Bar Monette, to Open in Santa Monica on April 7

March 29, 2023

March 29, 2023

Bar Monette to feature tapas and wine bar with a mid-century library-inspired interior, with Neapolitan pizza Neapolitan pizza fans, get...

Survey Finds Support for Streamlined Permitting Process and Minimal Fees for Outdoor Dining

March 29, 2023

March 29, 2023

Survey results reveal positive feedback for outdoor dining setups amid municipal ordinance changes Last week we asked readers for their...

Eight Santa Monica Police Activities League Youth Complete The Los Angeles Marathon

March 29, 2023

March 29, 2023

Setting a new PAL record for the Los Angeles Marathon, Jade Furukawa came in at 4 hours and 50 minutes...

Bystander Injured After Man Jumps from Third Floor of Santa Monica Place in Potential Suicide Attempt

March 29, 2023

March 29, 2023

Monday afternoon incident results in injuries to a woman in her 70s and a man in his 50s. By Sam...

Clippers Center Ivica Zubac Joins Students for Medical Simulation Training

March 29, 2023

March 29, 2023

Students gain hands-on experience with virtual reality tools, CPR training, and surgical equipment at Cedars-Sinai’s Women’s Guild Simulation Center For...

Santa Monica Hosts Active Aging Group Bike Ride for Older Adults

March 28, 2023

March 28, 2023

Event set for Thursday, March 30, to practice safe biking skills and the rules of the road Older adults in...

City Council Approves Land Use Amendments to Implement Housing Element

March 28, 2023

March 28, 2023

Amendments to zoning codes to support affordable housing production and streamline approval process The Santa Monica City Council has taken...