VDHC Email: Meet the Newest Caucus Members
November 29, 2011 - 4:39pm
Dear Friend,
We hope you had a great Thanksgiving holiday with friends and family. We have much to be grateful for here in Vermont!
As we begin our preparations for the upcoming legislative session, we thought you’d like to meet our two new House Representatives, Jean O’Sullivan (Chittenden 3-2) and Teo Zagar (Windsor 6-1). Both were appointed by Governor Peter Shumlin to fill vacant seats left by the appointment of Mark Larson to the Department of Vermont Health Access and the passing of former Rep. Mark Mitchell. Please read on to find out more about our two new Representatives. You can also learn more about our whole caucus here.
All the best,
Nick Charyk
VDHC Director
After attending Goddard college in Plainfield, Jean O’Sullivan left Vermont, only to return in 1977. With her husband, she had purchased a store in Burlington and was starting her family. Her children, Calder (33) and Abby (31), were raised in the New North End of Burlington and graduated from Burlington High School. She divorced in 1984 and raised her family on her own from that point on. Jean owned retail stores for eleven years and 
was active in the Vermont Retail Grocers and the Downtown Burlington Business Association. She eventually sold her last store and embarked on a twenty year career as a stock broker, first at Merrill Lynch and eventually for herself as a Branch Manager of GunnAllen Financial. Jean has always been active in her community, from the Save The Ethan Allen Tower project to holding offices in the PTOs of her childrens’ schools. One of her favorite positions was her ten years as a Ward Clerk administering elections. Later, Jean served in Democratic Party leadership positions, city commissions, and the city council. The opportunity to serve her community as a State Representative is both an honor and privilege.
was active in the Vermont Retail Grocers and the Downtown Burlington Business Association. She eventually sold her last store and embarked on a twenty year career as a stock broker, first at Merrill Lynch and eventually for herself as a Branch Manager of GunnAllen Financial. Jean has always been active in her community, from the Save The Ethan Allen Tower project to holding offices in the PTOs of her childrens’ schools. One of her favorite positions was her ten years as a Ward Clerk administering elections. Later, Jean served in Democratic Party leadership positions, city commissions, and the city council. The opportunity to serve her community as a State Representative is both an honor and privilege.Teo Erik Žagar was born in Slovenia in 1978 to an 
American mother and Slovene father. He moved with his mother to Barnard, Vermont in 1985. Educated at the Barnard Central School and at the Woodstock schools, Teo attended the University of Vermont before transferring to Hampshire College to study documentary film. Teo’s first film, Ten Days, Ten Years: Slovenia’s War for Independence, told the story of the small Yugoslav state's secession from the crumbling federation and won the Best Five-College Filmmaker award at the 2003 Northampton Independent Film Festival. Teo then began a yearlong apprenticeship with Ken Burns serving as an editorial assistant on Horatio’s Drive. He was then hired by Florentine Films/Hott Productions and served as Associate Producer on Ohio: 200 Years, which won an Emmy for Regional Programming in 2004. His 2006 film, Mind Games: A Love Story told the tale of Dr. Thomas French's final year with Lou Gehrig's Disease. The film screened at the Sun Valley Spiritual Film Festival, won a Director's Award at the Hearts and Minds Film Festival and was presented on VPT. The ALS Association distributes the DVD with proceeds going to ALS research. Teo served as Barnard’s Second Constable before being appointed to the Design Review Board. He presently works as a Special Education Program Assistant at the Woodstock Union High School and sits on the boards of The Carol A. Hurley Memorial Scholarship Fund and The Kennels of Levi, a 501C3 non-profit organization dedicated to training service dogs. Teo lives off-grid and off-road in the hills of Barnard.
American mother and Slovene father. He moved with his mother to Barnard, Vermont in 1985. Educated at the Barnard Central School and at the Woodstock schools, Teo attended the University of Vermont before transferring to Hampshire College to study documentary film. Teo’s first film, Ten Days, Ten Years: Slovenia’s War for Independence, told the story of the small Yugoslav state's secession from the crumbling federation and won the Best Five-College Filmmaker award at the 2003 Northampton Independent Film Festival. Teo then began a yearlong apprenticeship with Ken Burns serving as an editorial assistant on Horatio’s Drive. He was then hired by Florentine Films/Hott Productions and served as Associate Producer on Ohio: 200 Years, which won an Emmy for Regional Programming in 2004. His 2006 film, Mind Games: A Love Story told the tale of Dr. Thomas French's final year with Lou Gehrig's Disease. The film screened at the Sun Valley Spiritual Film Festival, won a Director's Award at the Hearts and Minds Film Festival and was presented on VPT. The ALS Association distributes the DVD with proceeds going to ALS research. Teo served as Barnard’s Second Constable before being appointed to the Design Review Board. He presently works as a Special Education Program Assistant at the Woodstock Union High School and sits on the boards of The Carol A. Hurley Memorial Scholarship Fund and The Kennels of Levi, a 501C3 non-profit organization dedicated to training service dogs. Teo lives off-grid and off-road in the hills of Barnard.
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