Women’s Public Leadership Network (WPLN) is featuring stories from mothers seeking or serving in public office to celebrate Mother’s Day. WPLN's Director of Development, Maureen McInerney, interviewed Samantha Lefebvre of Vermont’s Orange County District – 1. Check out the conversation to hear about her experience balancing service to her family and community!

Representative Samantha Lefebvre was born and raised in Vermont, leaving the busy urban county to move to the quiet and humbling outskirts. A former firefighter and EMT, she enjoys being in the outdoors hunting, fishing, and raising animals on her little homestead. Rep. Lefebvre also works as a LNA (licensed nursing assistant) at the University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington, Vermont where she will be soon celebrating her 10-year anniversary. Since jumping into politics, Representative Lefebvre has served as:

State Representative for Orange County District – 1

Member on House Government Operations Committee

Member of Government Accountability Committee 

Vice Chair of the State of Vermont Republican Party

Chair of the Orange County GOP

Vice Chair of the Town of Orange GOP

Vice Chair of the Town of Orange Selectboard

Mentor with RunGenZ

National Committee Woman for the Vermont Young Republicans

Rep Lefebvre is a mom to one son, Shane, and this May 13th she will be celebrating her 5th wedding anniversary to her husband, who she describes as a saint for being so helpful and encouraging through all of her endeavors. 

[WPLN]: Tell us a little bit about your decision to run. What motivated you, and what did you hope to accomplish in office?

[Rep. Samantha Lefebvre]: I usually joke when asked this question and respond with, I usually only run when something is chasing me. It does prove true though, I was being chased. The majority of people in office were running out the traditional values, boxing in our rights and weren’t being good stewards of Vermonter’s tax dollars. 

I understood if successfully elected that there wouldn’t be enough of me to change this wave, but I could and would work to slow the tide and raise questions to have more thought go behind the actions that were occurring. 

What was that conversation like with your family as you were making this decision?

My husband was the one that encouraged me to throw my hat into the ring. He saw the video from our state GOP office seeking candidates for my district and said that I without a doubt would be able to represent and advocate for the residents in the district that I would represent. My son was still under 2 at the time, which really made me weigh was the benefit of what I could do for a better future for him be worth the time that I wouldn’t be with him? I had outpouring of support from my parents, in-laws, and extended family. Which truly makes the difference when you need a solid base to be with you on the campaign trail.

Are your kids participating in any aspects of your campaign? How about now that you are in office?

My son, Shane, loves talking with people, he will be turning four shortly and is such a busy boy. He comes with me to the events and meetings that are appropriate for his age and patience threshold. He has gotten the parade hand waving down to an art and he brings a light to everywhere he goes. When I was going door to door he would ride along and give me the confidence boost when the conversation maybe didn’t go so well. It was also his responsibly to pick the dog treats that I would leave at houses with my palm card.

 Now that I have the honor to represent my district in the House of Representatives he visits me often and points out the legendary “Golden Dome” when we drive by or it appears anywhere that he sees as where “mommy goes to work”. I hope one day he will read the articles that I have wrote or been highlighted in and be proud of the work that his Mama has done. 

I can say without hesitation that being a mom and being in office has challenged me in both aspects to be able to grow and be better from it.

  

Were there any difficult situations that you had to overcome in regards to balancing your public service and family life?

 Yes, I have a strength and a weakness disguised in one that leads me to be extremely dedicated to my work and my constituents. In the beginning I would work around the clock and then feel that ever so heavy guilt of not being a good mom or wife.

 In Vermont we do not have staff. Every email I send, event that I attend and phone call I answer it is me, myself and I that is completing that work. I now set hours for myself, which admittedly are still long. But I purposely set out time at home that the laptop and calendars are put away and I just emerge myself in being a mom, wife and enjoy the time that I am in. 

 
What advice would you give, or a piece of wisdom you wish you’d known?

Get a mentor. Be a mentor. Give it to God. 

If there is someone reading this that at all thinks they would want to run for office I offer my personal invitation to be a person for you to talk about it with. 

How are you celebrating Mother’s Day this year?

Oh, Mother’s Day… In the past I have worked at my other job which is at the University of Vermont Medical Center on the Maternity Unit to be with Mommas when they are welcoming a new addition to their family. This year I just hope that we are out of session, and I can spend time with my family and that its not snowing here!

Thank you to Representative Samantha Lefebvre for sharing your experience with WPLN!