Vermont Candidate Guide — Full Candidate List
All candidates and ballot questions for the Nov. 3, 2026 Vermont general election, organized by office and district. Where a candidate answered Vermont Public's candidate survey, their answers appear under their name. For the interactive address-lookup tool, return to the main guide.
Candidates are listed alphabetically by last name. An asterisk (*) after a name indicates an incumbent. Survey answers appear as candidates submitted them.
Statewide
U.S. Congress
Phoenix K. Altair
Did not respond to our survey.
Becca Balint*
- Age
- 58
- Occupation
- U.S. Representative for Vermont; previously Speaker Pro Tempore of Vermont Senate, public school teacher
- Do you support the war in Iran? What actions, if any, should Congress take to influence the course of the war?
I am opposed to the illegal war in Iran and I think we should use any and all pathways to bring it to an end as soon as possible. In Congress, I’ve introduced legislation to stop U.S. engagement in Iran and I’ve voted against the war at every opportunity. Our troops shouldn’t be in harm's way for an unconstitutional war, and people in Vermont can’t afford the price hikes that have come with it. The government should instead be focusing its resources on lowering costs for folks at home, at the grocery store, and at the gas pump.
- Do you support the current administration's approach to immigration, including restrictions on legal immigration and aggressive pursuit of people who do not have legal status? Do you support calls to abolish ICE?
As Vice Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, I’ve done ICE oversight for Congress in Vermont and during surges in Minnesota and Chicago, and I’ve also directly questioned then-Secretary Kristi Noem – and I can say that what I’ve seen from ICE and Border Patrol under this administration has been inhumane and un-American. They've terrorized our immigrant neighbors, broken laws, ignored due process, and killed people, including American citizens. I’ve voted against giving them any more funding, and I believe that we should be strengthening our legal immigration pathways, protecting our constitutional right to due process, and dismantling ICE.
- What changes, if any, to federal tax policy would you support?
It’s past time that we make trillionaires, billionaires and millionaires pay their fair share. Our existing tax system is broken, with teachers and firefighters often paying more than massive corporations. At the same time, the wealth gap continues to worsen, with these corporations making record-breaking profits as working people are told to just keep tightening their belts. As Chair of the Ending Corporate Greed Task Force, I’ve looked closely at how Congress can even the playing field for working class Americans, including through the tax code, and I will continue to advocate for more of those tools to be used.
- Do you support Medicare for All? If not, what is your approach to addressing healthcare costs that are rising at an unsustainable rate?
I am a loud and proud supporter of Medicare for All. Everyone in this country should have accessible, affordable and high quality healthcare.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Gerald Malloy
- Age
- 64
- Occupation
- US Army Officer (Ret.), Businessman
- Do you support the war in Iran? What actions, if any, should Congress take to influence the course of the war?
I support - as should Congress - seeking an immediate cease-fire and earnest development of a binding peace agreement that includes US inspections to ensure Iran does not develop nuclear weapons. At West Point I welcomed home the 52 American hostages held in Iran for 444 days. Since then Iran's regime has declared "Death to America". Iran harbors terrorist organizations such as Hamas and has sought to develop nuclear weapons, ignoring international sanctions/inspections. I have worked with nuclear weapons; to make the world a safer place, I supported military actions, but the Administration did not adequately consider Strait of Hormuz/energy cost impacts.
- Do you support the current administration's approach to immigration, including restrictions on legal immigration and aggressive pursuit of people who do not have legal status? Do you support calls to abolish ICE?
Both sides of the aisle are at fault for not achieving Immigration reform. I will propose a framework based on Rep. Barbara Jordan's (D) proposal and I will see it through across the aisle to becoming law. I do not support seeking to track down every single person that is not fully documented. I do support deporting criminals/drug dealers. I do not support calls to abolish ICE, but as stated above, I will impact DHS/ICE/Government ICE/policy/operations to reasonable levels - we do not need to track down every law abiding worker that is not fully documented.
- What changes, if any, to federal tax policy would you support?
I support no taxes on senior citizen retirees (65+), Social Security, tips, overtime, military pensions. I support increasing federal tax credits related to college education costs, homeowners, and farm/dairy/agriculture. As Vermont is a small business state, I support increased tax credits/relief/incentives for small businesses and tech start ups. I support tax reform to close loopholes that high-income earners are taking advantage of. I support corporate tax reform that encourages/drives the use of American labor. I support tax reform to make tax completion/filing significantly less complicated for the average American worker.
- Do you support Medicare for All? If not, what is your approach to addressing healthcare costs that are rising at an unsustainable rate?
Yes, I support Medicare for all qualified US Citizens/permanent legal residents. I am very aware of unaffordable healthcare costs in Vermont and I would hope that all Vermonters realize that Socialist false promises have never materialized, nor will they ever because of our Constitution and Socialism always fails. I intend to actually produce LEGISLATION to impact competition, monopolistic/collusion/Sherman Act violations, transparency across healthcare and pharmaceutical costs - not just berate executives at a hearing and then never do anything substantive to fix the problem. Please ask yourself why that is, with some members of Congress for 30+ years? It's by design.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Adam Ortiz
- Age
- 49
- Occupation
- I'm a waiter eye just wait around for things to just happen on there own
- Do you support the war in Iran? What actions, if any, should Congress take to influence the course of the war?
Yes I trust the judgment of the President. We have enough subject matter experts in how to do the wrong thing the rite way that there's no excuse for anyone who doesn't understand matters of aggression to have any input. I deployed to Baghdad Iraq then Kabul Afghanistan once in office I'm going to do everything possible to have the next-generation complaining about how bored they are. Hate the war but Love your service members. YouTube the end of Rambo and that's how we feel when we come home.
- Do you support the current administration's approach to immigration, including restrictions on legal immigration and aggressive pursuit of people who do not have legal status? Do you support calls to abolish ICE?
No to the emotional response to abolish ICE. I will work in a professional manner with all Federal Agencies. No to how operations are being run. Yes to the decision to enforce laws that are already on the books. 100% yes to a path to citizenship and streamlining all Federal Agencies paperwork. Anyone who can survive the Vermont winter twice contributing to society we should definitely work together and put all cards on the table. Does this person want a work visa or say goodbye to wherever they came from. If you don't behave go home!
- What changes, if any, to federal tax policy would you support?
All the subject matter experts need to get together and have the unpleasant conversation to address everything no matter how unpleasant. We can't keep pricing people out and the catch phrases only provide a temporary dopamine hit. Same like jury duty public service is more valuable than raising taxes on the few people who understand financial topics better than most. It's called golden handcuffs. Once you reach a level of financial wealth you run out of things to buy. Well if society has a problem that needs to be addressed tell these people tag your it go fix it.
- Do you support Medicare for All? If not, what is your approach to addressing healthcare costs that are rising at an unsustainable rate?
Is it possible 🤔 yes. Will it require what most won't be willing to do? You tell me how likely a mandatory physical once a year will be for everyone to get on the same page with. Please give me a list of how many topics require that much funding and will have no strings attached. So if mandatory blood work is done how private will medical records be? Has any Government agency ever had a cyber security issue 🤔
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Suzanne "Suz" Seymour
- Age
- 64
- Occupation
- Proprietor/Massage Therapist
- Do you support the war in Iran? What actions, if any, should Congress take to influence the course of the war?
I do not support war. Wars tend to be about power and/or controlling resources, and they aren’t a solution to many of the problems they claim to fix. I would propose a Department of Peace to negate the escalation of war to begin with. That is a real solution for future conflict. Congress should be a part of all decision-making regarding human lives and wasteful war spending. If we aren’t protecting our own interests/country, we should remove ourselves from this conflict.
- Do you support the current administration's approach to immigration, including restrictions on legal immigration and aggressive pursuit of people who do not have legal status? Do you support calls to abolish ICE?
I support legal immigration. I believe it is disrespectful to those individuals who waited years to become official citizens to allow others in without proper checks and balances. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has been known to show excessive force, which cannot be tolerated in a civil society. Abolishing Immigration, Customs and Enforcement (ICE) would leave us vulnerable in other arenas (like human trafficking, drug smuggling, terrorist threats, etc.)--we don’t have another alternative at this time. It is very important to vet the people who are coming into our country for obvious reasons, just as most other countries do.
- What changes, if any, to federal tax policy would you support?
Taxes, in general, are too high. I would, however, support a consumption tax in place of an income tax. This would encourage people to be more resourceful in their spending – reduce/reuse/recycle, cultivate savings and investments, and not be penalized for working hard. Our tax system is confusing and in need of a major overhaul. I would support audits that would review where our money is really going, and then find solutions and ways to decrease the amount of taxes we do pay.
- Do you support Medicare for All? If not, what is your approach to addressing healthcare costs that are rising at an unsustainable rate?
Supporting a government-run healthcare plan is like looking at the Department of Motor Vehicles and asking if that’s the way we really want our medical system run in the future. Preventative, alternative and holistic care starting from a young age is the only way to change the outcome of this top-heavy, disease-care system, which allows pharmaceutical companies to continue medicalizing Americans, to our peril. I also support evidence-based alternatives and more incentives for direct primary care. Primary care doctors in small towns would begin to change the way we do “business as usual", and find a way to address costs.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Ryan P. Walton
Did not respond to our survey.
Governor
June Goodband
- Age
- 71
- Occupation
- Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor, formerly Licensed Drug and Alcohol Abuse Counselor.
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
Housing, food, and healthcare have become unaffordable for many. We need to cut profiteers out of providing for basic needs and require that employers pay a livable wage. We need to support local food production and distribution to create climate resilience and thriving local economies. The state can facilitate moving from a system based on exploitation to one based on cooperation and caring by creating community cares centers that incorporate employment, volunteer, and social service programs to leverage everyone's skills resources and provide what everyone needs.
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
Education costs can most effectively be cut by implementing Vermont's Universal Health Care law and taking the ever rising cost of health insurance out of school budgets. We also need to reduce the amount spent on administrative salaries and benefits and focus paying the people who are directly working with students. This could be done by lowering administrative pay to match what teachers make and or by reducing the number of administrators.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
We need a statewide system that provides equal access to quality education to all students in the state. If funding is set by the state, it becomes essential that the education tax be separated from the homestead tax. I strongly support the legislature's policy of restricting the use of public school funds for private schools.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
I would bring educators and families together to assess the quality of education in their communities and identify ways it can be improved.
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
We can bring down health care costs, increase access to health care, and improve outcomes by fully implementing Vermont's Universal Health Care Law. Applying for foundation grants to help us make the first in the nation transition to universal health care would defray some of the costs of making this change.
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
Multiple strategies are needed. We can expanding renewable energy with wind, solar, and small scale hydro power through legislation that makes installation of these sources more affordable. Rehabbing housing infrastructure so that low income people live in energy efficient homes would reduce emissions. Moving toward plant based agriculture and more plants in our diets dramatically reduces emissions. Supporting people who want to create intentional communities with local work and food production and integrated efficient transportation systems provides another opportunity. Building local food production and distribution systems and strong local economies also reduces greenhouse gas emissions.
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
The lack of affordable housing infrastructure can be addressed by rehabilitating and building housing that is energy efficient and safe, then selling it to low income people with 0% interest. Then people could afford to own modest houses or apartments in coop buildings. Assisting people who want to create intentional communities would foster sharing of resources, expanding local agriculture and employment opportunities, and building strong supportive social connections. This could be facilitated by buying the former Sterling College and making properties the state owns available to community efforts with low interest loans. Tax vacant housing at a high rate.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Amanda Janoo
- Age
- 39
- Occupation
- I’m an economist and Vermonter who creates and designs economies to serve people over profit.
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
We need to pay more attention to where Vermont’s wealth is going. Vermonters work incredibly hard and create enormous value, yet too much of it is extracted through rising healthcare costs, housing speculation, corporate consolidation and profits flowing out of state.
We’ve spent decades trying to attract outside investment and hoping prosperity will trickle down. I want to reverse that: invest in the people, businesses and communities already here, produce more of what we need locally, and keep the wealth we create circulating in Vermont.
That’s how we make Vermont more affordable: by building our prosperity from the bottom up.- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
No. I share the Legislature’s concern about rising property taxes and unequal educational opportunities, but consolidation risks accelerating the decline we should be reversing. Rural schools are often the heart of their communities. Instead of closing them, I would expand Vermont’s community school model, which integrates childcare, primary and mental healthcare, food access, adult education and other vital services. This can address pressures driving education costs, bring services closer and diversify the funding streams to our schools. If we want young families to stay and move here, we need to invest in the schools and communities that make that possible.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
No. I believe the people closest to their schools should have a meaningful say in the decisions that shape them. Vermont’s tradition of local democracy is a strength, not an obstacle to overcome. The state has an important role in ensuring every child has access to an excellent education, addressing inequities between communities, and helping bring down the real costs driving school budgets. But shifting budget authority away from communities doesn’t solve those underlying problems. We should be giving communities more tools and resources to build thriving schools, not taking democratic decision-making away from them.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
Vermont has many excellent public schools and deeply committed educators, but too many students and teachers are struggling. I want us to think more broadly about what a high-quality education means: not just test scores, but whether we’re nurturing curiosity, creativity, critical thinking, practical skills and a love of learning.
We can improve quality by expanding access to arts, CTE, experiential learning, and advanced coursework, while addressing the mental health and economic challenges students increasingly bring into the classroom. Our goal should be schools that give every child the skills, confidence and support to navigate an increasingly uncertain world.- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
Healthcare is a human right — no Vermonter should avoid the doctor because they can't afford it. I will work hard to guarantee free, universal primary and preventive care for every Vermonter, with no copays or deductibles for primary care. Everyone should be able to have a trusted healthcare provider close to home and get help before a manageable health problem becomes an emergency. By making primary and preventive care universally available, Vermont can reduce avoidable emergency room visits, hospitalizations, and the long-term costs of chronic disease with estimated cost savings of $300 million a year.
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
Our greatest opportunity is to build an economy that uses far less energy and fewer resources in the first place. Vermont can be a leader in the circular and regenerative economy of the future by supporting agriculture, repair and reuse, durable manufacturing, local food and building materials, and community-owned renewable energy. We can reduce waste, keep resources circulating locally, restore the land and produce more of what we need here. Climate policy shouldn’t just be about replacing fossil fuels. It should be about redesigning our economy so reducing emissions also creates good jobs, lowers costs and builds more resilient communities.
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
We need to build more housing and make better use of the homes we already have. We should expand pathways for working Vermonters to buy, build and renovate their own homes; invest in local builders and trades; and expand permanently affordable options through cooperatives, senior housing and shared-equity ownership. And modernize property taxes so resident homeowners pay less while large corporate and private-equity owners, commercial vacation rentals, vacant investment properties and luxury second homes pay more. We need to increase housing supply while making sure Vermont’s homes and land are places for people to live, not investment vehicles.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Brian Judd
Did not respond to our survey.
Dean Roy
Did not respond to our survey.
Phil Scott*
Did not respond to our survey.
Lieutenant Governor
Molly Gray
Did not respond to our survey.
John S. Rodgers*
- Age
- 61
- Occupation
- Incumbent Lieutenant Governor; State Senator ('13–'21), State Representative ('03-'11)
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
Property taxes. I hear it everywhere I go. People are opening their tax bills and seeing increases brought on by the Democrats in Montpelier. I’m a farmer and small business owner, and I pay the same bills everyone else does. I know what it feels like when everything seems to go up except what people are earning. We have seniors worried about staying in homes they’ve owned for years and young families wondering if they can afford to stay in Vermont. We have to get serious about what government costs people, from their property taxes to their energy bills.
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
We have to change the way we’re doing things because taxpayers can’t keep paying more and more while enrollment declines. But I’m very cautious about Montpelier deciding what consolidation looks like or closing small schools just because they are small. I grew up in rural Vermont, and I know what a school means to a small town and what happens if you take it away. I’d start by looking at the amount of administration we’re paying for and getting more of that money into the classroom. We need to lower costs while listening to communities before making decisions for them.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
The basics of the foundation formula is that the state sets an appropriate rate to educate a child. After that, there should be allowances to let localities spend more money, but for every dollar they raise, $0.50 should go back to the education fund to help less affluent communities. The problem with today’s funding formula is that the budget communities vote for does not directly correlate to the amount of taxes they pay. There has to be a direct correlation so voters understand if they want to spend more on education, they will be paying more in their local taxes.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
We have some wonderful teachers in Vermont who care deeply about their students. But when we’re spending what we spend and still seeing kids struggle with basic reading and math, and producing some of the lowest testing scores in the country, we have to admit something isn’t working. I’d like to see us get back to the basics and put more of our money into teaching kids rather than administration. We also need to invest in vocational education. We need plumbers, electricians, carpenters, mechanics, farmers and masons, and those are good careers we should be proud to encourage.
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
Vermonters are paying high premiums and still getting stuck with deductibles they can barely afford. We need practical changes that actually lower costs. I support moving our teachers onto the state employee health plan, which will save taxpayers millions while maintaining great coverage. We should expand access to Association Health Plans so small businesses can band together and get better rates for their employees. And we need to cut pharmacy benefit managers out of the middle so more of the money we spend on prescriptions actually goes toward healthcare.
