Although he won't officially announce his candidacy to the Vermont public until this fall, Associate Director of the Rockefeller Center Matthew Dunne is already laying the groundwork for a campaign to replace outgoing representative Bernard Sanders, I-Vt., in the U.S. House. Dunne, who plans to run as a Democrat, cited his concern with the current priorities of national politics as his main reason for running.
"I was urged to run by what I'm seeing in Congress today, which is a body that does not uphold the values that I believe represent Vermonters," Dunne said. "I serve of the appropriations committee in the [State] Senate and the cuts we're receiving from the federal government in important areas like housing and Medicaid are brutal. And to make matters worse they're making these cuts and still running the largest deficit in history."
Dunne suspects that the race will be a contentious one. While no other Democrats have announced their candidacy, Dunne thinks the Republican National Committee will funnel plenty of out-of-state money into the campaign given that Vermont's congressional races are often tight. He believes, however, that his values more closely mirror those of Vermonters than those of Republicans.
"When I hear from Vermonters, I hear that Congress is actually not only neglecting our state but actually doing harm," Dunne said, citing environmental concerns, cuts in housing funding and support for low-income people.
Despite the time commitments of his campaign and responsibilities if elected, Dunne has no plans to resign from his current position at the Rockefeller Center.
"Absolutely I'm going to continue my work," Dunne said. "We were able to initiate a number of programs to support Dartmouth students who want to pursue careers in public service and non-profit corporate management, and I want to continue those."
Dunne does not currently have any Dartmouth students on his campaign or any plans to actively recruit them. He suspects, however, that campus Democrats, especially those involved in Howard Dean's failed presidential run, may join his campaign.
"I try to involve young people in campaigns and in the political process," Dunne said.
Dunne, an alumnus of Hanover High School, has worked in politics ever since his graduation from Brown in 1992. He immediately won a seat on the Vermont state legislature, where he served four two-year terms. He then served as National Director of AmeriCorps*VISTA under the Clinton administration and the Bush administration.
Dunne returned to his family's farm in July 2002 when his mother died and subsequently ran successfully for the Vermont State Senate. Dunne came to Dartmouth as a consultant to the Rockefeller Center in September 2002, and was appointed as the Center's associate director in July 2004. In this role, he has created and raised money for two organizations that help undergraduates pursue careers in non-profit management in the public sector.
