Irene Wrenner

Irene Wrenner was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey. She graduated from Phillipsburg High School. She earned a B.S. in industrial and labor relations from Cornell University in 1986. Her career experience includes working in the fields of communication, human resources, and information technology. She also began her own business. Wrenner served on the Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission and on the Essex Selectboard.[1][2]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I have worked for 21 years to make government more affordable, transparent, and accountable.

I'm known for seeking out voters’ opinions and incorporating their points of view into my policy making and floor votes.

All of the bills I introduced as a Senator came from constituents. None came with a price tag.

I'm a fiscally responsible, common-sense lawmaker who identifies as a Democrat and votes as an Independent.

I was elected 4 times to the Town of Essex Selectboard, serving as clerk, vice chair and chair. During those 12 years, I never missed a meeting.

I asked probing questions, called out inconsistencies, and spoke up for marginalized populations.

During my 29 years as in Essex as a resident, I have spoken up on numerous issues.

I even sang to my Selectboard once, in a Jethro Tull parody that went viral and SevenDays covered.

The public voted 9 times to support the causes I espoused and worked toward on their behalf.

My pushback and leadership against the Merger Tax, for example, saved every property owner, on average and not including inflation, at least $5,500 over 15 years.

I have a business background, having worked in technology, communication and human resources.

I started and ran a small newspaper before the legislative map was redistricted, prompting my first run for State Senate.

I earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Cornell in Industrial & Labor Relations, the study of the workplace.

My husband and I have two grown children.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Affordability is job one. Too many people are leaving the state due to rising tax burdens.

Our health care monopoly is overcharging patients and their insurance companies and that needs to stop.

If the state spent more wisely on large technology projects, we could tax people less and provide more services. More capable oversight is needed.

I am leading that charge. I convinced leadership to alter our committee structure to ensure that Technology was incorporated into standing committees in 2025, rather than be treated as an afterthought.

In the meantime, I haven't hesitated to vote No on bills that are projected to cost taxpayers a fortune and make no common sense, such as the Clean Heat Act and the Renewable Energy Standard.I vote as an Independent (although I run as a Democrat), so that I can authentically carry the voices of my constituents in this "purple" district into the State House, where they haven't always felt heard.I am fiscally responsible and a stickler for proper process, including transparency and accountability.

I raise the bulk of my funds from people who are small-dollar donors, so you won't see me raising mega-bucks like some other senate candidates.

Nor will I be beholden to the dozens of big developers, attorneys, and business owners who have donating gobs of money to my opponent(s) over the years.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Vermont needs common sense laws and legislators who understand and speak up for constituents.

Rural voters are aghast at some bills passed in recent years, such as Act 181, which I voted down.

I understand their frustrations and want to continue to fight for their interests.

I work to gather and digest information, then I communicate complex issues in a way that all constituents can grasp.

I've demonstrated critical thinking, insisted that statutes be followed, and called out wasteful spending.

When I learned that child car seat laws were lax, causing serious injury or death, I introduced language to save lives, which is now the law.

I also initiated a bill to make Juneteenth a state holiday, which the Governor signed.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

I don't provide or accept endorsements to / from individuals. My website lists the latest endorsements from organizations.

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Irene Wrenner is an advocate for affordable, transparent, accountable government. She’s known for seeking out voters’ opinions and incorporating their points of view into her policy making and floor votes.

All the senate bills she introduced came from constituents, and none came with a price tag. She is a fiscally conservative, common-sense lawmaker who identifies as a Democrat and votes as an Independent.

Irene was elected 4 times to the Town of Essex Selectboard, serving as clerk, vice chair and chair. During those 12 years, she never missed a meeting. She asked probing questions, called out inconsistencies and spoke up for marginalized populations.

This 27-year Essex resident has been a community leader on many issues. The public voted 9 times to support the causes Irene espoused and worked toward on their behalf.

Irene has a business background, having worked in technology, communication and human resources.

She ran a small newspaper before the legislative map was redistricted, prompting her run for State Senate.

Irene has a B.S. from Cornell in Industrial & Labor Relations, the study of the workplace.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Affordability is job one. Too many people are now leaving the state due to rising tax burdens. If we spent more wisely on large technology projects, for example, we could tax people less and provide more services. More capable oversight is needed. I am leading that charge. I have discussed with leadership how we might alter our committee structure to do so. In the meantime, I haven't hesitated to vote No on bills that are projected to cost taxpayers fortune and make no common sense, such as the Clean Heat Act and the Renewable Energy Standard.I vote as an Independent (although I run as a Democrat), so that I can authentically carry the voices of my constituents in this "purple" district into the State House, where they haven't always felt heard.I am fiscally responsible and a stickler for proper process, including transparency and accountability. I have not taken campaign donations from special interest groups so that lobbyists don't have the foothold with me that they might otherwise.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Vermont needs common sense laws and legislators who understand and speak up for constituents. Voters are aghast at some bills passed this biennium. I understand why and want to continue to fight for their interests.

I work to gather and digest information, then communicate complex issues in a way that all constituents can grasp.

I've demonstrated critical thinking, insisted that statutes be followed, and called out wasteful spending on technology.