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
Weatherization and efficiency can lower emissions and lower somebody’s heating bill at the same time. That makes sense to me. What I don’t support is telling somebody who’s already struggling to pay their bills that they have to buy a new heating system or a new car they can’t afford just to meet a mandate from the government. I’ve spent my life farming and working outdoors, so protecting Vermont’s land and environment matters a great deal to me. But good environmental policy has to work for the people already struggling.
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
First, we have to actually let people build. I’ve worked in construction most of my life, and every additional delay, permit and unexpected cost eventually gets added to the price of the home. We need to make permitting simpler and more predictable, fix Act 181, reform Act 250, and stop treating somebody who wants to build a home like they’re doing something wrong. We also desperately need more people in the trades to build apartments, starter homes and smaller homes for seniors who want to downsize.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Attorney General
Charity R. Clark*
- Age
- 51
- Occupation
- I am Vermont's Attorney General, chair of my town's library board, and a Justice of the Peace.
- What would be your top three priorities as attorney general if you are elected?
1. Protecting consumers, especially Vermont's youth, from harmful and deceptive business practices, including by Big Tech companies.
2. Strengthening public safety by prioritizing prosecution of the most violent crimes, including sexual crimes against children.
3. Protecting Vermont from federal overreach by the federal government.- The Vermont Attorney General’s office runs a consumer assistance program in partnership with the University of Vermont. Do you believe enough is being done to protect Vermonters from fraud and scams? If not, what additional policies would you support?
My office's Consumer Assistance Program (CAP) helped save and recover $1.2 million for Vermonters last year through the program’s free mediation service. I’m incredibly proud of the work done at CAP – and also recognize that there’s more work ahead. We can make Vermonters less vulnerable to scams, on both the state and federal level, by strengthening data privacy laws. I also believe that because so many of these criminals operate overseas, outside of the State’s criminal jurisdiction, one of the best ways to fight scams is through education and by sharing knowledge to stop scams before they occur.
- How would you decide when it is appropriate to sue the federal government?
No President has the power to violate the Constitution of the United States or federal law. As Vermont’s Attorney General, I’ve worked to fight illegal and unconstitutional actions on behalf of our state. I swore an oath to uphold the Constitution of the United States, and every day of this past year and a half, I have stood by that oath.
My promise to Vermonters is this: Every time there is a violation of our Constitution and the sovereign State, our beloved Vermont, is harmed, I will sue. To protect Vermont, to protect you, and to protect our democracy.
- What, if anything, should the state do to rein in prediction markets?
Protecting consumers is one of my highest priorities as Attorney General. I recognize and appreciate the concerns held by many Vermonters about the novel and unpredictable nature of these markets, that’s why I joined a bipartisan, multistate coalition of attorneys general calling for states – not the Commodity Futures Trading Commission - to regulate prediction markets. In Vermont, this change would allow the Department of Liquor and Lottery to regulate the market, and would create greater protections for Vermonters who use these platforms.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Edwin Howell Kemon
- Age
- 71
- Occupation
- Model Based System Engineer, Pres. Lions Club, Fairfax Co.Election Chief, Rt50 Traffic Calming Plan
- What would be your top three priorities as attorney general if you are elected?
You Deserve a Safe Vermont. The law must be enforced fairly and impartially. When evidence of wrongdoing exists, investigations must follow the facts, prosecute the guilty, and protect innocent victims.
Public Safety is the central issue particularly stopping the practice of releasing repeat offenders onto the streets without meaningful penalty.
Crimes against children, including permitting trafficking of children for sexual exploitation , are unconscionable and must be a priority.
- The Vermont Attorney General’s office runs a consumer assistance program in partnership with the University of Vermont. Do you believe enough is being done to protect Vermonters from fraud and scams? If not, what additional policies would you support?
I will vigorous enforce consumer protection laws with priority on frauds and scams targeting older and vulnerable Vermonters, allocating limited resources by severity of harm, number of victims, and systemic impact. Work with Vermont Social Services and banks to put scam watches on older Vermonters to help keep their accounts from being drained.
I will work with the legislature and the banks to provide a VT tax free incentive up to $500 to use cash rather than any form of credit or digital tokens that force any form of $USDT stablecoin to be used controlled by a central ai controller.
- How would you decide when it is appropriate to sue the federal government?
I will evaluate federal disagreements strictly on legal merit and concrete harm to Vermont, pursuing or joining lawsuits only when they serve the state's intrests and declining those that risk federal aid for partison signaling.
Shift resources and emphasis away from large numbers of lawsuits against the federal administration on climate, DEI, gender related medical intervention and parental notification issues, boys participating in girls sports, and mail in ballots. These action may satisfy partisan constituencies but risk billions in fedearl aid and deepen divison. Focus on core state responsibilities public safety, consumer protection, government accountabilty envionmental enforcement under existing statutes.- What, if anything, should the state do to rein in prediction markets?
I would investigate and sue any entities using weather derivative markets to make money on flooding events in Vermont. Parametric contracts offloading risks to other insurance entities such as descartesunderwriting.com bluemarblemicro.com floodflash.com SwissRe.com offer rain fall related insurance, Vermont passed parametric insurance legislation in 2022 before the first Jul 10th flooding events in 2023, 2024, 2025 and to a lesser extent 2026. New York passed parametric insurance in 2025 and had a historic flooding event in the Capital region in July 2026.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Secretary of State
Sarah Copeland Hanzas*
- Age
- 56
- Occupation
- Two-term Secretary of State with 18 years experience in the Vermont House.
- What would be your top three priorities as secretary of state if you are elected?
-Ensure Vermont elections remain free, fair, accessible, and secure.
-Modernize our technology systems, concentrating on our licensing system upgrades and implementing an administrative rules platform.
-Focus on civic and voter engagement to strengthen our communities and Vermonters' participation in all levels of government.- The federal government is suing Vermont and other states to obtain their full voter rolls. Is there any instance when the state should comply with federal requests for voter data? Why or why not?
Absolutely not. Historically, Congress has only intervened in elections to prevent systemic disenfranchisement of certain voters. It has become clear that this administration is attempting to do the opposite; seeking to create systems that make it harder for certain people to vote.
- Vermont has significantly expanded the ease and accessibility of voting in recent years. Do you believe that any changes in policy or practice are currently needed to prevent mistakes and fraud in our elections?
The strength of our elections is in the people and processes of our administration of elections. We have thousands of Vermonters who take an oath to uphold our election procedures as Clerks and Boards of Civil Authority, and they closely follow the election procedures set forth in Vermont Statutes. Voting is how "We the People" tell our government what we think they should be focused on. Vermont carefully balances accessibility with security, and that balance is the right one.
- What is something that you think risks eroding public trust or participation in Vermont elections, and how would you address it?
The steady stream of misinformation about how our elections work has the effect of sowing doubt. As Secretary, it is my job to help people understand how our elections work, what safeguards we have in place, and what people should do if they see something they think isn't right. Contact your clerk, contact our office, volunteer to be a poll worker, or run for Justice of the Peace so you can have a role in the process. Democracy is a team sport.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
H. Brooke Paige
- Age
- 73
- Occupation
- Retire, Currently Serving a Justice of the Peace in Washington Vermont
- What would be your top three priorities as secretary of state if you are elected?
1) Return the State Election process to the boundaries proscribed in the State Constitution, Restore confidence in and Constitutional fidelity of the Vermont Election process - qualities lost in recent years with the unconstitutional changes that have been made.
2) Restoring the records in the State Archives and making those records more accessible to the public including digitizing records for on-line access.
3) Streamlining Business Services and the Office of Professional Regulations to make these departments more helpful (and less of a hinderance) to those entities they are intended to serve.
- The federal government is suing Vermont and other states to obtain their full voter rolls. Is there any instance when the state should comply with federal requests for voter data? Why or why not?
The Federal Election Commission has the responsibility to ensure that each state's election rolls are accurate and do not include unqualified individuals. Regardless of the political opinions of Vermont's Secretary of State and Attorney General they are required to submit requested documentation under: The Voting Rights Act (VRA) of 1965, The Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) of 1986, The National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) of 1993, The Help America Vote Act (HAVA) of 2002. Vermont Title 17 §2103(40) informs the Secretary of State is the official responsible for reporting voter information to the FEC under the NVRA-1993.
- Vermont has significantly expanded the ease and accessibility of voting in recent years. Do you believe that any changes in policy or practice are currently needed to prevent mistakes and fraud in our elections?
In recent years, the Secretary of State’s office has increasingly taken control of aspects of our elections that are assigned to local election officials, the town clerks and the boards of civil authority, those are best situated to conduct fair and honest election and are officials that the Vermont Constitution specifically assigns with the responsibility for conducting our general elections. The creation of Universal-Vote-by-Mail elections, the liberalization of vote harvesting, extending Election Day to an “Election Season” all having acted to reduce voter confidence in our voting process, and are at variance with Vermont's Constitutional Election process.
- What is something that you think risks eroding public trust or participation in Vermont elections, and how would you address it?
Controversies surrounding Vermont's "new" universal Vote-by-mail election process has stirred concerns over the trustworthiness of system. Universal vote-by-mail was implemented as a temporary measure to prevent COVID's spread and was unfortunately adopted as permanent once the epidemic passed. Vote-by-mail balloting was never demonstrated to be secure with the delivery problems at USPS, while adding over $1M to election costs. Vote-by-mail has allowed ballots to be scattered willy-nilly across Vermont, giving voters the impression that the process has lost its security - especially considering: vote-harvesting, extended voting days and other changes. Vermont needs to return to our secure pre-2018 in-person election process.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Rachel Shaw
Did not respond to our survey.
State Treasurer
Zachary Hampl
Did not respond to our survey.
Lynn Lafleur
- Occupation
- Accountant and Tax Professional; Board of Civil Authority; Treasurer of VTGOP; Chair LCRC
- What would be your top three priorities as state treasurer if you are elected?
#1 to deep dive into the $5billion pension funding gap and implement a plan to fix it. We should apply the entire Meta settlement to lowering this gap.
#2 increase transparency around spending; Where is the money going? Who received the $1.4Billion? Why are budget amounts not adhered to?
#3 maintain the high bond rating
- Would you support divesting Vermont’s public employee pension funds from any particular type of investments, such as fossil fuel companies? Why or why not?
I would want to review the current investment strategy and do what is best for the state overall. The gap in funding is the biggest issue rather than prioritizing certain sectors of investments based on ideological priorities.
- Money from the federal government has become less predictable under the current administration, with grants and programs rapidly rescinded or restructured. Do you see a need for Vermont to reduce reliance on federal dollars, and if so, how would that work?
We absolutely need to become financially independent as a state. This isn't the first time, nor is it the last time when federal money comes and goes. A big issue was relying on the covid funds and not being diligent about realizing these were one time infusions. We need to live within our means. We cannot afford to raise more taxes, so the goal would be to lower expenses. We have plenty of money coming in. The problem is, how it's going out. We need to prioritize spending that helps the majority of Vermonters.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Mike Pieciak*
- Age
- 43
- Occupation
- Commissioner, Vermont Department of Financial Regulation (2016-2022); Treasurer (2022-Present)
- What would be your top three priorities as state treasurer if you are elected?
The things I hear most from constituents are the need for more housing, affordable healthcare, and a strong workforce. I’m proud of my office’s efforts over the last four years to leverage the state’s resources to finance over 1,700 new units of housing, pass a prescription drug discount program, and begin the process of eliminating $100 million in medical debt held by working and middle-class Vermonters. In my third term, I will carry out the work to ensure these programs are fully implemented, and I will continue to identify other creative ways to relieve these burdens for working families.
- Would you support divesting Vermont’s public employee pension funds from any particular type of investments, such as fossil fuel companies? Why or why not?
Yes, and I was proud to support efforts in the legislature in the past to divest the state’s pension fund from fossil fuel interests. We need to be considerate of the short, medium, and long term financial risks of investing in fossil fuels. The first rule as Treasurer is to do no harm to the state pension system. As fossil fuels become more price volatile, and with increasing external pressures caused by foreign conflicts, the case has only gotten stronger for divesting from these interests.
- Money from the federal government has become less predictable under the current administration, with grants and programs rapidly rescinded or restructured. Do you see a need for Vermont to reduce reliance on federal dollars, and if so, how would that work?
Yes. We do it by leveraging our local dollars carefully. Following the 2024 election, I was proud to convene the Task Force on the Federal Transition which identified ways to reduce reliance on federal funding and prepare for potential economic uncertainty. I support the committee’s recommendations to identify resource needs amid federal shortfalls and build state partnerships with local nonprofits to create service hubs – whether that be directly supporting the specific services Vermonters rely on, or reducing the administrative burden to provide those services.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Auditor of Accounts
Tim Ashe
- Age
- 49
- Occupation
- Dep. State Auditor, 2021-present. Affordable housing developer, primary care leader, State Senator
- What would be your top three priorities as state auditor if you are elected?
Identifying strategies to lower health insurance premiums, revitalize rural communities, and get better value from state housing programs. These are on top of the core financial audit duties. I also want to make the state budget more resilient to the actions of the President and Congress. The last five years have been troubling – 40% property tax increase, health insurance premiums rose to double the national average, three quarters of a billion spent on housing with little improvement, rural communities getting mixed signals from Montpelier, state budget increased by 50%. Put simply, Vermonters deserve better from their state government.
- What, if any, role should the auditor’s office play in helping identify and reduce the causes of rising education costs?
Though setting education policy is outside the office's duties, presenting unbiased, rigorous data would benefit policymakers and the general public tremendously. It's worrying that despite massive property tax and education spending increases since 2021 policymakers don't have a firm grasp on the drivers. The Agency of Education's own data is notoriously unreliable and many school districts have resisted attempts to have unified data/budget reporting. The Auditor's office can bring its rigorous approach to quantifying the role health care costs and school-based human services staffing have played in driving up budgets.
- In Vermont’s healthcare system, in which areas do you feel it’s most important to make sure taxpayer money is being spent effectively?
It's unacceptable that Vermont health insurance premiums are double Maine's and New Hampshire's, even while many Vermonters struggle to access timely health care services. As Auditor, I’ll take these steps:
• Identify opportunities to lower costs by reducing bureaucracy and targeting exorbitant hospital prices.
• Scrub the State’s health care expenditures to make sure Vermont is not overpaying, including for prescriptions and out-of-state care.
• Analyze wait times for primary, specialty, and mental healthcare services to identify geographic disparities.
• Examine the effectiveness of State health care professional incentive programs to make sure all corners of Vermont are benefitting.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Ivar Kronick
- Age
- 58
- Occupation
- Accounts Assistant at an international manufacturing firm where I handle all financial matters and s
- What would be your top three priorities as state auditor if you are elected?
- This candidate did not respond.
- What, if any, role should the auditor’s office play in helping identify and reduce the causes of rising education costs?
- This candidate did not respond.
- In Vermont’s healthcare system, in which areas do you feel it’s most important to make sure taxpayer money is being spent effectively?
- This candidate did not respond.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate did not respond.
Constitutional Amendments
Proposal 3
That Article 23 of Chapter I of the Vermont Constitution is added to read:
Article 23. [Right to collectively bargain] That employees have a right to organize or join a labor organization for the purpose of collectively bargaining with their employer through an exclusive representative of their choosing for the purpose of negotiating wages, hours, and working conditions and to protect their economic welfare and safety in the workplace. Therefore, no law shall be adopted that interferes with, negates, or diminishes the right of employees to collectively bargain with respect to wages, hours, and other terms and conditions of employment and workplace safety, or that prohibits the application or execution of an agreement between an employer and a labor organization representing the employer’s employees that requires membership in the labor organization as a condition of employment.
Proposal 4
That Article 23 of Chapter I of the Vermont Constitution is added to read:
Article 23. [Equality of rights] That the people are guaranteed equal protection under the law. The State shall not deny equal treatment under the law on account of a person’s race, ethnicity, sex, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or national origin. Nothing in this Article shall be interpreted or applied to prevent the adoption or implementation of measures intended to provide equality of treatment and opportunity for members of groups that have historically been subject to discrimination.
Vermont Legislature
Vermont House — Addison-1 (2 seats)
Mike Roy
- Age
- 62
- Occupation
- Retired Middlebury College library director/CIO; MREMS, Town Energy Committee,Middlebury Indivisible
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
While housing, healthcare, and education get most of the attention, climate change is an underappreciated part of Vermont's affordability crisis. The floods of 2023 and 2024 caused more than $1 billion in damage. Add rising food costs from disrupted growing seasons and the health impacts of wildfire smoke drifting down from Canada, and climate change is already a hidden tax on every Vermont household's budget. However, the transition to clean energy is one of our best opportunities to save Vermonters money and keep energy dollars circulating in our own economy instead of flowing out of state to fossil fuel companies.
