a young local candidate
My name is Javen Sears, and I’m running for the Vermont State Senate. I’m running because I believe in giving back to the community that raised me and gave me so much.
Originally, I was born in St. Albans, VT, spent my early childhood in Richmond, and moved to South Burlington in third grade, the community I have proudly called home ever since. From the time I was young, the town has shaped me in the classroom, on the field, and through the people who invested in me along the way.
I often say it takes a village, because that’s exactly what my story reflects. South Burlington is where I grew up, where I learned what community looks like, and where I discovered the values of hard work, leadership, and service.
As a kid, I played South Burlington Dolphins youth football and Little League baseball and was part of the 2013 state championship baseball team. I later attended South Burlington schools from childhood through graduation, ultimately graduating from South Burlington High School in 2020.
At SBHS, I was deeply involved in athletics, leadership, and student life. I played football as an All-State wide receiver, served as captain of the track and field team, and helped win a state championship in the 4x400 meter relay (as anchor). I also served as Co-President of the Athletic Leadership Council and as a Student Council representative, where I learned early on that leadership means showing up, listening, and setting the tone for others.
In the classroom and throughout the school community, I was honored to receive the Excellence in Public Speaking Award, the Service and Leadership Award, and the Social Studies in Action Award. I was also involved in organizations like the School Climate Club, where I developed an even stronger appreciation for civic engagement, inclusion, and community responsibility.
a community builder
After taking two years off from school due to COVID, I found a way to give back to my community through my alma mater, the South Burlington Dolphins Foundation, a local youth football program founded in 1967 by local legend and dear mentor Rene LaBerge and his wife Linda. Over six decades, the Dolphins have coached more than 3,000 young athletes teaching them the values of personal responsibility, hard work, and perseverance. The programs is headed into its 60th year, making it one of the oldest youth football programs in the country, still led by the same families and dedicated leadership.
At first, I helped out as a media assistant, taking on a huge summer project to organize and digitize over 40 years of varsity game film. During this project I learned the history and legacy of the Dolphins. It was a challenging time, when the program had only 13 players across K–12, not even enough for a full team at one grade level.
I joined alongside longtime Dolphin’ coach, Bryan, whose father had coached alongside Rene LaBerge since the program’s founding. That first year, I coached the wide receivers and defensive backs, and over time helped grow the program from 13 players to over 90 the following season, spanning kindergarten through 12th grade.
Along the way, I’ve been fortunate to learn from an incredible staff, including Division I coaches, former coaches, and longtime Dolphins leaders like Coach Bryan and founder Renee LaBerge. Beyond X’s and O’s, they taught me the core values that have driven the program: personal responsibility, teamwork, accountability, and family. Practices run five days a week, and we hold high standards because we believe success comes from hard work on and off the field. P.R.I.D.E. Always.
Today, I now serve as Vice President of the Dolphins Foundation to help young people succeed in and around my community. I help provide scholarships for young athletes to attend football camps and even help with college costs. We serve nearly 300 athletes annually through football, cheerleading, summer clinics, athletic development, and strength programs, all at low costs, including staying connected with alumni as they grow.
This Fall marks my second year as head coach of our 5th and 6th grade team, where I continue to build a culture of discipline, dedication, and fun for the next generation, the same lessons and community spirit that shaped me.
I started at the University of Vermont in 2022, mainly studying business at the Grossman School of Business. Early on, I got involved in many athletics/club activities, including the UVM club football team, where I eventually became president, captain, and quarterback. I was also a student manager for the UVM Men’s Basketball team, and interned for UVM’s Athletic Department doing Sponsorships & Promotions work for 13 Division 1 sports teams.
In my junior year, seeking my next challenge, I joined the Lawrence Debate Union, thanks to a recommendation from my effective speaking professor, which changed my life. The Lawrence Debate Union is one of the oldest and most prestigious debate teams in the country, celebrating its 126th anniversary this year. The team competes at national and international championships against prestigious universities such as Harvard, Yale, and Stanford.
In my first year alone, I competed in British Parliamentary and Civic debate formats, earning multiple top speaker honors and finalist placements at major tournaments. Later that summer, I was selected to represent the team internationally in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, in partnership with the University of Dar es Salaam. My Tanzanian partners and I placed second among East African teams, and I was awarded the second-best speaker award for the tournament. I’ve also competed in multiple national championships, reaching semifinals and finals, and I’ve even been nominated for president of the debate team.
The best of what debate has taught me is strategy, critical thinking, fast problem-solving, research, argument framing, and effective communication. Being part of the “Long Green Line” has given me deep knowledge across a wide range of topics and the confidence to perform under pressure. I’m proud to have received the experience I did.
a Debate champion
Why politics, why run, why now?
I’m running because I believe our communities, our state, our country are at a critical turning point. Over the past three years, I’ve been deeply involved in politics, studying issues, analyzing cause and effects, and learning how policy decisions shape our daily lives. Growing up where I have, it’s rare to develop a conservative perspective, but I’ve sought out knowledge and understanding from economists and thinkers such as Thomas Sowell, Milton Friedman, and Fredrick A. Hayek to form my own views through self learning and study.
I believe the foundation of our country is freedom, individuality, and liberty. This foundation is what has set us apart from any other civilization in history. Unfortunately, these core values are under direct pressure from individuals who have adopted progressivism, socialism, and other ideologies rooted in Marxism, ideologies which I’ve frequently observed present in political thinking today. When I examine the problems Vermont currently faces, I see constant government overreach and inefficiencies. People need the government to allow them to live out their autonomy, agency, and personal freedom. Big government has never been the answer. I’ve learned that history is the best teacher, and without learning from history, we’re only bound to repeat it.
With that said, fiscally, I believe we need lower both income and, especially, property taxes. Vermonters are struggling to afford living here, especially in Chittenden County, where my town of South Burlington has one of the highest property tax burdens in the state. The median annual property tax here is over $6,600 and continues to rise, putting more pressure on families and local residents. I also believe in fewer regulations on businesses, and policies that make it affordable for young families to live here and grow businesses here.
Additionally, since 2003, Vermont’s K–12 population has dropped over 30%, from more than 110,000 students to around 74,000 today. Despite Vermont having the highest per-student spending rates in the country at almost $28,000 per child, our education outcomes are 4th to last. This had led to Vermont experiencing a decreasing population. Meanwhile, high taxes and restrictive regulations have driven businesses away and discouraged young families from staying or migrating here.
It’s hard for me to believe how stuck we are in policies that have failed for over 40 years. Yet these same policies keep being promoted again and again by candidates who proudly call themselves progressive. For their own sake, they should hope they never end up on a debate stage with me.
I had hoped to grow up in a Vermont where finding opportunity, building a family, and having a home was straightforward. But that hasn’t been the case. We seem to have lost our common sense and common values. Instead of me leaving these problems for someone else to fix, however, I feel it’s my responsibility to commit to them and address these issues in my community head on. I’m determined to make sure Vermont doesn't fall further behind. It’s time to reverse course so we can restore people’s freedom, which Democrats have failed to do for nearly 50 years.
That’s why I’m getting involved and why I want to help turn Vermont around.
— Javen
