Good evening everyone. I'm Cody, and I am honored to be standing up here on behalf of Javen to be able to say a few words. I first met Javen on the gridiron playing football in our local men's flag football league. Over the years, our friendship grew off the field, too, linking up for pickup basketball games with our group of guys. When you play sports with someone, you learn a lot about their character, their grit, and how they handle pressure. But what really bonded Javen and me wasn't just about playing sports—it was our shared passion for coaching the next generation. I coach high school basketball up in St. Albans, and as many of you know, Javen dedicates his time to coaching youth football right here in South Burlington.

As the Vice President of the South Burlington Dolphins organization, he isn't just teaching kids how to tackle or run routes. He is actively mentoring youth, building character, and acting as a huge role model in our community. He leads by example, and he leads with his heart. So when Javen told me he was going to be running for the Vermont State Senate to represent the Chittenden Southeast District, I couldn't have been prouder of him. Honestly, my first thought was: this is exactly the candidate our state needs.

We need a voice that genuinely cares about the greater good of our citizens. We need a young, fresh mind equipped with new ideas to promote real change. Let's be honest, right now, too many people like ourselves are being forced to leave the state that we love. They have to start over somewhere else due to a mountain of looming factors that make building a life here incredibly difficult. Javen is stepping up to fight against that trend. He wants to ensure that Vermont remains a place where young people actually want to stay, put down roots, and start a family.

I am standing here today fully supporting Javen Sears because he has the right ideas in place to fix the real issues we are facing. He is ready to tackle affordability, taking a hard look at our housing crisis so that living here is actually sustainable. He is focused on economic growth and jobs, ensuring our local economy works for everyday Vermonters. He is dedicated to education reform, making sure our kids—the same kids we coach and mentor—get the best possible start in life.

But most importantly, Javen is committed to leading with common sense. He is a problem solver. He uses critical thinking. He isn't interested in falling into the trap of political theater or ideological extremism. He just wants to get to work and get things done for the people of this district. Javen has spent years coaching teams to victory and mentoring kids to become a better version of themselves. Now it's time for us to get behind him as his team and help him bring that same dedication to Montpelier. Please join me in supporting my friend, your candidate for Vermont State Senate, Javen Sears. Thank you.

Cody Bushway

Tuesday, May 12th, 2026, Javen Sears’ Campaign Launch Party