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
While I agree that we face a fiscal crisis in how we fund education, I think that consolidating school districts without addressing the underlying causes risks treating the symptom (underenrollment) rather than the cause, which is that Vermont is unaffordable for young families. I was relieved to see the Governor's plan revised, and the work of figuring out a sustainable budget model being moved back to a set of regional conversations and planning processes. I support regional cooperation and consolidation where communities believe it makes sense, but I don't think consolidation by itself solves Vermont's education or affordability challenges.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
While I believe that there needs to be strong state-level oversight to ensure equity, I would not replace local budget-setting with state control. Local districts have a clearer understanding of the needs of their communities, and I support a balance in which the state sets clear standards for equity and accountability while communities retain a meaningful role in deciding how to meet local needs.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
The data suggests that we are seeing recovery after a decade of decline, but there is work to be done to ensure that our young people are getting the education they need, especially to address widening equity gaps in terms of graduation rates. There is also work to be done to address literacy. Before proposing new legislation, I would first want to understand what we can do to better support our teachers. As mentioned above, our challenges around funding education are intertwined with health care costs and overall affordability that make Vermont increasingly unaffordable to young families.
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
I support the implementation of state-funded single payer primary care, as a first step to making good on Vermont's commitment to eventually having a state-funded single payer health care system. There is a great deal of evidence from other countries that one can provide high-quality health care at a reasonable cost through systems that reduce the administrative costs and fragmentation associated with our current insurance system.
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
We should put in place a cap-and-invest program as recommended by the Climate Council. By doing so, we would create a funding stream from fossil-fuel use that could fund the transition to clean energy solutions (EVs and heat pumps) and associated infrastructure (weatherization, EV charging infrastructure). The key to doing this well turns on paying attention to equity, so that the benefits of the transition to clean energy are enjoyed by all Vermonters.
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
Act 181, which makes it easier to build mixed-use and denser housing, is a good step. We should look for ways to reduce construction costs, including modular and other less expensive construction techniques. We should evaluate the new CHIP program that lowers up-front costs to see if it is getting enough uptake. Taking a hard look at how we tax second homes and short-term rentals could generate resources for housing and encourage long-term housing. Finally, thinking about how to finance affordable housing through revolving funds and other instruments is worth exploring.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “Yes.”
Robin Scheu*
Did not respond to our survey.
Vermont House — Addison-2
Tanya Byker
Did not respond to our survey.
Annie Wilson
Did not respond to our survey.
Vermont House — Addison-3 (2 seats)
Joseph "Joe" Baker
Did not respond to our survey.
Ariel Bolles
- Age
- 42
- Occupation
- Design Strategist for federal government services. I'm on the Ferrisburgh Town Center Committee.
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
Vermont is facing a demographic cliff: we're the second-oldest state in the country, public school attendance is declining, the population boost from the pandemic hasn't persisted. If we want to be able to have a workforce that can support our aging population and a tax base that can support our schools and other state services, we must grow our population to meet that need. Household sizes are smaller, so we must build more affordable, accessible homes for retirees to downsize into and for young working families to start out in. We can't have a thriving, healthy economy without people.
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
I support the response of the Legislature to Gov Scott's unreasonable demands around school district consolidation. I think that allowing local districts to study the effects and benefits of consolidation on their own and make their own decisions is a good approach — there may be cost savings to be found in consolidation and shared services but it should be community-led. I'll fight to keep our local public schools open, because these are the hearts of our towns, regardless of what happens at the district level.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
As a local voter and property tax payer, I know the pain of the current process of determining and voting on school budgets each year and wondering how much higher the property tax bill will be. I'm open to a more streamlined approach that gives the state more control, as long as it ensures equity for lower-income communities. A lot of details still need to be hashed out on this so I'll be watching that closely.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
My family moved to Vermont when I was five years old because of the reputation of the public schools here. I'm a proud graduate of Vermont public schools and send my children to Ferrisburgh Central School. Schools everywhere took a hit coming out of the pandemic and there are a lot of new challenges in our society that put more pressure and responsibility on teachers. We must support and listen to teachers and staff, and invest in behavioral and SEL support for students so that their needs are met. I believe that better academic outcomes will follow.
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
1: Universal primary care has real potential to not only lower costs but also improve health outcomes, by encouraging more primary care physicians to work in rural areas and removing cost as a blocker to seeking preventative care.
2: Reintroduce S.190, a popular bill with bipartisan support for reference-based pricing that would have provided immediate relief and savings in our healthcare system. Phil Scott vetoed this bill despite its popularity.
3: Something that would specifically affect education budgets is a single, statewide public employee health plan that would cover state employees, school teachers and staff, and municipal employees too.- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
We know that the biggest contributors to climate change-causing emissions in Vermont are transportation/mobile sources, and residential, commercial and industrial fuel use. I want to see policy that incentivizes changes in habits and creates better systems, rather than putting the burden on individuals to take action that can be financially out of reach. This might look like improving public transportation options so folks have a feasible alternative to driving everywhere, and modernizing our energy infrastructure to increase community-owned solar projects and geothermal.
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
We must streamline the permitting process to make it more predictable and affordable to remove surprises and disappointments for builders and developers. We must fund organizations such as Addison Housing Works who are doing the essential work of meeting community needs and creating permanently affordable housing in a variety of ways - through new construction, purchasing existing homes and more. We must increase housing density in cities and town centers, and invest in infrastructure improvements to support it where needed. We also must invest in CTE to train up the workforce needed to support this building boom.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate did not respond.
Rob North*
Did not respond to our survey.
John Stroup
- Age
- 50
- Occupation
- Professor, Champlain College; Addison Northwest School Board Member 9 years, Chair of Board 5 years
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
Education transformation and property taxes.
Vermont is in the middle of a generational reckoning with how we fund and organize public schools. The foundation formula, school consolidation, construction debt, healthcare costs embedded in education budgets will shape property tax bills for every Vermont homeowner for decades.
I have lived this from the inside for nine years on the school board. Getting education transformation right will require even greater attention in the next few years.
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
Yes, with important caveats. The Legislature is right that Vermont's education system needs structural reform. I support the direction of Acts 73 and 170: more regional collaboration, greater efficiency, fairer funding.
But the Addison-3 communities have already done much of this work. We merged districts. We closed a very small school. We invested in our buildings. We made hard decisions. We cannot penalize communities that led.
We need to keep students at the center. That means continued investment in literacy, math instruction, and career and technical education, the things that change outcomes for children
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
The state already does this more than most people realize. As a school board it often seemed that local control of budgets was a mirage.
The Education Quality Standards impose significant requirements and constraints on what local districts can actually decide. Local budget votes are narrower than people think which is precisely why so many Vermonters feel confused and frustrated by their tax bills.
Rather than debating whether to give the state more power, we should be honest about the power it already has and use it more transparently and fairly.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
Vermont's public schools are genuinely good and genuinely uneven. We have extraordinary teachers and deep community commitment. But achievement gaps persist and Vermont is issuing emergency teaching licenses at very high rates.
My priorities: implement the literacy education transformation fully, invest in career and technical education, expand school-based mental health support, and build on our early childhood investments. We also need to demand more from the administration who more often complains from afar rather than builds working partnerships with educators.
Good schools. Capable of becoming great — if we keep students at the center of every decision.
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
Four specific things.
First, make reference-based pricing happen in 2027 hospitals are charging commercial insurers much more than what Medicare pays for the same service. That gap is where savings live.
Second, demand price transparency such as a public dashboard so Vermonters can see what care costs before they need it.
Third, invest in primary care because money spent there is a economic and moral investment.
Fourth, scrutinize the powerful including hospital transformation plans, private equity, and the UVM Health Network's Vermont rates.
We have the tools. I'll use them.
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
Weatherization and building efficiency because it is the single intervention that simultaneously reduces emissions, lowers heating costs for working families, creates local jobs, and addresses our older housing stock.
Vermont's buildings are among the least efficient in the U.S. Many run on volatile fossil fuels. Every home weatherized and greater access to heat pumps reduces emissions while putting money back in people's pockets.
This is a practical, affordable, and ready to scale opportunity.
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
First, zoning and permitting reform for faster and less expensive builds especially in ready to grow town centers.
Second, workforce housing funds to make building for working families viable.
Third, a regional rental assistance for pooling municipal contributions with state and federal matching funds.
Fourth, infrastructure investment. Look at Hardwick, a great idea thwarted by lack of water infrastructure. The state should be a funding partner for projects like Vergennes' $25.5 million sewer bond that directly unlock housing capacity. And we need to take chances on good, long-term sustainable projects like the Ferrisburgh-Vergennes Transit-Oriented Development Plan that unlocks housing capacity.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “Yes.”
Vermont House — Addison-4 (2 seats)
Jeanne Albert
- Age
- 64
- Occupation
- Retired math professor, Lincoln School Board Chair, Rural School Community Alliance steering member
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
Reducing Vermont’s dependence on fossil fuels is essential from many perspectives: climate, environment, health, safety, reliability.
Moving to clean, local, efficient energy and transportation is also an economic and cost-of-living issue. Heating, transportation, and electricity typically represent disproportionately larger portions of lower to moderate income Vermonters’ living costs, versus other earners. That means our dependence on fossil fuels is also an equity issue.
Vermont spends a significant amount of its budget on imported fossil fuels— over $2 billion a year. Moving to clean energy will help us keep more of our financial resources in state and enhance local economic resiliency.
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
I do *not* support forced consolidation, which research confirms does not reliably reduce costs or increase academic achievement– often the opposite, especially in rural areas.
Instead, I support recommendations by the Act 73 Redistricting Task Force, that reviewed research and Vermont-specific data in-depth and considered input from thousands of Vermonters.
The Task Force promoted (1) Collaborative Educational Service Areas (CESAS) to reduce costs through shared services, and (2) locally driven voluntary mergers that support community schools.
While I don't support all Act 170 provisions, including its overly rapid timeline, I do support provisions that echo the above recommendations.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
As a rule, I am wary of drastically reducing local democratic decision-making, a significant strength of our state. In the current moment for our country I am *particularly* concerned about strengthening local democracy, amidst continual attempts by President Trump and others to misuse federal power and weaken the power and independence of states.
While increased statewide control regarding some areas of school district budgets can be appropriate—for example, school construction aid– we need to tread very carefully before enacting more comprehensive state control of school district budgeting.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
As Chair of the Lincoln School District Board, I am extremely proud of the dedicated teachers and staff of Lincoln Community School and our strong academic achievements.
I know that student achievement in Lincoln extends far beyond state assessments and likewise, there is a wealth of incredible learning taking place in Vermont schools, not all captured via “standard” means.
To have high-quality schools we need high-quality teachers. Improving quality statewide should start with a comprehensive understanding of the deep learning taking place at all our schools, and a plan to ensure that high-quality teachers are in place across the state.
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
I’m very encouraged by the enactment of referenced-based pricing in Vermont, which will reduce premiums and extreme cost disparities. Unfortunately, Governor Scott vetoed an initial implementation plan; we should move forward with this beneficial measure.
I also support enacting universal primary care in Vermont. Ensuring that all Vermonters receive high-quality, locally-available primary care will reduce costs while addressing root causes and inequity in the system overall.
The legislature has made good progress reducing the cost of prescription drugs and, working with VT Treasurer Mike Piecak, helping reduce or eliminate medical debt. I am very interested in expanding these efforts.
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
The accelerating effects of climate change are clear: from devastating winds and flooding, to exceptionally warm winters and severe summer drought, these “extreme” events devastate families, farms, livelihoods, and ecosystems.
We must make real progress toward achieving the Global Warming Solutions Act carbon reduction targets, while enhancing climate resiliency and making a transition to renewable energy that is affordable and equitable for all.
Achieving these reductions in the major emissions areas of heating and transportation will require a host of initiatives, for example: weatherization, lower-emissions heating systems, community energy projects, electric vehicle incentives, and expanded charging infrastructure.
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
All Vermonters need a safe, affordable place to live. Affordable housing shortages cause instability and hardship for families and communities, exacerbating labor challenges for businesses. Housing scarcity also prevents young families from moving or staying here, contributing to declining school enrollments.
Helping first-time home buyers via tax credits or down-payment grants is a critical step to housing stability. I’m very interested in permanently affordable home initiatives—for example, through shared equity ownership.
Many of our single-family houses also could be transformed into apartments. In addition, we need to ensure that more Vermont homes are for residents, not out-of-state investment vehicles.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Lynn Dike
Did not respond to our survey.
Chanin Hill
Did not respond to our survey.
Karen Lueders*
Did not respond to our survey.
Vermont House — Addison-5
Jubilee McGill*
Did not respond to our survey.
Del Thompson
Did not respond to our survey.
Vermont House — Addison-Rutland
Jim Casey*
Did not respond to our survey.
Jonathan Hescock
- Age
- 66
- Occupation
- Owner of Vermont Victory Greenhouses, Contractor, Shoreham Town Moderator
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
Health care and the cost of insurance is the most pressing problems for Vermonters. With the loss of federal dollars, our demographics and inflation the cost of health care and health insurance has ballooned for Vermonters. The federal governments cuts to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act has forced many Vermont's to either go uninsured or under insured. Legislators in the next session should reexamine our spending priorities in light of our current health care crisis.
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
Mostly Yes.
The loss of student population is a key driver in cost/student in Vermont. Especially, since our property taxes are tied to educational cost Vermonters are reeling from rapidly increasing property taxes. The House sponsored H955 represents a great example of how the different branches of State Government, representing different voices and responsibilities can come together for a solution. Districts should see some savings through the CESAs, mergers are voluntary not mandatory but districts are required to study the feasibility for school consolidation.- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
Currently the state basically gets a pool of money through property taxes and then distributes it to the different school districts. The foundation formula will set an amount each district can spend per student. Local control has largely been lost already for many towns. Districts with high per student costs will especially be affected by the foundation formula. Whether I support these changes will depend on if I feel they lead to better outcomes for Students and school cost per students can be reduced.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
I have not quantitatively fully researched this especially when looking at different metrics. Generally, I believe Vermont ranks in the upper tier of States. However, with Vermont's high cost per student we do not see a consistent relationship between costs and outcomes. Attracting good teachers, providing strong teacher support and more student mental health and guidance. Greater equity of school spending.
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
Ultimately a national or regional universal health care system that eliminates the insurance industry and the profit based system. There is some interest in having Vermont create a primary care for all which I would consider. Reexamine our Certificate of need policy and how hospitals to an extent control the number of specialist. Support programs to bring in more international specialist, doctors and health care workers. Create a program of health care navigators to advocate and assist Vermonters when faces with health care comparative decisions, medical bills and insurance claims.
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
More public transportation. We had better bus service in Vermont in the 1970s then we do today. I have concerns that Efficiency Vermont and we may need to create a more robust model that is less top heavy. My experience with Efficiency Vermont as both a contractor and home owner has been disappointing. Having rebates and incentives for heat pumps is good but leaves out the poorest segment of our population.
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
HomeShare Vermont has been a good program. More retirement communities that help elderly more into a smaller home so as to free up a larger home for families. Stronger requirements for the second home rental period on the property transfer tax. A streamlined permitting process for minor subdivisions that meet existing criteria. Consider reducing current use tax subsidies on land owned by out of state investors.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Vermont House — Bennington-1
Jonathan Cooper
Did not respond to our survey.
Charles Edward Jewett
Did not respond to our survey.
Vermont House — Bennington-2 (2 seats)
Brian "BC" Collamore*
Did not respond to our survey.
Anthony A. Cook
Did not respond to our survey.
William "Will" Greer*
Did not respond to our survey.
Vermont House — Bennington-3
David K. Durfee*
Did not respond to our survey.
Victor K. Harwood Jr
Did not respond to our survey.
Vermont House — Bennington-4 (2 seats)
Alford "Al" Clayton
Did not respond to our survey.
Michael Fernandez
- Age
- 32
- Occupation
- Conservation District Manager, Regional Comissioner of Conservation BCRC, Farmer
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
Our working lands economy is in dire need of investment, modernization, and diversification. Vermont's agricultural community doesn't just provide fresh, healthy local food and jobs, it's a main attraction drawing money into the state through agrotourism. In my career I have brought millions of dollars of investment into Bennington County to conduct conservation and middle supply chain projects with a net positive impact onto farmer's bottom lines. But the generational transition crisis looms large. We should increase funding for the WLEB, reform current use to make it more beneficial to first generation farmers, and pursue land purchase for agricultural value.
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
No, the solution to our education crisis is not to consolidate for the sake of consolidation. At it's root the crisis surrounding Vermont's education system is the same as the health care crisis, food system crisis, and all of the other overlapping and interrelated crises facing our home is a demographic problem. You can't solve demographic death spiral by tinkering around the edges. We need real proven solutions that can draw and retain young people like Public Banking to finance infrastructure, housing, and economic development while generating revenue to invest in meeting Vermonter's basic needs.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
No, the continuous moves by Montpelier to consolidate power to the state government is a fundamental betrayal of the proud tradition of direct democratic local control over the management of resources of all kinds that made Vermont such amazing and unique place. The more power we cede as citizens to the state the worse things get on all fronts. I don't see why education would be any different.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
C+. Many of the factors driving math and literacy proficiency declines are a nation-wide phenomenon. However, Act 139 started moving us in the right direction by taking the lessons of the Mississippi Miracle and centering early childhood literacy proficiency, universal screening, and rapid intervention tutoring when children begin to fall behind. But here again we have a demographic problem. Teachers are retiring and burning out faster than they can be replaced. New teachers are choosing more affordable places to live, our education workforce pipeline is broken. A Public Bank can help address this by strategically investing in Vermont's education workforce.
