John Klar
John Klar (Independent, Republican Party) ran for election for Governor of Vermont. He withdrew before the general election on November 3, 2020. He lost in the Republican primary on August 11, 2020.
Klar completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. Click here to read the survey answers.
Contents
Biography
John Klar was born in Manchester, Connecticut. He earned an undergraduate degree in June 1986 after studying at the University of Connecticut, Rutgers University, the University of Essex, Manchester Community College, and Central Connecticut University, and he earned a law degree from the University of Connecticut School of Law in June 1989. His professional experience includes working as an attorney and farmer.[1]
Elections
2020
See also: Vermont gubernatorial election, 2020
Vermont gubernatorial election, 2020 (August 11 Republican primary)
Vermont gubernatorial election, 2020 (August 11 Democratic primary)
General election for Governor of Vermont
The following candidates ran in the general election for Governor of Vermont on November 3, 2020.
Candidate |
% |
Votes |
||
| ✔ |
|
Phil Scott (R) |
68.5
|
248,412 |
|
|
David Zuckerman (Vermont Progressive Party / D) |
27.4
|
99,214 | |
|
|
Kevin Hoyt (Independent) |
1.3
|
4,576 | |
|
|
Emily Peyton (Truth Matters Party) |
1.0
|
3,505 | |
|
|
Erynn Whitney (Independent) |
0.5
|
1,777 | |
|
|
Wayne Billado III (Independent) |
0.4
|
1,431 | |
|
|
Michael Devost (Independent) |
0.3
|
1,160 | |
|
|
Charly Dickerson (Independent) |
0.3
|
1,037 | |
| Other/Write-in votes |
0.4
|
1,599 | ||
|
|
Total votes: 362,711 |
Watch the Candidate Conversation for this race!
Democratic primary for Governor of Vermont
David Zuckerman defeated Rebecca Holcombe, Patrick Winburn, and Ralph Corbo in the Democratic primary for Governor of Vermont on August 11, 2020.
Candidate |
% |
Votes |
||
| ✔ |
|
David Zuckerman |
47.6
|
48,150 |
|
|
Rebecca Holcombe |
37.1
|
37,599 | |
|
|
Patrick Winburn |
7.6
|
7,662 | |
|
|
Ralph Corbo |
1.3
|
1,288 | |
| Other/Write-in votes |
6.5
|
6,533 | ||
|
|
Total votes: 101,232 |
Republican primary for Governor of Vermont
Incumbent Phil Scott defeated John Klar, Emily Peyton, Douglas Cavett, and Bernard Peters in the Republican primary for Governor of Vermont on August 11, 2020.
Candidate |
% |
Votes |
||
| ✔ |
|
Phil Scott |
72.7
|
42,275 |
|
|
John Klar |
21.9
|
12,762 | |
|
|
Emily Peyton |
1.7
|
970 | |
|
|
Douglas Cavett |
1.7
|
966 | |
|
|
Bernard Peters |
1.3
|
772 | |
| Other/Write-in votes |
0.7
|
426 | ||
|
|
Total votes: 58,171 |
Vermont Progressive Party primary for Governor of Vermont
David Zuckerman defeated Cris Ericson and Boots Wardinski in the Vermont Progressive Party primary for Governor of Vermont on August 11, 2020.
Candidate |
% |
Votes |
||
| ✔ |
|
David Zuckerman (Write-in) |
32.6
|
273 |
|
|
Cris Ericson |
30.3
|
254 | |
|
|
Boots Wardinski |
28.5
|
239 | |
| Other/Write-in votes |
8.6
|
72 | ||
|
|
Total votes: 838 |
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- John Klar (Independent)
Campaign themes
2020
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
John Klar completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Klar's responses.
Who are you? Tell us about yourself.
John Klar has worked as a tax attorney, criminal defense attorney, and litigator in Connecticut, where he has been a member of the Bar for 30 years. He moved to Vermont in 1998 and bought a farm in Barton, where he and his wife constructed an artisanal raw-milk goat and cow cheese house, and raised sheep, horses, cows, goats and pigs. John has written a weekly column for The Newport Daily Express since March of 2016, and writes regularly for American Thinker, True North Reports, Liberty Nation, and other on-line sites. The goals of John's administration are displayed clearly at the web site agripublicans.com, a Republican policy list that proposes to focus on the economy, local schools, and the opioid crisis. John became a Vermont certified Recovery Coach in 2017 to help address this nationwide crisis. He has been married to his wife Jackie for 21 years. An avid hiker, John now lives in Brookfield and raises sheep for organic meat, near his family's original farm which was purchased circa 1815.
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?
What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?
Fair taxation, nurturing Vermont's schools while making them more affordable, funding teachers' pensions, improved opioid response, support for small farms, prevent new gun laws, recognize fetal personhood in criminal cases.
Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?
Jesus Christ, because he sacrificed for others, and I become a better person the more I endeavor to emulate His life and live by His teachings.
Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?
"Profiles in Courage," John F Kennedy. My own essays at American Thinker, collected also at Johnklar.net
What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?
Adhere to the Constitution; integrity; honesty.
What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?
Integrity, frugality, work ethic, good communicator, professional and educational training (especially in tax).
What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?
Lead strongly as servant; encourage and nurture the citizenry.
What legacy would you like to leave?
Reduce taxes and regulations, preserve local schools and communities, improve response to opioid and mental health crises.
What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?
The Oil Crisis. 10.
What was your very first job? How long did you have it?
I worked many jobs before I was 16, particularly in landscaping, painting and construction. At 16, I worked the summer in a factory in the aerospace industry. At 17 I worked the summer in Ogunquit Maine as a dishwasher and waiter. At 18 I worked the summer in Yellowstone National Park as a cook in the Old Faithful Inn, and the fall as a pizza cook in West Yellowstone, Montana.
What is your favorite book? Why?
The Bible. It challenges me in ways no other book ever has.
If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?
Frodo.
What was the last song that got stuck in your head?
Revolution, The Beatles.
What is something that has been a struggle in your life?
Fibromyalgia syndrome. Deaths of loved ones. Farming.
A governor is the top executive authority in his or her state. What does that mean do you?
A responsibility to lead by serving, to encourage the citizenry, and to fashion solutions to Vermont's problems.
Governors have many responsibilities, which vary from state to state. Which of those do you personally consider the most important in your state?
Heal political divisions by leading toward solutions that benefit all Vermonters.
What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and state legislature?
They work amicably to achieve consensus, and be responsive to all voters.
What do you love most about your state?
Liberty, the culture, the land, the people.
What do you perceive to be your state's greatest challenges over the next decade?
Economy, schools, opioids.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
See also
2020 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on January 3, 2020
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