Vermont Democrat Representative Poirier to Run for House Speaker

Vermont State Representative Paul Poirier says he will run for speaker of the Vermont House of Representatives.

The Barre Democrat says he will announce his plans formally Wednesday during an event at the Vermont Statehouse in Montpelier.

Poirier was first elected to the Legislature in 1980. Over the years he has served 16 years. He will start his 9th term in January.

There's no word on whether current speaker Representative Shap Smith of Morristown will seek re-election to the post he's held since 2009.

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