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
I think there is some real potential in the proposal to provide Universal Primary Care as a way to bring down healthcare costs and association plans have some merit as well. But here again, to be a broken record, we have a demographic problem that can be addressed through Public Banking. Once established and revenue positive we can implement a student loan debt refinancing program for current residents, graduates of Vermont High Schools, and people moving to Vermont with select needed professions like doctors, nurses, and NPs. A Public Bank can be a demographic magnet and resident retention tool.
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
This is the wrong question, the climate crisis is here. Agriculture and transportation are the strongest levers we can pull on to reduce GHG emissions. However, we have a bad track record at implementing regressive GHG reduction policies like the Clean Heat Standard that have a tendency to punch down. Where we should be investing is adaptation and resilience strategies that empower people by making life in Vermont more affordable and stimulate economic development. In Bennington County we've been doing this by embracing perennial carbon negative crops that reduce long term flood risk, methane digesters, and economically productive riparian buffers.
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
The first step would be to establish and capitalize a state owned public bank to increase the velocity of money within Vermont and provide additional capital to our local banks and credit unions. The second step would be to use the revenue generated through the participatory lending program to establish subsidized loan programs to purchase and rehabilitate derelict homes with loans that are affordable to every day Vermonters and then ADU's to allow for multigenerational living. The programs that do exist are insufficient, siloed, and fail to provide the most powerful tool in a bank's arsenal, fractional reserve lending.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Robert Hunter*
- Age
- 62
- Occupation
- Retired teacher. Writer. State Representative.
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
At the core we have the problem of our shrinking demographics. Attracting people and suitable industry to this state should be a priority.
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
This is a necessity. Over the last three decades we have lost 40,000 students. Right-sizing our school districts must happen.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
No.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
There are many good public schools in Vermont and many below average. So much has to do with the communities where these schools are located. The growing inequities need to be addressed, and recent legislation does begin to do just that.
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
Reference-based pricing for one. Aspirationally, working with neighboring states to construct a single-payer system.
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
Increase public transportation opportunities for Vermonters.
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
Improvements to Act 250 several years ago help downtown areas with existing infrastructure to increase housing, and more recent efforts like the CHIP program help, but more does need to be done.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Thomas West
- Age
- 44
- Occupation
- Retired U.S. Army veteran; project manager; Manchester Planning Comm; JP; SWTech School Board
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
Housing affordability. Vermont needs more homes that working people, young families, and seniors can actually afford.
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
I support reform, but not one-size-fits-all consolidation that harms rural schools or local voice.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
No. The state should set fair funding rules, but local voters and school boards should set budgets.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
Vermont schools are strong; we should improve affordability, teacher retention, and career pathways.
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
Universal primary and mental health care, lower drug costs, and less administrative waste.
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
Weatherize homes, electrify heating and transportation, and expand clean, reliable power.
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
We just need to make it easier to build more homes that Vermonters can actually afford.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Vermont House — Bennington-5 (2 seats)
Thomas "Tom" Blakely
- Age
- 73
- Occupation
- Retired from a career in IT. I serve on the Town of Bennington Historic Preservation Commission
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
A primary driver of the high cost of living in Vermont is health care and health insurance. We need, at the very least, universal primary care, additional investment in training healthcare professionals, and investment in community health centers to provide a lower-cost alternative to expensive hospital-based primary care. The high cost of health care and health insurance underlies the costs of everything else in Vermont.
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
As our population continues to decline, some degree of consoiidation will be required. But I don't think that relying on "economies of scale" expected from consolidation will alone solve out education funding. Changes and consolidation need to be organic, and determined at a local level. Alternate sources of funding education need to be developed to replace or supplement funding via property taxes. Health care costs need to be controlled to reduce their outsized impact on education spending.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
No. The state's role should be facilitating local education. That can take the form of centralizing purchasing and other areas where economies of scale can have an impact. Centralizing control of budgets risks ignoring real local needs and priorities, and I believe that local districts understand their needs and resources better than a central state authority. Local school district can find creative ways to do more with less, and serve as models for other districts.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
I think that education in Vermont is constrained by a lack of investment in appropriate resources and infrastructure. Further, I think that education needs to provide a background to prepare students for the job market that exists, and the one that will exist in the future. Not every student will be best served by preparation for a college education; trade schools and apprentice programs in partnership with schools will provide the skilled workers we need now and in the future. And let's return Civics education to schools to ensure that future voters are educated.
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
I propose a program, loosely modeled after Americorps, that would identify talented students interested in a healthcare career during their senior year of high school, then fully fund their education through medical/nursing or technical school. In return they would agree to spend at least 10 years practicing in Vermont, especially in areas of greatest need. Placing these primary care specialists in community health care clinics, similar to the Battenkill Valley Community Health clinic in Arlington, will have a major impact in the quality, availabiiity and cost of health care in Vermont.
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
As an investor in community solar in Bennington, I am a strong supporter of green, renewable energy: solar, wind and geothermal. I also support replacing or supplementing fossil-fuel-based heat with heat pumps. The state needs to support communities and individuals in that conversion effort with subsidies, tax breaks and, where appropriate, grants and loans. The PUC also needs to ensure reasonable net metering rates are paid to small producers -- individuals and community-based producers -- to ensure a reasonable return on investment. For solar, I believe that existing and new rooftops are the best locations.
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
Increaased training for those wanting a career in construction: carpentry, plumbing, electrical, etc. Reducing costs of materials by eliminating tariffs. Institute a Public Bank for Vermont to ensure credit is available (through partnership with local banks and credit unions) backed by the Public Bank, similar to what the State of North Dakota has done. The public bank would also produce revenue for the state, which should be used to support housing, small businesses and farmers.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Mary A. Morrissey*
Did not respond to our survey.
Michael Nigro
Did not respond to our survey.
Vermont House — Bennington-Rutland
Sandra "Sandy" Pinsonault*
Did not respond to our survey.
Mike Rice
Did not respond to our survey.
Vermont House — Caledonia-1
Debra "Debbie" Powers*
Did not respond to our survey.
David Tucker
- Age
- 73
- Occupation
- Retired human services worker, former director of the VT Office of Economic Opportunity health
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
Heath care costs as a driver of increased education and property tax costs
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
Yes - having those decisions made at the local/regional level makes sense
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
I don’t think so. That would make our schools less of a part of our communities
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
I think our public schools are high quality and could be made better by sharing services and educational opportunities across districts
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
Work with other states to negotiate lower prescription drug costs for all Vermonters
Support efforts expand and increase access to primary care.- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
Continue to pursue home Weatherization efforts that reduce the need for home heating fuels
Increase automobile charging stations throughout Vermont- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
Expand the Vermont Rental Housing Improvement Program
Expand shared-equity housing programs and support accessory dwelling units, multi generational housing, and first time homebuyers.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Vermont House — Caledonia-2
Audrey Grant
Did not respond to our survey.
Michael Southworth*
Did not respond to our survey.
Vermont House — Caledonia-3 (2 seats)
Bill Coleman
- Age
- 69
- Occupation
- I have worked as a counselor since 1995. I’m on my local school board.
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
Economic fairness by taxing our wealthiest people at a higher rate will alleviate a lot of suffering. We need to tax second homes at a higher rate. School taxes should be based upon income, not the amount of property owned by the taxpayer.
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
The savings from previous legislation of this type have never been documented, while the cost of constructing big new regional high schools would increase and not decrease tax burdens. While some savings may be achieved by shared service arrangements between various schools and districts, they will not amount to the magnitude of what is needed.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
Such an approach sounds like a back door way to bring about involuntary consolidations. Tax fairness by sharply reducing the rate for low and moderate income working families and increasing taxes on the very wealthiest among us is much more promising than relying upon the state to set rates, whether uniformly or otherwise.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
Our public schools are bouncing back from serious problems that took place during the pandemic. Test scores are improving at fourth and eighth grade grade math and literacy as new research based curriculums are implemented.
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
Single payer health care will eliminate so much wasteful bureaucracy and reduce the cost of health care considerably. The Governor appoints most of the Green Mountain Care Board which is interwoven with people who recently worked for the insurers. That introduces serious conflicts of interest that must be rooted out!
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
Energy Efficiency, upgrades to insulation and tightening up windows and doors are critical. People need to learn skills and those unable to participate in this process need hands on support in their homes. Electric vehicles must be supported with many additional quick chargers installed. Wasteful heating and transportation are accelerating climate change.
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
We must pass the millionaire tax which could place a 6 percent surcharge on earnings of over $500,000 per year. That would raise tens of millions for construction of housing for low and moderate income Vermonters.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Dennis R. Labounty
Did not respond to our survey.
Erik R. Lavallee
Did not respond to our survey.
Beth M. Quimby*
Did not respond to our survey.
Vermont House — Caledonia-Essex (2 seats)
Brandolyn Bradley
- Age
- 41
- Occupation
- Healthcare-Neurology (Movement Disorders); Board Member, Caledonia Food Co-op
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
Our agriculture economy needs more attention and support. Our local food producers help to secure our food system and the lack of attention and support for our farmers, especially our dairy farmers put us all at risk and more dependent on corporate agriculture. We are fortunate in Vermont to have access to locally sourced food; we need to do more to support and strengthen this industry.
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
I do not believe in forced district consolidation. The attempts to do are short-sited and don't address the root causes for high school budgets, nor does it address the lack of services and supports are schools are facing. Lastly, as a parent of small child, forced consolidation doesn't address the quality of the education our children are receiving.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
I do not. District budgets are determined based on several factors, including salaries, benefits, programming, facility needs, etc. Since districts can't negotiate healthcare, they already have control of the 75% of what makes up district budgets. The solution is not the state coming in to decide which programs get cut or which facilities don't get upgrades. The solution is addressing healthcare reform.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
I am the parent of a small child who's just started kindergarten. I cannot speak to the quality of the education children have received firsthand. I do think we need more comprehensive civic education, responsible use of technology and the dangers of AI, and identifying propaganda and teaching critical thinking.
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
I believe Universal Primary Care is a good start, however I'm more interested in developing a Regional Universal Healthcare System, which includes expanding our agriculture economy to help bring down costs.
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
We need to reimagine how we leverage agriculture to identify solutions to climate change. For example, there are countries that grow a specific type of mushroom that is turned into a concrete that absorbs rainwater, reducing flooding. I also think our lack of a comprehensive transportation infrastructure needs to be addressed. We need to divest from fossil fuels as soon as possible. As of today, September 11, 2026, the cost of heating oil is $6.09 a gallon. A push towards solar and renewable energy is no longer up for debate, it's simply unaffordable not to.
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
I would like to introduce a Housing Bill of Rights, which includes protects and accountability measures for both landlords and tenants. Additional policies would include a ban on price gouging and a comprehensive housing locator tool that would help identify housing based on location, rent, amenities, average cost of utilities, and a landlord rating so there is greater transparency and accuracy for housing costs. I also think we need to implement a tax increase on second third homeowners who contribute to the lack of housing inventory and use those funds to build both affordable and energy efficient housing.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Amanda Cochrane
- Age
- 46
- Occupation
- I am the Executive Director of Umbrella
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
The cost of living in Vermont has been steadily increasing for years. Everything from the cost of groceries to fuel costs, housing costs, and healthcare costs. These costs are basic needs, and when they go up, people’s lives become more about surviving than thriving. I think elected officials need to look at the combination of increased expenses overall, holistically. When considering any policy more attention needs to be paid to the impact on the cash flow of Vermonters, who are more and more living on the edge.
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
Costs of our education system are too high for a variety of reasons. I support shifting how we develop school budgets to be more cost-conscious. I believe the foundation model will help reduce costs. Consolidation of school districts could lead to reduced expenses, but this should not be forced on communities. I think it is appropriate, as is being done, to ask school districts to consider the option, run the local numbers, and make the call. It may be that consolidation actually does not save money, so that should be considered along with the impact on local communities and families.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
I support the planned shift towards a foundation formula. This is effective in the majority of other states and will help to reduce educational spending, which has, for a variety of reasons, gotten to be unsustainable as designed. Additionally, I believe that the shift toward a foundation formula will ensure our region of Concord, Kirby and St. Johnsbury has the necessary funding to support our children who come from more disadvantaged backgrounds than other areas of the state.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
As a mother of three children in school in VT, this is very important to me. Statistics show that achievement in our schools has been decreasing. This is a trend throughout the country, with many factors (increased screen usage, post-COVID mental health challenges, etc.) contributing. We have an excellent teaching workforce, and I know how challenging educating young people can be today. More consistency from the Agency of Education, with accountability for measurable student outcomes, paired with the ability for schools to build on proven practices, would improve the quality of education.
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
Healthcare costs are soaring, driven by Vermont’s demographics and rising costs nationally. Long-term solutions should shift our system toward prevention and primary care. We can reduce unnecessary emergency room use by ensuring communities have access to urgent and primary care. Vermont should also learn from other states’ efforts to address rising care-management costs, including evaluating referrals to expensive specialists, procedures, and prescription drugs when less costly, effective alternatives exist. Finally, policies that attract younger people and encourage business investment could strengthen Vermont’s healthcare system by bringing more working-age people into the state, helping spread healthcare costs more broadly.
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
The greatest opportunity to reduce emissions is making climate policies work for people of all economic backgrounds, ensuring broader adoption. Supporting public transportation and bicycle infrastructure, weatherization and heating improvements through subsidies rather than mandates, and expanding programs like “Window Dressers” can reduce emissions while helping Vermonters save money. We should also make recycling and composting accessible without adding costs, particularly for those struggling to get by. Finally, we should learn from farmers, loggers, and others whose livelihoods and heritage are rooted in working the land. Their insight and input can help build broader support for effective climate action.
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
Vermont’s housing challenges require policies that adapt existing housing while encouraging thoughtfully planned development. We should support converting larger single-family homes into multi-family units and rehabilitating older, underused properties through funding and tax incentives. Expanding programs like Homeshare Vermont statewide could optimize existing living spaces, with targeted incentives for homeowners. We also need policies that encourage development in town centers and Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) by simplifying permitting and reducing unnecessary regulatory barriers. Given Vermont’s aging population, we need more housing options for older adults, including ADUs and senior housing. These efforts can increase housing availability, affordability, and choice.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Deborah Cordz Dolgin*
Did not respond to our survey.
Steven Dolgin
Did not respond to our survey.
Heather Whitemore Young
Did not respond to our survey.
Vermont House — Caledonia-Washington
Eric Bach
Did not respond to our survey.
Greg Burtt*
Did not respond to our survey.
Vermont House — Chittenden-1
Jana Brown*
Did not respond to our survey.
Vermont House — Chittenden-2 (2 seats)
Angela Arsenault*
- Occupation
- Freelance Journalist
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
I wouldn't say that there's a single part of the economy that needs more attention from elected officials. What we need is continued attention on all aspects of Vermont's economy, including housing, health care, education, and workforce needs.
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
I support some of the steps we've taken as a legislature but I don't believe that consolidation should be the focus when it comes to education. There is a need for some school districts to move forward with consolidation, but it is not the panacea that the Governor would like us to believe.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
Given the complexity of education funding and the number of social services that are included in school budgets, this is not a yes or no question. I could potentially support such legislation depending on the formula used to determine what the base spending amount set by the state would be, and whether or how regional differences in cost of labor are included.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
The quality of education in Vermont's public schools is not where it needs to be in order for all of Vermont's students to thrive. There are many opportunities to improve in the areas of special education, flexible pathways, and proficiency-based grading. We also need to improve school-based responses to hazing, harassment, and bullying. And we need statewide standards regarding the use of technology in education, which has been degrading the quality of education for a decade. We also need a stronger Agency of Education and a governor who actually cares about improving Vermont's public schools.
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
We need to implement reference-based pricing, as a start, and Governor Scott's veto of S.190 earlier this year was downright nonsensical. Beyond that, I believe we need to continue on the course the legislature has set by empowering the Green Mountain Care Board to properly oversee hospital budgets, and we need universal access to primary care, which would lead to more preventive care which is far less costly than emergency care. In addition to legislative action, the governor should use all available levers on this front, which has not happened under Scott's tenure.
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
Research shows that our transportation sector is the top source of emissions, which is challenging because we're a rural state and simply improving public transit isn't really an option here. So, helping Vermonters transition to electric vehicles should be a priority. The second biggest source of emissions is our thermal sector, which tells us that we also need to look at home heating as a way to reduce emissions. There is no simple solution but I will continue to look for ways to help Vermonters with fewer resources transition to cleaner energy sources.