When I learned that child car seat laws were lax, causing serious injury or death to infants, I introduced language to save lives. It passed as part of the Miscellaneous Transportation Bill, S.309. I also introduced a bill to make Juneteenth a state holiday and it, too, passed into law.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

Dirt Road Revival: How to Rebuild Rural Politics and Why Our Future Depends On It

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Integrity, Curiosity, Listening, Life experience, Acting boldly on behalf of constituents

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I am "the real deal," as one of my supporters likes to say. I call 'em as I see them. There are no sacred cows.

I seek out my constituents in different contexts and listen deeply to their concerns. Then I bring their voices into the halls of power. The bills I draft come from people in my district. None of them cost anything to implement.

For nearly 20 years I have fought for transparency, accountability, and fairness in taxation and representation. I am a fiscal conservative in a time when everyone seems feel challenged to make ends meet. I research issues deeply, and politely call out misinformation.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

To think critically, ask hard questions, listen well to constituents and return calls so they know they were heard.

What legacy would you like to leave?

Someone who raised the bar for what it means to serve the public. Someone who could talk with anyone, no matter what their political background or their frustration with government. That I had no agenda of my own. That I voted the will of my constituents. That I successfully fought to save the state money by uncovering and shutting down projects which wasted money. That I helped enact measures that would save money and save lives.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

Richard M. Nixon resigning from office on TV. It felt momentous. Also, I had voted for him in our 3rd grade "election". During his administration, our school began serving hot lunches, and he signed laws to conserve the environment.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

Babysitter for $3 per hour. I watched other people's kids for years, after growing up watching over younger siblings. I also helped with my sister's paper route. She had some three-story apartment buildings that made delivering a lot of papers at once fairly easy.

What is your favorite book? Why?

I usually read and love non-fiction, but one of the most haunting books I know is a fictional story introduced to me in high school, called "Address Unknown". Its author Kathrine Kressmann Taylor is a woman my mother had as her professor in college in the 1950s. I have read a lot of books, starting in 3rd grade, about the plight of Jews in World War II, but Taylor's story is the one that sticks with me.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

When I was young, my parents didn't have a lot of money, so I learned the value of a dollar, of hard work, of appreciating "things" that were not material. It was a struggle for me when IBM moved my husband to Vermont. I followed and later, I fell in love with this state.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and state legislature?

Working together to solve the daunting, complex and expensive problems we face, in addition to climate change-related challenges.

What do you perceive to be your state's greatest challenges over the next decade?

Keeping Vermont affordable for all who want to live here.

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?

I have found it helpful to have nearly two decades of local government experience as I serve in the Senate. That said, I appreciate the diversity of thought and opinion in our legislature, resulting from people having a wide variety of upbringings and livelihoods.

Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.

It's very important to be able to work with other legislators!. We should be talking to each other, not demonizing others because of their party or district location. Finding something in common with every other legislator helps broker consensus instead of division and better bills result.

Is there a particular legislator, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

Sally Fox is a former State Senator, who cared deeply about people. She bicycled up to my door 26 years ago. I had recently moved to Vermont and was feeling stuck at home with a small child. She introduced herself and I was smitten. I knew that I had moved to a good place, if a politician cared enough to reach out in that way to me. I knock on doors in her memory now every year, election or no election!

Are you interested in running for a different political office (for example, the U.S. Congress or governor) in the future?

I was wedded to local government until this new district was drawn two years ago. Hard to predict another big move, when I'm focused on learning the ropes here in the State Senate.

A statewide official was making small talk at a 2023 holiday party, “So, what bills are you working on?”

I replied, “Well, you know, dead babies don’t have a lobby. But I’m trying to change VT law to match the manufacturers’ recommendations for child care seat use. Right now, babies are allowed to face forward too soon. Everyone else in the car walks away from a head-on collision but each year babies die or break their backs because our rules don’t protect them.

My friend replied, “that happened to my daughter,” as their eyes welled with tears. “She’s okay now, but we weren’t sure at first if she’d make it after her neck broke in the accident.”

The language in my bill was incorporated into a larger, miscellaneous transportation bill within weeks, and it passed both houses this spring and the Governor signed it!

Should the legislature oversee or grant the use of emergency powers?

The legislature itself could be compromised and unable to do the granting. I would leave the statute as is.

What is the first bill you would introduce if elected?

An exception to the 3-day waiting period for firearm purchases, so that cops or others who already own a gun can purchase another without the wait. A gun shop owner proposed this change and it makes sense to me.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

I do not solicit, award, nor accept personal endorsements.

I also do not accept campaign contributions from special interests.

Endorsements for candidates without a primary (which I am) have yet to be decided by most of the organizations who endorsed me in 2022. The exception: Let's Grow Kids Action Network has endorsed me for 2024 because I voted for Act 76 to address the state’s child care crisis last year.

What committees interest you?

Agriculture, Information Technology, Judiciary

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

Transparency and accountability are frequently sacrificed by those in power, often for expediency's sake. Without them, democracy is compromised in a big way.

Would a state ballot initiative process be good or bad for your state?

I think it would be good for people to have another way to pass legislation. The downside is that most bills sound okay on their face; its only after digging into the issue that committee members find the flaws in some arguments. Also, without the advice of legislative counsel, a bill that breaks existing law might be proposed.

Irene Wrenner did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2022 Candidate Connection survey.