Joseph Barney, 24, has no prior political experience, but says he brings an important perspective to state government's top race.
"When I look at Vermont politics, I see a lot of wealth and affluence there, and not a good representation of Vermonters," Barney said in an interview. "Not everyone owns a construction business."
His own background is rooted in Franklin County. Raised in a low-income family, Barney said he joined the Vermont Army National Guard after high school, worked as an auto mechanic, and now lives in Swanton, where he is married and has a 3-year-old son.
As a teacher of agricultural mechanics at Missisquoi Valley Union Middle/High School — "diesel, heavy equipment, hydraulics, welding" — Barney is critical of some of the governor's decisions on education, including Scott's insistence on cutting local school spending.