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
I'm pleased that we've passed laws making it easier to build housing in areas with existing infrastructure and created a program to assist communities with the development of new infrastructure. It's worth giving those polices some time to bear fruit, as it were. I believe we need to work on policies that lead to more affordable housing, perhaps based on an income threshold or percentage of area household income. Additionally, manufactured homes and multi-generational communities present a real opportunity that we have not fully explored.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Erin Brady*
Did not respond to our survey.
Vermont House — Chittenden-3 (2 seats)
Edye Graning*
Did not respond to our survey.
Trevor Squirrell*
Did not respond to our survey.
Vermont House — Chittenden-4
John Kingston
- Age
- 66
- Occupation
- Business consultant also serving on a number of for-profit and non-profit boards (including CCRPC).
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
Vermont needs to promote growth of opportunity to stem population stagnation and decline.
Cost of living for most Vermonters is being impacted by property taxes (from school funding) and healthcare costs. The cost structures associated with education and healthcare (both at the provider and insurance level) need to be addressed.
The good news is that we are starting to address these issues. But it will take continued effort to enact the legislation needed to effectively move forward. That will require the continued movement to a more balanced Vermont legislature. I believe I can contribute to that balanced perspective.
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
Yes and no.
ACT 73 with the Foundation Formula is an improvement to our current school funding mechanism which is tremendously complex and limits understanding, transparency and accountability.
If ACT 73 and the Foundation Formula approach are well implemented then school districts should have more control over their budgets. They can be held more accountable for both education quality and fiscal responsibility. As local representatives, they should be best positioned to address any district and school consolidation that might be warranted.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
No, certainly not in the near term.
As previously stated, if well implemented, ACT 73 and the Foundation Formula can provide school districts with transparent and stable funding and allow the districts to work with their local constituents on school budgets.
We have already seen the lack of political will in Montpelier to address district and school consolidation. More importantly, local decision making means decision making closer to the communities being impacted. That improves transparency and accountability.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
Our statewide NAEP standardized test scores have declined over the years while our per pupil spending has increased dramatically. So, I view our education system as being in need of serious attention in terms of both quality and fiscal responsibility.
We need better coordination between the Vermont Agency of Education and the State Board of Education. It is critical that quality standards be established that are measurable and hold all schools to providing the highest standard of education for all Vermonters. Equity in opportunity starts with education. Vermont needs to once again be a leader in education.
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
It starts at the provider level and with our hospitals. Vermont hospitals are roughly 50% of healthcare spending in Vermont and by many measures carry some to the highest administrative costs in the country. That is one of the primary contributors to Vermont having the highest private insurance rates in the country. The good news is that UVMMC and GMCB are actively addressing this issue and need to continue to do so.
Primary and preventative care are the keys to bending the cost curve over the long term. Access to these services needs to be made easier and more affordable.
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
We need to be receptive to new ideas around power generation. We also need to be keenly focused on the relationship with Hydro Quebec which provides clean, renewable and affordable energy to our State. The current administration in Washington has strained our relationship with Canada. We cannot have the relationship with Hydro Quebec put at risk.
Incentives for more electric vehicle infrastructure (charging stations) needs to be explored.
Provide structures (taxes and regulations) that incent environmentally focused businesses to stay or relocate to Vermont. BETA Technologies is a wonderful example of this.
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
Vermont is doing a good job of bringing housing front of mind and putting programs in place to address both availability of housing and affordability. Unfortunately, housing construction continues to be under a lot of inflationary pressure.
I would support continuing and expanding these efforts:
1) continued creative public/private partnerships
2) reduced regulation such as that done for Tier 1 community development
3) affordable state programs like 10% For Vermont
4) creative legislation like CHIP which allows local communities to support local housing development
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Kelsey Pasteris
- Age
- 39
- Occupation
- Registered Nurse
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
Cost of housing which makes it difficult to stay in Vermont
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
I support the review of the shared services (CESAS) and the optional mergers with resources given on deciding if the merge makes sense, but would like to see a clearer message of what the goal is and evidence that these changes will achieve that goal. Is the goal to improve test scores in Vermont? Is the goal to lower the cost of education?
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
Maybe, it would depend on how the school budget would be determined.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
I am very impressed with my son's primary school in Hinesburg. Beyond a spiral notebook, everything is provided for him at school and he is exposed to many ways of learning such as making things with clay, outdoor classroom, and local author visits. I know that our test scores do not reflect a quality education, as we rank poorly nationally. When considering merging districts, let's make sure providing a quality education is the priority, which I don't think it currently is.
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
I would continue supporting the implementation of reference based pricing. We have adopted this model (act 68) and the legislature tasked the Green Mountain Care Board to establish maximum pricing as a first step. Through my research it has lowered costs needed to reach our goal.
We also need to invest more in access to primary care, ensure that every Vermonter has a primary care provider, to reduce the use of ER's when it isn't warranted and to put more emphasis on health prevention.- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
The 2 greatest contributors to climate change in Vermont are transportation and heating homes and buildings. Investing in solar, encouraging placement of solar on new development are not only very effective to reduce emissions, but very doable. Solar also allows for Vermont to be more nimble when there are power outages as storms increase due to climate change. The bill S202 that was passed last year, allows for homeowners and renters to use portable solar panels, which is a good start and can be part of the solution if people can afford them and are incentivized to buy them.
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
It will take multiple approaches to improve cost and availability of housing in Vermont. Through my research, what sounds promising and worth exploring with experts are: taxing second homes, prioritize building more permanently affordable housing and updating Act 250 and Act 181 to relevant needs in 2026.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Vermont House — Chittenden-5
Chea Waters Evans*
- Age
- 51
- Occupation
- Legislator
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
We can spend more time and energy on economic development policy that addresses our unique needs as a state. We have the second-smallest population in the country and our resources are spread widely across rural and more urban areas. With recent FEMA payouts, a dedicated group of folks working on land-use policy, and improvements in childcare access and availability, we’re getting there. But I think we need to listen to and collaborate on every level and address everything from concerns about local control to how to manage large businesses and bigger corporations that want to operate here.
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
I sure do. Mandatory mergers don’t result in better-educated kids or healthier communities. Allowing individual school districts the time and space to get it right is important for long-term success.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
I would hold off on supporting a full state school budget until we see how things play out with the district mergers and CESA districts that we only just created. I think a lot of times when we’ve passed education policy, something scary comes up (like a giant tax increase) and we scramble to “fix” it before we let our other good ideas take shape. But in theory, sure. I know there are states much bigger than ours that make it work well with far fewer districts.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
I always look to data and facts to support measurable things like school and education quality. Unfortunately, we don’t have much data, and what we do have isn’t great. If the Agency of Education starts taking data collection and analysis seriously, we’ll be able to shape policies for our kids, in their schools, that truly work for them.
I think our public schools are pretty good. I’d like to see more equitable opportunities for kids all over the state, more investment in CTE, and re-assessments of the way we teach our kids to read and the way we grade them.
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
I’d continue our work (it was vetoed last session, but it’s coming back) on implementing reference-based pricing. I’d put into place a universal primary care system. I’d explore any other ways that we can help Vermonters reduce their costs in the face of a severe lack of cooperation on the federal government’s part.
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
People always say, we’re Vermont, we’re so small, there aren’t many of us, how can we make a difference anyway? We can make a difference by collective efforts. To me, this means making it easier and more affordable for Vermonters to invest in alternative energy like wind and solar, find ways to replace or supplement the federal funding that was lost for energy efficiency—think heat pumps and solar panels—and work with municipalities and local energy committees to find ways to save money on a local and household level.
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
There’s more work to be done on Act 250 reform; caring for our environment and enabling smart, necessary growth is totally possible.
Our work on CHIP and TIF policies is going to open up more avenues for housing, and I think we also need to work on a community level to educate folks about how these opportunities can help their neighborhoods and town centers.
I know there’s a lot of finger-pointing and NIMBY accusations getting thrown around, and I think more community connection and outreach can really help.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Vermont House — Chittenden-6
Kate Lalley*
Did not respond to our survey.
Deb Mayfield
Did not respond to our survey.
Vermont House — Chittenden-7
Shawn J. Sweeney*
- Age
- 62
- Occupation
- I own a designbuild company. Served on the Planning Board. Served the Shelburne community.
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
Building homes. Every kind of house. If we do that, we bring more people to Vermont, keep more people in Vermont, and drive down the overall affordability crisis. We desperately need people. Families of all kinds and people of all kinds from everywhere. But they can't come here if they can't afford a place to live. We have to change that. Immediately.
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
Some. But we need to do more. I believe high school consolidation could be a long term cost saving solution throughout the state and in every county. I think the CESA's are a great first step, but we need to follow through with this law and make sure it gets the support it needs. But our schools are doing a great job. They are keeping our kids and our communities together. That can never be forgotten. We just have to creatively find affordable solutions to do it for less. And everyone needs to help.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
It depends on how it is set up. Local control is important, but it has also driven up the cost of education. I know we are discussing some possibilities that will be covered in the upcoming session in Montpelier.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
I would rate them high, but in countrywide comparisons when testing is the only quantifier, we are not doing well. I would like us to go back to a simple grading system, give kids actual mid-terms and tests, and go back to phonics-based reading. Some of the newer approaches shouldn't be completely thrown out, but we should mold some of the older methods with some of the newer proficiencies.
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
Open the market up to more insurance companies and get some competition back in the marketplace. I would also cut back on what I see as extraneous administration in our hospitals. Also, we need to go back to private practices. We consolidated those doctors into hospitals, and our costs skyrocketed.
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
We are already doing it. I have been in construction for 25 years and Vermont has slowly and methodically installed thousands of electric heat pump systems that have saved many tons of carbon. We are also making it easier to own and power electric vehicles around the state. And, we as a state have embraced solar, and it shows. We need to keep taking these very effective steps towards our slow progress away from fossil fuels. So my answer is keep doing what we are doing.
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
We have to enact sweeping regulatory and permit reform. I for one do not want to pave over the state or see housing on every mountain. However, we have backed ourselves into a dead end corner. We have established some of the most confounding, multi-layered and difficult permitting in the entire country. It's no wonder our homeless population per capita is one of the highest in America. We can do better. I plan to make this my priority this coming session.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Vermont House — Chittenden-8
Bridget Burkhardt*
- Occupation
- State Representative (Chittenden-8, 2025-present), SBSD School Board (2016-22), finance professional
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
The cost of housing is an affordability issue and an underlying obstacle to economic development. Businesses cannot grow if employees cannot find affordable places to live. The legislature has worked for years to make housing more affordable, but we need to do more. We need more skilled tradespeople to help build and maintain housing. Our regulations must continue to protect our natural resources without making it cost-prohibitive to build housing where it is most needed and appropriate. A higher tax on second homes would ease the burden on businesses, apartments, and primary homeowners while continuing to fund our public schools.
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
The Scott administration has set the framework for education reform after failing to implement several key pieces of legislation passed during the last decade that would have benefitted kids and taxpayers. I voted “no” on the reform bill in 2025 for many reasons, including forced mergers and provisions that move us toward a voucher system that will spell the end of public education as we know it. I voted a reluctant yes on this year’s bill because it allows communities more voice in the future of their schools and focuses on shared services, which might actually bring down costs.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
Broadly, I support a shift to a state-led education budget because it would create more predictability for taxpayers and remove some of the pressure to pass budgets from school boards. School districts would know earlier in the planning cycle what resources they would have for the coming year and could focus on allocating them in the way that works best for their communities. However, I advocated strongly for the ability of boards to put a limited amount “supplemental district spending” on the local ballot in years where needs arise that aren’t met by per-pupil funding from the state.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
Vermont’s public schools are high quality. Following worldwide trends, test scores have been on a downward trajectory. However, test scores do not paint the full picture. Nearly every challenge we face as a society – the mental health and opioid crises, screen addiction, poverty, food insecurity, homelessness, etc. – follow our kids into the classroom. We expect our schools to help kids process these challenges while also teaching them to read, write, do math, and become engaged citizens. We need leadership that understands the full picture and supports, rather than penalizes, schools for doing more than churning out test scores.
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
We should continue our work on reference-based pricing. Act 55 (2025) implemented reference-based pricing for drugs prescribed in hospitals to outpatients. This is expected to save millions of dollars for the insurance plans that cover school employees, which should slow the growth of premiums and thus property taxes. S.190, passed by the legislature this year but vetoed, would have implemented broader reference-based pricing for school district and exchange-purchased plans, saving all property taxpayers money. I also hope projects funded under the Rural Health Transformation Program will yield innovations that increase access and lower costs in our rural hospitals.
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
The greatest sources of emissions in Vermont are transportation and fuel used to heat our buildings. We need to create more incentives to shift toward cleaner electric heat, weatherize our buildings to reduce the amount of fuel used, and support the shift toward electric vehicles. We also need to take a holistic look at our public transportation system, which could help us use less fuel for transportation if we can expand it and overcome the obstacles it has faced.
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
We must continue our work to create a framework that enables developers to build more manufactured housing (which is cheaper, faster to build and of higher quality than ever before), to build more densely in appropriate areas, and to get through the permitting process more quickly and with less expense. The Treasurer got the ball rolling by bringing us legislation last year, which we passed, to allow him to invest funds under his management to purchase manufactured housing in bulk. We also need to figure out how to support infrastructure development in rural communities to make housing development possible there.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Mitchel Cypes
Did not respond to our survey.
Vermont House — Chittenden-9
Emilie Krasnow*
Did not respond to our survey.
Vermont House — Chittenden-10
Kate Nugent*
Did not respond to our survey.
Vermont House — Chittenden-11
Brian Minier*
- Age
- 53
- Occupation
- former school board member, incumbent state legislator
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
State support for infrastructure (sewer, etc) in the development of housing to increase availability and lower the cost of purchase and rental.
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
Yes, so long as local communities are supportive.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
Under the correct circumstances I could support a state-level foundation formula as a means of setting a floor for per-pupil funding.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
I think our schools are doing an admirable job of providing a good education while also addressing the many other expectations (universal free meals, mental health, etc) that have been placed upon them.
Should the current effort at consolidation and shared services be given the time to come to fruition I am hopeful that it will result in expanded offerings, with the reintegration of technical education featuring prominently.- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
I believe that appropriate measures like reference-based pricing and cutting administrative costs, which are already underway, will help somewhat. I need to know more about the costs, benefits, and timelines associated with any kind of universal coverage before speaking more fully on the subject.
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
I think that cuts to public transportation are short-sighted and would like to avoid any further loss of service.
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
State support for necessary infrastructure like sewer for projects that will help us meet our housing goals.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Vermont House — Chittenden-12
Martin J. Lalonde*
Did not respond to our survey.
Vermont House — Chittenden-13 (2 seats)
Bram Kleppner*
- Age
- 60
- Occupation
- Business leader, 2 yrs in VT House, Climate Council, Tax Structure Commission, Medicaid Board
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
Permitting reform, which will most immediately lower housing and energy costs, and will have longer-term effects on health care costs, education reform, and business growth.
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
Yes. I support maintaining neighborhood elementary schools, and consolidating middle schools and high schools, and co-locating high schools and CTE centers. I also support: moving to a foundation formula, with appropriate weightings; only allowing public dollars to go to a private school if the student's district does not have a public school offering the student's grade level; and developing a permanent source of funds for school construction, maintenance, renovation, and repair.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
Yes. We cling to the illusion of local control of school budgets, but it is an illusion. Towns vote to increase their school budgets, and their property taxes go down, and they vote to cut their budgets, and property taxes go up. The connection between a town's vote on the budget on Town Meeting Day and what happens with their property taxes is impossibly complicated, which is its own form of injustice. Statewide budgeting would make it easier to contain costs, and make both the tax burden and the educational quality across the state more consistent, more equitable, and fairer.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
My children attended public school in Burlington, and had wildly differing experiences. One got so fine an education that she thrived academically at a highly selective private college. One skipped class all the time with no consequences, smoked lots of weed, got passed up from grade to grade, and got almost no education. That suggests that a Vermont kid can get a really good public education, and a Vermont kid can graduate with a very meager education. Creating the systems to identify kids who are not thriving academically and getting them the needed support would be my priority.
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
Reference-based pricing, and universal primary care as a big step in getting to Medicare for All.
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
Generation: transition the McNeil Power Station out of combustion and into solar, geothermal, and battery storage.
Transportation: EV charging infrastructure for multi-family homes.
Heating and cooling buildings: support weatherization and the heatpump transition.
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
End single-family zoning. Create zones and building specs for "no-permit" construction. Reform permitting so that one individual can no longer delay and/or kill housing projects that the community wants.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Karen Paul
Did not respond to our survey.
Vermont House — Chittenden-14 (2 seats)
Elizabeth Allen-Pennebaker
- Age
- 57
- Occupation
- I've been a college professor, K-12 teacher, small business owner, and am currently a consultant.
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
Healthcare. Our system has some of the highest prices and longest wait times in the country. And insurance premiums are the primary cost driver of our ever-increasing education budgets and thus our property tax increases as well. I've lived under two universal state-funded healthcare systems and found that they offered excellent care, short wait times, cost nothing at the point of service, and came with minimal administrative hassle. I would love to bring this kind of excellent healthcare to Vermont. As a start, we should invest as a state in community nursing models, which are highly cost-effective.
