MONTPELIER, Vt. (WCAX) - The Vermont Senate voted Tuesday morning 19 to 9 to reject Gov. Phil Scott’s pick of Zoie Saunders as education secretary.The unprecedented rejection of a cabinet appointment comes after the governor over the weekend asked lawmakers to delay their confirmation vote because the process over Saunders’ pick had become too politicized. Following Tuesday’s vote, the governor immediately issued a statement naming Saunders interim secretary of education.“Zoie’s professionalism, grace, and class throughout this process, despite the unfair, ill-informed treatment, has been truly remarkable and honorable. I’m very proud of her and how she has handled these hurtful, false attacks, which makes me and my entire team more confident than ever that she is the right person for the job,” Scott said.Saunders comes to the Green Mountain State by way of Florida, where she served with the city of Fort Lauderdale and managed finances for charter schools. However, her appointment was met with concerns from Democrats and Progressives that she has never worked in a public school directly with students. Others, including the Vermont NEA, the Vermont Principals’ and School Boards Association were concerned she would value independent and private schools, which could chip away at public school funding.Following a mostly cordial hearing last Tuesday, The Senate Education Committee voted to 3 to 2 to send Saunders’ appointment to the full Senate.In a statement, Senate President Phil Baruth, D/P-Chittenden County, said he believed Saunders’ confirmation process was conducted fairly. “Ninety-nine times out of 100, the Senate heartily endorses the appointee. But in this case, a majority of the Senate found Zoie Saunders’ resume a mismatch with the current moment,” he said.Saunders’ confirmation fight comes during a fraught time for education financing in The Green Mountains. Voters last month rejected an unprecedented one-third of school budgets and many revotes continue to fail. Education spending is up $230 million statewide and property taxes are seeing double-digit increases.Gov. Scott said he is convinced Saunders has the kind of managerial experience to address the state’s complex educational challenges. “To accomplish this, we cannot be paralyzed by fear of change. And we cannot continue to preserve an unstable system of unaffordable tax hikes and unacceptable outcomes,” he said.Reporter Calvin Cutler will have more on the vote and reaction from Senate leadership and education officials on the Channel 3 News tonight.