Phil Scott

Philip Brian Scott (born August 4, 1958) is an American politician, businessman, and stock car racer who has been the 82nd governor of Vermont since 2017.

Philip B. Scott was born on August 4, 1958, in Barre, Vermont, the son of Marian (Beckley) and Howard Roy Scott (1914–1969).

His father was disabled after being wounded while serving in World War II and later worked as a vehicle permit supervisor for the state highway department.

In 1973, Scott's mother married Robert F. Dubois (1919–1983).

Scott graduated from Barre's Spaulding High School in 1976, and is a 1980 graduate of the University of Vermont, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in industrial education.

After graduating from high school, Scott began working at DuBois Construction, a Middlesex business founded by the brother of his mother's second husband.

After college, Scott owned a motorcycle sales and repair shop in Morrisville, then worked as a construction manager for Morrisville's H. A. Manosh Corporation.

Scott has also been involved in other business ventures, including ownership of a restaurant and a nightclub.

Scott became a co-owner of DuBois Construction in 1986.

He is a past president of the Associated General Contractors of Vermont.

A Republican, Scott was elected to the Vermont Senate in 2000, one of three at-large senators representing the Washington County Senate district.

A member of the Republican Party, he was a representative for the Washington District in the Vermont Senate from 2001 to 2011 and the 81st lieutenant governor from 2011 to 2017.

He was reelected four times, and was in office from 2001 to 2011.

During his Senate career, he was vice chair of the Transportation Committee and chaired the Institutions Committee.

He also was a member of the Natural Resources and Energy Committee.

As chair of the Institutions Committee, Scott redesigned the Vermont State House cafeteria to increase efficiency.

During his time in the Senate, Scott was on several special committees, including the Judicial Nominating Board, the Legislative Advisory Committee on the State House, the Joint Oversight Corrections Committee, and the Legislative Council Committee.

In 2005, he founded the Wheels for Warmth program, which buys used car tires and resells safe ones, with the profits going to heating fuel assistance programs in Vermont.

On November 2, 2010, Scott was elected the 81st lieutenant governor of Vermont, defeating Steve Howard.

He took office on January 6, 2011.

On January 6, 2012, a fire at DuBois Construction caused substantial damage, but the owners rebuilt and continued operations.

After being elected governor, Scott sold his share of DuBois Construction to avoid possible conflicts of interest, since DuBois Construction does business with the State of Vermont.

He sold his 50% share for $2.5 million plus 3% interest, payable over 15 years.

Scott said he opted to finance the sale himself rather than having the company borrow the money to pay him in full in order to preserve the company's bonding capacity.

Critics suggested that Scott's sale of his share in the company over 15 years did not eliminate possible conflicts of interest, but Scott and the attorney who negotiated the sale on his behalf disagreed.

He was reelected in 2012, defeating Cassandra Gekas, and in 2014, defeating Dean Corren.

As lieutenant governor, Scott presided over the Vermont Senate when it was in session.

In addition, he was a member of the committee on committees, the three-member panel that determines Senate committee assignments and appoints committee chairs and vice chairs.

In the event of a tie vote, Scott was tasked with casting a tie-breaking vote.

He also was acting governor when the governor was out of state.

As a state senator and lieutenant governor, Scott was active with a number of community service projects.

In September 2015, Scott maintained high name recognition and favorability among Vermont residents.

Scott was elected governor in the 2016 general election with 53% of the vote.

He was reelected in 2018 with 55.2% of the vote; in 2020 with 68.5%; and in 2022 with 70.9% of the vote and a margin of 46%, the largest of any Vermont gubernatorial election since 1996, and the largest for a Republican since 1950.

Regarded as one of the nation's most popular governors, Scott is considered a moderate and is the only Republican elected to a statewide office in Vermont as of 2024.

He endorsed Nikki Haley for president in the 2024 election.

In October 2018, the state ethics commission issued an advisory opinion that Scott did have a conflict of interest because of his continued connection to the company.

In September 2019, the commission withdrew the opinion, with its executive director saying that the process for receiving the complaint and investigating and issuing the opinion had been flawed.

In February 2022, DuBois executives said they had reached an agreement to sell the company to Barrett Trucking of Burlington.

The sale's terms were not disclosed, including whether Scott would receive a lump sum or installment payments, but DuBois representatives said the company's obligation to Scott would be met.