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
I am certainly in favor of administrative efficiencies and consolidation of programs where it makes sense, and what I like about Act 170 is that it promotes shared resources where possible but does not mandate specific mergers. Rather, it requires that individual districts consider mergers with the help of facilitators and allows voters to have a say in what new districts are created. This is a much more democratic approach than the Governor's top-down directives and I think it's much more in the Vermont spirit.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
I don't see how we can (practically speaking) avoid at least some state control of education budgets without violating the Brigham ruling. Theoretically, local school boards across the state could coordinate to ensure that their respective budgets will provide substantially equal educational opportunities to all Vermont students, but that coordination task seems mammoth. Thus, a state-funded foundation formula is logical - but only if it is not used as a way to systematically underfund schools. I am in favor of local schools having the discretion to spend an additional 10% on extra programs or services that students in their district need.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
The "Vermont State Report Card" shows us tracking fairly steadily with national averages but not meeting the standards of the Every Student Succeeds Act. To me, objective standards mean far more than comparisons. Statewide standards and science-of-reading-based curricula are one promising avenue toward improvement. We also need localized training pipelines and fast-tracked certifications to ensure that we have enough special ed, STEM teachers, and support staff. We need more flexible scheduling and transportation to remove barriers to Vo-Tech training. And we should partner with local social service agencies to provide increased mental health support for students AND educators.
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
Ultimately I think we should move toward a universal, state-funded system. The US is the *only* OECD country without a universal health care system, and we score worse on most health metrics but spend nearly double the OECD average. As a first step toward universal care, I would support community nursing models. Community primary healthcare has been shown to be highly cost-effective, and it also introduces an exciting new element of local control. Once we see how empowering it is to manage our healthcare as voters, more Vermonters might get behind statewide universal, voter-managed healthcare.
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
My answer here is integrally connected to my answer on housing. Vermonters cover a lot more miles than our New England neighbors, partly because of commuting and partly because of trips to distant rural shopping centers. Unsurprisingly, transportation is our highest source of emissions. Many Vermonters drive so many miles because housing is scarce and unaffordable near larger economic centers. If we could create more housing by splitting existing too-large homes in near centers (see below), we'd likely reduce vehicle miles travelled AND at least stabilize our second-largest source of emissions - heating - by not building brand-new housing.
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
There’s a housing mismatch: most Vermont households are 1-2 people, while 60% of Vermont homes have 3+ bedrooms. It costs $500K to build a new affordable housing unit, but most Vermonters can only afford less than half that.
So, we need small homes that cost under $250K.
To me, the clear answer is to promote the splitting of existing too-large homes. This has already been highly successful: the "Apartments in Homes" program in Brattleboro has created more than 50 affordable units for under $50K each - 90% less than a new build. We should support programs like this statewide.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Aaliyah Davila
Did not respond to our survey.
Adam Franz
Did not respond to our survey.
Vermont House — Chittenden-15 (2 seats)
Ben Bosley
- Age
- 46
- Occupation
- I provide direct support services to people with disabilities and founded OLC.
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
Vermont needs to focus on building an economy that creates good-paying jobs and makes it easier for people to afford to live here. We should make Vermont a great place to start and grow responsible businesses, attract investment in areas like green energy, advanced manufacturing, and technology, and strengthen our existing small businesses. I also support exploring a public state bank to put more Vermont capital to work here, and I've proposed a Green Mountain Conservation Corps to employ and train Vermonters while addressing needs like flood resilience, conservation, weatherization, housing rehabilitation, clean-energy infrastructure, parks, and trails.
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
I believe we must begin with a fundamental question: What educational opportunities should every Vermont student have regardless of ZIP code? Then determine the most efficient structure for delivering. With declining enrollment, we can't assume every administrative structure and institution should remain exactly as is while fixed costs are spread among fewer students. We must examine shared services, regional cooperation and appropriate consolidation, but consolidation must be a means to better, financially sustainable education.
And we have to address property taxes. Our system isn't sustainable if homeowners, particularly people on fixed incomes, increasingly can't afford to remain in their homes.- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
I believe in state responsibility for equitable baseline funding and reasonable cost controls, while preserving meaningful local authority over priorities, supplemental spending, and continued voter accountability.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
I believe Vermont has dedicated educators and many strong schools, but the statewide data show real room for improvement, particularly in literacy, math, achievement gaps and graduation rates. Given how much Vermonters invest in education, we should expect stronger educational outcomes and responsible use of taxpayer dollars.
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
I believe healthcare is a right, not a privilege. I support moving toward universal healthcare, with a robust public option starting with primary and preventative care as a practical step toward guaranteeing affordable, quality care.
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
I want Vermont to use both public and private investment to create good-paying jobs in clean energy, weatherization, conservation and resilient infrastructure. My proposals include attracting and developing clean-energy businesses and creating a Green Mountain Conservation Corps to employ and train Vermonters while improving our climate infrastructure.
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
Where there's land where homes can be built ecologically:
1. Make rules simpler so good housing projects aren't unnecessarily delayed or blocked.
2. Build the basics like water, sewer, roads, and utilities so homes can actually be built.
3. Allow different kinds of homes like duplexes, townhouses, apartments, and manufactured- not just single-family houses.
4. Let private builders build the housing they can make financially work.
5. Fix up homes we already have instead of letting usable buildings sit vacant or deteriorate.
6. Use public money where it's really needed to build affordable housing.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “Yes.”
Brian Cina*
Did not respond to our survey.
Troy Headrick*
- Age
- 59
- Occupation
- I am an Assistant Director at the University of Vermont Center for Student Conduct
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
Worker power needs far greater attention. Vermont’s affordability debate is too often reduced to taxes and austerity, while wages, benefits, labor protections, and collective-bargaining rights receive far less attention. Worker power is affordability policy. When workers can organize, negotiate fair wages, and exercise meaningful leverage, they are better equipped to afford housing, healthcare, childcare, and everyday necessities. As Co-Chair of the Working Vermonters’ Caucus, I have watched organized labor and working people be disregarded as legislative priorities are developed. They must have a meaningful role in writing the policies that shape their working lives.
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
Only in part. Vermont should pursue regional cooperation and governance changes when they expand opportunity, preserve local access, and reduce genuine administrative duplication. Consolidation cannot become a predetermined answer to every district’s challenges. We are not going to balance public education on the backs of teachers, paraeducators, and school staff. Any restructuring must include educators and organized labor, improve students’ education, and preserve funding weights for students from economically disadvantaged households and English learners. Good public schools are economic development, and equity must remain central to Vermont’s funding system.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
Potentially, yes. I am open to a statewide foundational model if base funding is adequate and meaningful student weights remain intact. Where a student lives should not determine access to a quality education. Our current system repeatedly forces communities to choose between property-tax increases and meeting students’ needs, leaving local budgets hostage to tax pressure. I would also consider a structure that relies more heavily on income and ability to pay. State authority must provide equitable resources without imposing inadequate spending caps, while preserving a meaningful local role in how those resources are used.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
I rate Vermont’s public schools highly, while recognizing that their quality is being strained by years of insufficient investment. Both of my daughters attended Burlington public schools and graduated from UVM. I remain deeply grateful for the education they received and the teachers who cared for them. Our greatest opportunities will require a willingness to invest in aging buildings, adequate staffing, and student supports. Vermont has ignored school infrastructure to an alarming degree. Give educators the resources they need and trust their expertise. They want to teach our children with care and commitment, and public policy should enable them.
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
Healthcare is a fundamental human right. My long-term goal is universal, publicly financed healthcare, and I support practical steps toward it. Universal primary care is the logical next step by guaranteeing access to routine and preventive care before untreated conditions become emergencies. Vermont must also regulate hospital prices, reduce administrative overhead, protect Medicaid, and make care affordable and within a reasonable distance to the patient’s front door. Governor Scott’s veto of S.190 blocked a responsible start on reference-based hospital pricing and primary-care reform. Vermont cannot keep demanding lower costs while rejecting the tools designed to achieve them.
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
Vermont’s greatest practical opportunity is reducing fossil-fuel use in buildings through weatherization and cleaner heating. The Clean Heat Standard became politically toxic, but its core premise was practical. Require suppliers to help finance efficiency, weatherization, and lower-emission heating, with priority for low and moderate-income households. The Legislature repealed that framework before implementing a replacement capable of achieving comparable reductions. We must reintroduce a simpler, transparent version with firm consumer protections, measurable emissions targets, and no up-front burden on households least able to pay. Done well, climate policy can lower heating bills, improve homes, create local jobs, and reduce emissions.
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
We need substantially more housing, but supply is not simply supply. We must ask what we build, where, and who can afford it. Build densely and higher where infrastructure exists, paired with walkability and public transportation. Streamline permitting without discarding wetlands and floodplain protections. Phil Scott has been Governor for ten years; if permitting remains slow and duplicative, his administration should explain why it failed to deliver administrative efficiency before demanding weaker protections. Public subsidy should purchase public benefit through missing-middle rental support, shared-equity and land-trust housing, pathways to ownership, and serious consideration of public banking.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Vermont House — Chittenden-16 (2 seats)
Trang Do
Did not respond to our survey.
Christopher Haessly
- Age
- 53
- Occupation
- Healthcare IT consultant, Church Street Marketplace Commissioner, and former School Board member.
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
The cost of housing is the primary reason Vermont has become unaffordable for just about everyone. Demand for housing — driven in part here in Burlington by a university that hasn't kept pace in housing its own students — far outstrips supply. We need to build more housing, and that means streamlining zoning and permitting so property owners can build more, with sensible environmental safeguards and real neighborhood input, not endless delay. And for the seniors and fixed-income Vermonters who already own their homes, we need to provide property tax relief so rising costs don't force them out.
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
I support the goal but have concerns about the pace and structure of these changes. Vermont has too many school districts and administrative structures for the number of students we have today. A number of other states organize school districts by county, and this approach would consolidate administrative services and reduce the number of superintendents and central-office positions without closing community schools.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
Local school boards — not the State — should be responsible for setting school budgets subject to voter approval. The state should provide financial resources to support school construction, and shared services such as technical education should be provided on a regional or countywide basis.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
Vermont's public schools are a real strength, but they've slipped — reading scores have declined to the point where states that once trailed Vermont are catching up or passing us. Literacy is the foundation everything else is built on, so it should be the top priority, alongside staffing and early intervention. We should also teach foreign language starting in elementary school and financial literacy in high school, so our students are prepared for the modern world and can pursue work that pays a livable wage.
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
We need to get serious about what's actually driving Vermont's healthcare costs — hospital budgets and administrative overhead — which means stronger oversight of hospital spending. We need to invest in prevention: universal primary care and early treatment for mental health and substance use disorder cost far less than the ER visits and crisis placements that result when people can't access care early. That means the state needs to step up and increase the number of treatment beds, shelter beds, and nursing home beds.
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
Personal vehicles contribute quite a bit to greenhouse gas emissions and developing a robust public transit infrastructure along the lines of the European model would help to reduce our carbon footprint, but a project of this magnitude would take years to implement. In the meantime, we need to ensure adequate funding for public transit, promote weatherization for older homes, and move away from fossil fuel and biomass energy sources.
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
Housing in Burlington is concentrated in the hands of a small number of landlords and working people have effectively been priced out of ever owning a home. If we want to move people out of poverty, we need to help them build generational wealth by expanding pathways to homeownership for young people and working families and passing legislation that makes it easier to convert rental units into owner-occupied homes. Paired with the zoning and permitting reforms above, the goal is the same — build more housing and make it easier for working people and young families to become homeowners.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Jeffrey Peterson
- Age
- 28
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
Basic needs like housing, healthcare, and transit need greater attention, and treating them as separate issues is a mistake. History shows that moments of crisis are exactly when we should invest in public goods, rather than retreating into austerity. Cutting programs and services might offer short-term tax relief, but it deepens the very affordability crisis we're trying to solve. Vermont needs elected officials who understand that sustained public investment, funded by finally taxing the wealthy at a fair rate, will bring costs down and strengthen our economy for the long term. That's the approach I'll bring to Montpelier.
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
I oppose these consolidation efforts. Public education has become a convenient scapegoat for our property tax crisis, but the real drivers are twofold: out-of-control healthcare premiums, and schools absorbing responsibilities that the state government has failed to fund elsewhere. That's why I support universal healthcare, starting with universal primary care, to bring health spending under control. Our property tax crisis is real, but the fix isn't cutting public education and removing local control of schools. It's shifting the burden onto second homes, luxury estates, and corporate and private equity ownership of housing, so working Vermonters carry less of the load.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
No, the state should partner with districts to ensure that student and community needs are at the center of budget decisions. We must guarantee that school districts with the highest needs, like Burlington and Winooski, are getting the resources they need. A per-pupil foundation formula is not the path forward, nor is a strictly local decision making process which heightens inequities between wealthy and poor communities. In general, we need to shift the burden of funding public goods away from property taxes on working-class Vermonters towards a holistic ability-to-pay framework.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
Vermont's public schools are shouldering more than they should, absorbing costs and responsibilities that stem from the state government's failure to fund services elsewhere. Our teachers and staff are stretched thin. I believe in strong public education, and I believe our educators and students deserve more investment to maintain smaller class sizes, fair pay for every school employee, and the resources to meet every student's needs. Improving education quality starts with taking the financial pressure off schools so they can focus on teaching, rather than filling social services gaps that should be filled by state policy.
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
I'll fight to fully fund and implement Act 48, finally delivering on the promise of publicly financed, universal healthcare for every Vermonter. We can fund it by passing a fair share tax on the wealthiest Vermonters and corporations, who received massive federal tax breaks while our healthcare system collapses under the weight of private insurance profits. Removing the profit motive from healthcare, and pursuing regional collaboration across New England to share resources and lower costs, are some of the paths I see to bringing expenses down for families and reducing the strain on our hospitals, schools, and state budget alike.
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
Building walkable, dense town centers connected by reliable public transit is Vermont's biggest opportunity to cut emissions while lowering costs for families. Pairing that with home weatherization and expanded local renewable energy investment will reduce our reliance on cars and fossil fuels, shield Vermonters from volatile global energy markets, and lower utility bills. We need to integrate climate policy and affordability policy, leading to fewer cars on the road, warmer homes in winter, and cheaper, locally controlled power. Vermont has the chance to build a model for a just, climate-resilient transition that other states can follow.
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
I'll fight to decommodify housing so we treat it as a home, not an investment vehicle. That means taxing second homes, luxury properties, and corporate ownership of housing, and directing that revenue into permanently affordable and social housing. We can emulate creative housing models that already work in communities around the world. We also need to build more homes and make full use of the housing stock we already have. Without action, homes will keep drifting further out of reach, pushing young people out of the state, pushing more people into homelessness, and draining retirement savings as the market corrects.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Vermont House — Chittenden-17
Abbey Duke*
- Age
- 56
- Occupation
- Consultant, former catering business owner.
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
We need systemic reform of permitting and environmental regulations in order to make it easier and less expensive to build the housing and infrastructure that we need. Housing is the largest cost for Vermonters. By making housing abundant and affordable, we can attract more businesses and families to the state.
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
Yes. In particular, I support the direction we took in 2026 to require that our school districts work together to share services and resources. I also support that we required cohorts of school districts to explore merging districts.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
Yes. As long as the formula for setting school budgets takes into account the variation in communities and students.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
The quality of Vermont's public school is highly variable across the state. Overall, Vermont has very high per pupil expenditures with average results. We can get better outcomes by focusing on what research has shown work, including:
* More focus on instructional excellence, especially in reading and math
* Addressing chronic absenteeism
* Holding students (and schools) more accountable for progress- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
We will not be able to decrease our healthcare costs without addressing demographics. If we continue on our current path, in 2030 one in three Vermonters will be over the age of 60. We need to attract more people of working age to the state of Vermont. This session, I will be focusing on economic development, housing creation and permit reform. Increasing our population of young people will help to bring more economic prosperity and decrease healthcare costs for everyone.
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
I think we should focus on long term strategies that can simultaneously reduce emissions and increase our communities' resilience to climate change. This means focusing on things like:
* Smart growth in town centers across the state
* Increasing availability of public transit
* Flood resilience measures like wetland restoration
* Decentralized renewable energy production
* Home weatherization- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
We need systemic reform of permitting and environmental regulations in order to make it easier and less expensive to build the housing and infrastructure that we need. We need to make the permitting process faster, more predictable, less duplicative and less burdensome. I am looking forward to working with legislators from all parties on systemic reform.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Vermont House — Chittenden-18 (2 seats)
Ali Dieng
- Age
- 44
- Occupation
- Regional Manager at Building Bright Futures covering Chittenden and Grand Isle Counties.
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
Vermont's demography is aging; we have more people 65 years and older that 18 years old and younger. The state needs to have more working people and mitigate the out migration.
Housing affordability needs greater attention from Vermont’s elected officials. Too many working families, older Vermonters, and young people struggle to find a safe and affordable place to live. When housing costs consume too much of a household’s income, families have less money for food, childcare, transportation, health care, and other necessities.
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
I think the legislator is trying to work with the Governor but there seems to be disagreements. The next legislative session should implement the passing of Act 73 in order to ultimately make education funding in our state more sustainable. Vermonters what a quick remedy to this situation.
A one-size-fits-all approach could overlook the different needs of rural communities, larger districts such as Burlington, students with disabilities, EL students, and families experiencing economic hardship.
must protect classroom instruction, preserve reasonable access to neighborhood schools, provide reliable transportation, and demonstrate genuine savings rather than simply shifting costs to municipalities or families.- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
No, I do not but I am open to the idea of better defining how much it will cost to educate students in our state despite where students live and what other needs, they may have.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
Vermont Students are doing better in school now based on the statewide data released during this first week of September 2026 as part of the Vermont Comprehensive Assessment Report. The data shows that Vermont students in Grades K- 7 have shown progress in math, literacy and social study compared to the 2022-2023 data. I would say 6 out of 10
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
Pass Universal heath primary health care or implement the law act 48. Apply to federal grants to create a pipeline of heath care workers from physician to nurses while keeping rural health centers at proximity to rural communities.
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
Vermont’s greatest opportunity to reduce climate-changing emissions is transportation, our largest source of greenhouse-gas emissions. We must make cleaner transportation practical and affordable for all Vermonters.
That means expanding reliable public transit, improving walking and bicycle infrastructure, supporting electric-vehicle adoption, and making charging stations available throughout the state. We should also help schools, municipalities, and businesses transition their vehicle fleets while investing in housing near jobs, schools, and essential services so people are not always required to drive long distances.
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
Municipalities and Vermont Towns must make zoning changes and allow densities in their downtowns. We must continue to remodel old houses, strengthen public private partnership to build more housing supplies. We must update state and local land use governance, regulations practices and investments to eliminate barriers to family-centered housing development while expanding homeownership pathways for first time and first generation and low to moderate income buyers. and lastly encourage long-term developments that promote long-term affordability and housing stability while maintaining flexibility to meet diverse community need for different generations
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate did not respond.
Dave Hartnett
- Age
- 63
- Occupation
- Bus Ambassador Burlington School Department
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
Health Care and Housing are both significant existential challenges to the people of Vermont.
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
I support the current reform legislation for consolidation. I believe that the governor's initial consolidation was too drastic and not in the best interest of the students and families.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
I am a strong believer in local control of schools. That being said, we need to explore ways in which we can intelligently reduce costs AND support kids.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
I think Vermont has always placed a premium on education but there is no question that our kids did not emerge from Covid well. With the money we spend on schools, including some of the lowest teacher student ratios in the country, we can and must do better. Technical education is one area in which I think we can provide an even better education for kids. Currently, a student interested in the trades, is unable to enroll until they are 16 years old. This is too late.
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
Healthcare costs in Vermont is one of the most important considerations for any legislator in Montpelier. There are currently so many factors out of our control but Vermont can be a leader due to the size and health of our residents. Education and preventative health care are rarely mentioned but are factors that are within our control. The power of our elected leaders can be used better to challenge insurance costs.
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
Energy efficiency programs and subsidies need to be continued and expanded. In addition, we need to train the next generation of workers to support climate change technologies. My position on having students gain earlier access to technical/trades education will be necessary to support climate change technologies we need.
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
Housing supply would impact the cost. Right now, the limited availability of housing has driven up the costs of homes and rentals. We need to incentivize builders to build more affordable housing.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Carol Ode*
- Age
- 70
- Occupation
- Vermont State Representative, Chittenden-18, in my tenth year.
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
We are devoting enormous amounts of attention to education property taxes, healthcare access and affordability, and increasing Vermont's housing stock and quality.
We must address three outstanding issues impacting so many Vermonters:
1. Establishing and improving a mental health system of care that works;
2. Establishing and improving treatment for substance misuse disorder and its far-reaching impact on Vermonters and our state; and
3. Addressing homelessness throughout Vermont.- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
Forced mergers within an ultra-consolidated new governance model that left out local voices on the tightest of timelines did not work.
Instead, the newest law provides CESAs -- Cooperative Educational Service Areas -- that must collaborate to improve quality and equal educational opportunity while finding cost efficiencies. And merger study committees allow first steps toward consolidation plans that make sense for local schools.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
No, not at all.
The State of Vermont has so much to handle now: human services, corrections, the environment, transportation, state buildings and so much more.
Placing more responsibility and power into the hands of so few in the Agency of Education--when they are overloaded with their current workload-- spells certain disaster and puts education into ever-more politically-charged realms.- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
Our public schools welcome Vermont school children. Each child enters our schools with varying degrees of readiness. Vermont schools take on enormous challenges and are asked to provide so much more than traditional skills in reading, writing and arithmetic.
Vermont schools must continually improve instruction and implement science-informed reading curriculum so almost all children will learn to read and implement curricular choices that do the same for all subjects.
The Legislature and Governor must fully fund its mandates and initiatives, certainly before moving to adopt new ones.
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
I will be encouraging Vermonters to apply for the free ArrayRX card for discounted prescription drugs. I will continue to tell Vermonters about the free Vermont Health Care Advocate hotline, directing them there and to state sites to access critical information.
I would have legislators and administration officials sit down with hospitals to listen to hospital concerns and ideas so everyone can understand at the deepest level the situation in which hospitals find themselves.
Legislators would continue to work on reference-based pricing and universal primary care with administration officials.
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
I would look to Vermont’s last official 2022 emissions inventory data, which shows that:
1. Transportation produced 39.8 percent of our greenhouse-gas emissions.
2. Residential, commercial, and industrial fuel use produced 31.5 percent of our emissions, mostly from heating.
3. Together, the two sectors produced 71.3 percent of Vermont’s emissions.
4. Electricity produces only 2.9 percent of our emissions.The data shows that reducing transportation and heating sector fossil fuel use would reduce emissions. Accelerated electrification and increased fuel conservation would also reduce emissions.
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
We passed the Community and Housing Infrastructure Program (CHIP), a Vermont tax increment funding tool to help towns pay for public infrastructure so new homes can be built.
We passed exemptions to Act 250 that make certain housing projects in growth areas such as designated downtowns and village centers eligible to be built without Act 250 review. The goals are to reduce duplicative permitting costs and delays where robust local permitting is in place.
We need to continue to consider increasing help to the Vermont Housing Finance Agency, for example, to make it easier for Vermonters to buy a home.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Vermont House — Chittenden-19 (2 seats)
Sarah "Sarita" Austin*
Did not respond to our survey.
Wendy Critchlow*
- Age
- 64
- Occupation
- Currently working for the State of Vermont as a Medicaid QC Auditor. Past nurse, care coordinator.
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
Healthcare.
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
I do. Although I am unclear what the final product will look like, I recognize the need to change.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
I would. If for no other reason than for fairness and transparency.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
We have great schools and great teachers. I would utilize technology to connect students in schools with limited curriculum options to expand options to every student.
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
Short answer: Universal healthcare. Short of that, there is little we can do to legislate our way out of this. As a state of 660,000+ we are unable to attract bidding wars for providers.
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
Super EV chargers along I89. Incentivize ev cars.
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
CHIP. With the explosive tariffs hitting our state, we need to incentivize developers to build. CHIP provides the carrot.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Spencer Sherman
Did not respond to our survey.
Alex R. Thibault
Did not respond to our survey.
Vermont House — Chittenden-20 (2 seats)
Bill Bezio
Did not respond to our survey.
Doug Bishop*
- Age
- 60
- Occupation
- I am a State Representative for Colchester's CHI-20 district.
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
The three deeply interconnected issues of education financing, health care, and housing need continued, consistent attention from elected and Scott Administration officials. Without building more housing, we both fail to meet the needs of Vermonters for an affordable roof over their head and fail to increase the property base necessary to provide quality education. Without reforming education finances, we will continue to see unsustainable increases in property taxes that are hindering the ability to stay in one's home. Impacting every Vermonter is our near highest-in-the nation medical care and insurance premiums. This hits us individually and in our school budgets.
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
Yes. We need the cost savings envisioned through combining administrative services in the Cooperative Education Service Area (CESA) model. We need the cost stability that will come through a foundation formula, which will also move Vermont toward a system that provides greater equality of opportunity for students throughout the state, not just in select districts. We will rebalance who pays what in our property tax system by creating a new tax category -- those with year-round second homes that are not utilized as primary residences. We are moving toward locally led consolidation of school districts to right-size those governance structures.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
Through a foundation formula, Vermont will join more than 30 other states in setting per pupil spending at a level the legislature and Governor can agree upon. This will put spending controls in place that have been absent. I believe it is then appropriate for local school districts to set budgets and manage the funds provided through the foundation formula and other revenue sources.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
Our current status would be in the "needs improvement" category. We have lost ground in literacy and math, with the greater loss being in literacy -- dropping far from our a position among the national leaders not too long ago. This must be reversed. We must identify where and how to make the necessary gains and be willing to place our focus on making improvements. Additionally, I think we need to continue our work to ensure that the education provided aligns with the realities of today's workforce -- with a strong recognition that college is not the path for all students.
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
We must ensure the right care is provided in the right setting at the right cost. This means that recent efforts of the legislature and the Green Mountain Care Board to rein in hospital costs -- the most expensive setting -- are continued. Legislation from 2025 related to outpatient prescription drugs provided by hospitals had an immediate, positive impact on insurance premiums. Additionally, through Vermont's Rural Health Transformation funds, and otherwise, we need to focus on increasing access to primary care providers -- the least expensive channel for care. Finally, continued appropriate expansion of scope of practice for certain providers increases access.
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
Reducing and moving away from the dependence on fossil fuels provides great opportunity to reduce emissions, and keep hard-earned dollars in the pockets of Vermonters. Weatherization has always received bi-partisan support. How can we expand this work to make our oldest-in-the-nation housing stock more efficient? Additionally, we must ask how we can help more Vermonters move away from burning costly and price-unpredictable home heating oil. The extraordinarily steep rise in oil prices -- and gas prices at the pump -- since the start of the Iran war demonstrates what is outside of our control. We must act upon what's within our control.
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
We must fully implement the Community Housing and Infrastructure Program (CHIP), and ensure access to it for more rural, resource-limited communities. Too often, infrastructure costs are what cause a potential project not to "pencil out," leaving much needed housing on the drawing board. Additionally, while I don't think the evidence supports the idea that permit reform is the panacea to our problems, it is necessary and must have the goal of creating certainty for applicants at a greater speed. An additional component for certainty and speed would entail a re-evaluation of how our current appeals process can be reformed.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Gayle Pezzo*
- Occupation
- State Representative 20 District Colchester
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
Healthcare and Housing
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
Yes. I believe that voluntary school mergers benefit students by expanding academic opportunities, reducing socioeconomic isolation, and sharing resources more efficiently.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
I'm uncertain at this time. Local control is very important to Vermonters. Strong data would be needed to show that this choice would have tremendous benefits that outweigh the pushback from the many Vermonters who would be adamantly opposed
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
Vermont can do better. Many constituents believe small class sizes don't necessarily improve students' social development and may lead to inefficient use of resources. Maintaining very low enrollment can be costly per pupil without clear educational or social gains.
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
Expand preventive care, reduce administrative costs, and implement reference-based pricing for medication, along with negotiating prescription drug prices.
Investing in mental health/substance abuse community-based care to avoid costly emergency department and hospital admissions. In my view, universal healthcare appears to be the only tangible solution to a broken system, paired with smarter cost controls, preventive care, lower administrative overhead, and rural access- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
transportation with more electric vehicles, weatherization, and efficient heating.
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
Manufactured homes are the most practical unsubsidized solution to homeownership.
In this housing crisis, we must take measures to build more affordable housing quickly to grow the tax base, generate more tax revenue, and begin lowering costs.
Policies to modernize manufactured home ownership need to be explored and emphasize that this type of housing stock is one way to develop new housing quickly and less expensively in every community.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Doug Wood
Did not respond to our survey.
Vermont House — Chittenden-21 (2 seats)
Daisy Berbeco*
Did not respond to our survey.
Matt Gile
Did not respond to our survey.
Vermont House — Chittenden-22 (2 seats)
Brent Boerger
Did not respond to our survey.
Karen Dolan*
Did not respond to our survey.
Lori Houghton*
Did not respond to our survey.
Seth Adam Manley
Did not respond to our survey.
Vermont House — Chittenden-23 (2 seats)
Pearl Lucero Beckage
Did not respond to our survey.
Rey Garofano*
- Age
- 54
- Occupation
- State of Vermont employee and have served as state Representative for 3 terms.
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
Vermont's economy is at a crisis point. If I had to pick one part, I would say the cost of health care. We need to continue to focus on lowering premiums, deductibles, and prescription drug costs. I have supported such efforts in my last three terms and will continue to work to make the Vermont health care system more affordable and sustainable.
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
Yes. I have voted in favor of the steps we have taken and acknowledge that consolidation alone will not solve our expensive education system. I believe the policies we have passed in the last two years will put us on a path to a more sustainable, predictable education funding system, while protecting a high-quality public education.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
As we move towards a foundation formula, I support the legislature taking greater responsibility for establishing spending levels.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
I have an eleventh grader who is receiving a phenomenal education at EWSD, and I acknowledge that this is not the case statewide in Vermont. We need to keep working toward the goal that a student's zip code, or the size or resources of their community, does not determine their opportunities. I support expanding CTE, addressing workforce shortages, and ensuring kids get the mental health supports they need.
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
Universal primary care.
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
Helping Vermonters choose cleaner heating and transportation options. We have taken some steps in this direction, but more could be done. We also need to ensure our approach reduces emissions while lowering Vermonters' energy costs.
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
Vermont's housing crisis is multi-pronged, and there are no easy answers. While we have a housing shortage, we also have fewer people living in our-sized homes and not enough homes that middle-class families can afford. High interest rates and a workforce shortage also contribute to the high cost of housing. I would focus on continuing to work on zoning and regulation reform to help make it easier and cheaper to build.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Erik Post
- Age
- 44
- Occupation
- I am a career civil servant, a Certified Public Manager, and a Justice of the Peace.
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
The housing market is increasingly inaccessible to regular folks. You can build all the new homes you want, but if the starting price is $700K, ordinary Vermonters won't be able to afford it. Young Vermonters will start looking out of state to places where they can get a 2,000sf house for the price of a mobile home here. "Affordable" housing typically leaves out middle class buyers, who have to compete against each other and deeper-pocketed nonresident investors for fewer and fewer, older and older homes in a non-luxury price range.
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
To an extent. It does make sense to me to consolidate some of the districts in the name of cost-sharing and increasing access to services, especially in areas where it makes geographic sense for schools to be partnered, but we must maintain some semblance of local control so that residents aren't having every decision thrust on them by some faceless, unaccountable bureaucracy.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
I don't know. I would have to research the issue further and listen to expert testimony. Would granting the state that power simply pave the way for one centralized, statewide board of administrators? I don't think Vermonters would appreciate that very much.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
My wife is a public school teacher, so I may be a bit biased here, but I think Vermont's public schools are doing a generally decent job in the face of ever-increasing challenges. Beyond the budgetary pains, educators are having to contend with significant behavioral issues, the deleterious effects of AI in the classroom, student population instability, etc. Teachers are constantly asked to do more with less, support staff aren't paid half of what they deserve, and the entire education system has been blamed, rightly or wrongly, for Vermont's affordability crisis. It's a hard time to work in education.
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
I think we need to revisit the notion of a single-payer health system. People should have access to the same services regardless of where they work, and if we can decouple healthcare from employment, that takes the primary driver of education costs out of school budgets. It may also help sectors like the child care industry attract and retain qualified staff, since health insurance benefits are anecdotally one of the key reasons people leave early childhood education for the public schools.
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
Vermont needs to invest more in renewable energy, particularly solar. In addition, we need to build out our electric vehicle charging infrastructure if we're to entice people to adopt EVs. I would also love to see the State do a proper assessment of David Blittersdorf's proposal to bring electric commuter rail to Vermont and partner with him if it's feasible. A good, reliable route between St. Albans and Montpelier, say, with intermediate stops in Burlington (or Essex) and Waterbury, would potentially take a lot of cars off the road. I know I would ride it!
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
Lowering home prices seems tantamount to putting the genie back in the bottle, especially following recent property tax reassessments. And existing mortgage holders aren't going to like winding up underwater if the market is suddenly flooded with cheaper, newer real estate.
As for the rental market, I would love to see the Legislature pursue tenants' rights legislation (including just-cause eviction and some sort of rent increase cap), build a robust rental database, and do more to bring short-term rentals in line with the hospitality industry.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Lynn U. Smith
Did not respond to our survey.
Vermont House — Chittenden-24
Alyssa Black*
Did not respond to our survey.
Stephanie Mack
Did not respond to our survey.
Vermont House — Chittenden-25
Julia Andrews
- Occupation
- I have served my community in numerous ways in the last 20 years. I am currently serving my second t
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
Certainly property taxes are a real issue that needs to be addressed. Vermont's education transformation is underway and I look forward to working on this issue. I'm also committed to economic development to increase training for and availability of well-paying jobs.
The lack of affordable housing is also a gating factor for our economy. We need housing for lower-income and middle class Vermonters to support our workforce.
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
Yes. I'm excited to see how CESAs help schools keep costs contained. I'm also hopeful to see how the initial conversations about consolidation among school districts play out.
Moving to a foundation formula will also inherently keep costs contained.
I look forward to continue work on this tranformation with an eye toward ensuring our education quality is not harmed.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
No. Moving budgeting power too far from the schools that have to live with the budget has potential to cause a mismatch. Further, I don't think Vermonters are in support of losing their input into the school budget process.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
My kids got a great education in Vermont schools, but I appreciate that that is not universal.
Mississippi recently made news for significant improvements in their education outcomes. They legislated changes to how literacy instruction is delivered. We should be looking at their roadmap and adapting it for Vermont.
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
I would like to revisit reference-based pricing for hospitals in the coming session. That legislation would have brought down the cost of healthcare and the cost of education (health insurance premiums are a major driver of cost increase for schools).
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
The greatest driver of CO2 emissions in Vermont is from cars. In our rural state, people have to drive more than in places that are more condensed.
I'd like to see a reimagining our our rural bus systems, which have dropped a lot of routes in recent years. We also need to continue to make EVs and hybrid cars more accessible.
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
I think it's time to start considering the middle-class and helping families afford to buy a home. We're seeing rentals starting to come down with the proliferation of apartments being built in Chittenden County, but we haven't helped move people into home ownership. Programs like down payment grants should be considered.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Brenda Steady*
Did not respond to our survey.
Vermont House — Chittenden-Franklin (2 seats)
Natalie Cashen
Did not respond to our survey.
Timothy R. Corcoran II*
- Age
- 67
- Occupation
- Electrical Engineer, Microprocessor Design. Milton Planning Commission Milton Design Review Board
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
Housing costs (including property taxes). There is a lot of print on this.
Note - bring back S.190 - which the governor vetoed - which would've reduced teacher health care costs which is a key driver to school costs.
Energy costs (home and auto). Details in the reduce emissions section.- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
Partly.
Problem1 - the consolidation was looked into focusing on costs, and the students would be kept in mind.
Problem2 - There was no overall state model of how to redistrict, each school was looking into itself.
Problem3 - Westford was hosed with outlandish bussing, this is unacceptable.
Partial solution for 1/2 - starting point being a statewide statistical model of 1)travel time, 2)optimal class size 3)optimal school size 4) existing infrastructure cost to bring the selected buildings to an acceptable/optimal level.I've seen consolidation in Illinois and Indiana. There is an optimal size for schools, many of ours are/will be to small.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
I have not given this much thought, but setting them does not sit well. Maybe approve them.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
The problem is bigger than VT schools (though VT's performance has been dropping more than the national average.
-Over the last decade people/students have gotten dumber across the U.S. Correlates with the rise of social media. A phone ban in scho0ols is a band-aid, will help but definitely not fix.
-The Atlantic article - https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/2026/08/reading-crisis-postliterate-age/687618/. One does not have to be literate to use AI. Why actually know anything, just ask your phone/AI. People us AI/Google to get the answer, yet the process and learning on the way to the answer is the real learning.Don't know, a bleak future
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
Grow primary/community health care like PCHC Penobscot Community Health Care. However, they just laid off 16 folks and closed it's Adult Wellness Center due to a $3M budget shortfall because their website (and the company) promote DEI. So, also vote out all those that eviscerate funding when DEI is supported.
Bring back S.190 - which the governor vetoed.- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
Automobiles - with solid state batteries EV's will dominate the market in a few years, we need a charging infrastructure that is ready.
Home energy, again renewables (primarily solar) plus battery plus possibly SMR (small modular reactor - nuclear).- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
First, realize there has been progress to build upon. Legislative changes (such as zoning) take time to take effect.
-Local zoning modernized, Act 250 modernized, unnecessary appeals reduce, $100M invested in affordable housing and emergency shelters.
-Legislation - Act 69, At 179, Act 155 (H.757), Act 143, H.772 (next session).This is not a single bill item not an overnight fix. What is next given all that has been done? This is a deep dive I cannot do now. Also not housing is a national problem, VT a bit worse than average I recall.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Kumulia "Kase" Long*
Did not respond to our survey.
Anthony "Tony" Micklus*
- Age
- 57
- Occupation
- IT Consultant, Real Estate Agent, Industrial Rubber Products Distributor. Member of Milton EDC
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
Making the environment more welcoming to new and growing businesses. Small business is the backbone of the economy. They provide the good paying jobs in addition to a lot of adjacent businesses who rely on other businesses to provide them with work.
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
Yes.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
I think local districts should have some say. But the current system supports granting fiscal spending power without fiscal responsibility. The proposed Transformation bill is a good start. Each district gets a certain amount per child with some additional funds for special circumstances. From there local districts would have discretion to use the funds as they see fit and the bill also includes a mechanism for a local district to raise additional capital within certain limits
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
At best they are mediocre. Certainly not worth what we are paying to educate them. To improve the quality of education we need to have a lot more synergy. There needs to be some statewide standards established that all districts must comply with.
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
I would ease the regulations so that more providers could come in. Perhaps one that can add our demographic to a more regional one. This would spread the risk out over a wider pool thus lowering costs for everyone. This would also make it easier for businesses to provide healthcare and since the state pays for the health insurance for the teachers a lower premium would affect education spending as well.
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
I believe most people want to save the environment and do their part in reducing their carbon footprint. But I have always believed incentives work far better than mandates. When its an incentive people say "how can I maximize my benefit" when is a mandate people say "how can I get around that"
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
We need to reduce the regulatory burden. It is not so much the expense so much as it is the predictability. Expense is just math. But nothing is more frustrating than applying for a permit only to find out a requirement changed due to policy or staffing change after all the work (an expense) had already been completed.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Vermont House — Essex-Caledonia
John Kascenska*
Did not respond to our survey.
Vermont House — Essex-Orleans
David M. Jacobs
Did not respond to our survey.
John "Woton" Lally
Did not respond to our survey.
Learn more
Vermont House — Franklin-1 (2 seats)
Keith Billado
Did not respond to our survey.
Caroline Bright
- Age
- 36
- Occupation
- I am a small business owner, a proud Union Flight Attendant, and a Unitarian Universalist minister.
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
When we think about the cost of healthcare, many of us think about our own personal insurance premiums, co pays, and deductibles- but we don't always consider the ways in which we're paying for healthcare when we never see a hospital bill. The primary driver of property tax increases in many towns is our school budgets, but the reason those budgets are increasing so constantly isn't because teachers are making tons of money, it's because of the cost of healthcare for those same teachers and staff. Providing Universal Primary Care would lower these costs for us all.
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
I am vehemently opposed to forced school consolidation. While we absolutely have a cost problem and declining enrollment, I'm not convinced that a state mandated "one size fits all" consolidation approach will solve any of that. Consolidating the administrative expensive of school supervisory unions makes sense. Smaller schools working together to reduce costs makes sense. Local communities working together to think outside the box for solutions makes sense. Ultimately, the driving force behind the cost of public education is the cost of healthcare, and that CAN be effectively mitigated with appropriate state level action.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
I absolutely do NOT support the state having the power to determine school budgets instead of the local officials who have been elected to do just that. Local school boards should be the ones who determine school budgets as they are the ones who are best positioned to understand the needs of their local schools and communities. That said, I DO support changing the statewide funding system so that it is more fair, more predictable, and less dependent on property taxes.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
I am extremely proud of the education that I received in Vermont's public schools- and the truth is that our outstanding educators can only work with the resources that they're given. We need to examine and understand the systems and needs of educational institutions as they are now, not as we imagine they have been in the past. As our society has changed, the needs of students and schools have changed too. We need to do better in ensuring that all students have access to the support in schools that will help them flourish.
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
The reality is that commercially insured Vermonters are already disproportionately bearing the burden of this expensive system that is harming everyone. The state should use its regulatory powers to regulate costs, and one mechanism that should be a part of that should be Universal Primary Care. Providing basic access to healthcare to all Vermonters would alleviate cost burdens and ensure that small simple health issues don't snowball into expensive ER visits and ongoing health complications.
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
- This candidate did not respond.
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
I'm very hopeful about the potential of the 802 Homes program and the possibility of expediting an increase in housing availability via cutting through the red tape of local building regulations.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Julie Filiberti
- Age
- 62
- Occupation
- retired paraeducator
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
Vermont has a healthcare crisis that needs to be addressed. We have the most expensive healthcare in the nation and our rural hospitals are not making ends meet. This costly system needs to be taken apart and looked at because it not only affects our healthcare premiums, but also our school and property taxes.
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
I do not support school consolidation. There is no solid evidence that it will be a cost savings to taxpayers and it risks destroying our rural communities. Vermont is a rural state, and schools tend to be centers of those rural communities. These towns don't want to lose their control of decision making about their schools.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
I do not believe the state should have the power to set budgets. Each area of our state is different. The needs of each area should be defined by the people who live and work in those areas. Local control and decision making needs to be retained.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
I worked in the BFA-Fairfax school system for 18 years. It was also the school that educated my children. In my experience, our schools are filled with amazing qualified teachers who are dedicated and passionate about their work. They are doing their best being not only teachers, but every other societal job that has been thrust upon our schools. Schools could use more services to help kids be focused and ready to learn - more counselors and trained mental health staff. Schools also need to be more equipped to teach different learning styles.
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
I believe healthcare is a human right and should be provided for every Vermonter. I am a proponent of publicly financed universal primary care. I believe we need to find a way to complete universal healthcare in our state. Healthcare should not be a for-profit business and until we remove for-profit insurance agencies from the system, costs will continue to rise. Insurance companies should not be making the decisions about our healthcare.
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
Vermonter's biggest emissions come from the fact that we drive so much and have little public transportation. Due to it's rural character, public transportation outside of urban areas doesn't seem feasible. Therefore, making the transition to electric vehicles makes sense, but there would need to be a huge investment in the infrastructure. I would also like to see incentives come back that put solar on every rooftop and allow plug-in solar so we can all contribute to our energy needs.
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
Homes certainly need to be built in Vermont, but currently, 70% of Vermont homes are occupied by only 1 or 2 people. There is an overhousing problem. Many of these could open up to families if the current residents had someplace to go. Many of these residents don't want to leave their communities, so I think towns could benefit by building smaller one or two bedroom homes in their communities that they could move into. Not everyone wants to move into a condo or duplex, so small home developments could be very attractive to many of the overhoused.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Bob Stebbins
Did not respond to our survey.
Vermont House — Franklin-2
Eileen "Lynn" Dickinson*
Did not respond to our survey.
Pam McCarthy
- Age
- 66
- Occupation
- Retired from nonprofit and AHS leadership. JP and Board member, active in community.
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
Healthcare. Our costs are among the highest in the nation, and access to timely services, esp. in rural communities, is increasingly difficult. Healthcare is the biggest cost driver for education budgets, as well. We should strengthen local access to preventative healthcare—including mental health. Universal primary care has great promise. Health and well-being, from the prenatal stage to elderhood is essential to a thriving Vermont.
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
It's clear that the current system of funding education in Vermont is unfair, unaffordable, and unsustainable. I think the Legislature has set the stage for much-needed partnership in solution-finding. In order to succeed in reinforcing public education and achieving the cost savings we need, consolidation efforts must include local stakeholders in the process. Change is absolutely necessary, and those most impacted need to be part of creating change. This is challenging and time consuming work. The coming year will need folks to lead boldly, and make well-informed choices to improve our public education system and reduce our crushing tax burden.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
Vermont's tradition is local control. The current work around CESA's may reveal that the new local districts, still being closer to their students, families and schools, continue to know what's best for their districts. Or, it may become clear that state-determined budgets---hopefully, no longer reliant on property tax, but some other source---lessen the pressures on local decision-makers and support strong schools and student success in a more equitable way. I want to learn more.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
Vermont public schools generally rank in the top tier to the middle of national lists.
US News and World Report ranks Vermont 10th overall for education pre-K-12. That said, there is definitely room to improve. Early childhood supports for literacy and childcare that enhance school readiness should be reinforced. Critical thinking skills that ensure students can navigate the rapid expansion of information and technology, especially with the advent of AI and Big Tech’s involvement in curriculum development, should be emphasized. Parents and community members should be consistently engaged throughout students' educational journey to achieve successful outcomes and community well-being.- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
First, I would support our efforts to establish reference-based pricing and universal primary care. Statistics and common sense tell us healthier people need less care---focusing on prevention and early intervention can limit much more costly care, like surgeries and rehabilitation services. Second, we have to control insurance costs that outpace inflation and create barriers to care, causing more folks to require emergency care and/or hospitalization. Again, we know that emergency care is far costlier than preventative care. Third, the cost of most prescription medication is outrageous. We need the federal government to use its power to negotiate fair drug prices.
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
I think we need to continue to support renewable energy, and incentivize electric vehicle use. Energy efficiency should continue to be emphasized as we build new and refurbish existing homes. Walkability and bikeability of communities should always be part of municipal planning.
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
Housing remains one of Vermont's greatest challenges, both from a fiscal and a social standpoint. We need to continue modernizing zoning and permitting, investing in infrastructure, expanding financing options, increasing affordable housing opportunities, supporting renters and homeowners, and improving services for Vermonters experiencing homelessness. We should consider building on the popularity of 55+ communities and the need to address social isolation. We should advance the efforts to have pre-approved home designs that could be built more rapidly, and we should keep exploring emerging housing options, especially those that allow folks to comfortably downsize, freeing up larger homes for families.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Vermont House — Franklin-3
Suzanne Kenyon
Did not respond to our survey.
Joseph "Joe" Luneau*
Did not respond to our survey.
Vermont House — Franklin-4 (2 seats)
Tamar Bouchard
Did not respond to our survey.
Carmela Ann Mayette
Did not respond to our survey.
Thomas "Tom" Oliver*
Did not respond to our survey.
Matthew E. Walker*
Did not respond to our survey.
Vermont House — Franklin-5 (2 seats)
Lisa A. Hango*
Did not respond to our survey.
Wayne A. Laroche*
Did not respond to our survey.
Vermont House — Franklin-6
James Gregoire*
Did not respond to our survey.
Vermont House — Franklin-7
Allen "Penny" Demar*
Did not respond to our survey.
Vermont House — Franklin-8
John "Jack" Brigham*
Did not respond to our survey.
Zach Scheffler
- Age
- 36
- Occupation
- Vermont Tech Worker
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
Housing. The lack of housing drives up costs and pushes Vermonters out: Families can't grow, workers can't stay to fill local jobs, and seniors can't downsize. It's affected friends in my community, and is a big reason why I'm running for State Representative. Accelerating our efforts to build homes supports our communities and our economy.
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
Consolidation alone has failed to solve the root cause of rising school budgets. Healthcare costs inflate school budgets. Lowering those costs will stabilize property taxes.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
Not at this time. Vermonters deserve a government worth paying for. And right now, the state Agency of Education lacks the capacity and public trust to handle that responsibility. I'd also be concerned about Chittenden County dictating state policy in ways that underserve communities in Franklin County.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
Building homes makes raising a family in Vermont more possible. By expanding our housing, we support our schools with young families and new students. But we also must demand results from the state's declining Agency of Education: It lacks the capacity and public trust to administer an effective statewide educational system.
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
We must empower the state regulator to lower the healthcare costs driven up by provider and insurer monopolies. We must stabilize these costs to stop local property tax spikes.
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
More housing in town and city centers creates homes for workers closer to employers. This reduces commutes and emissions from vehicles. On top of that, more efficient or more weatherized homes lowers emissions and energy costs at the same time.
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
Building homes gives more Vermonters the freedom to stay here. By simplifying zoning rules and funding municipal water and sewer infrastructure, we can accelerate starter home construction and lower costs for builders. At the same time, we need to demand audits of government housing projects and programs to make sure taxpayers are getting the homes they paid for.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Vermont House — Grand Isle-Chittenden (2 seats)
Josie Henry
Did not respond to our survey.
Sylvia Jensen
Did not respond to our survey.
Michael R. Morgan*
Did not respond to our survey.
Dave Skinner
Did not respond to our survey.
Vermont House — Lamoille-1
Jed Lipsky*
Did not respond to our survey.
Vermont House — Lamoille-2 (2 seats)
Richard J. Bailey*
Did not respond to our survey.
James "Jim" Lipinski*
- Age
- 67
- Occupation
- >35 years as a Government Technology Strategist. 11 Years on the Hyde Park School Board
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
We must ask those who are better off to contribute commensurately toward a more equitable community. We should look at shifting things like education away from property taxes and toward more progressive taxes like income taxes. I support increasing taxes on the very wealthy, capital gains, estates, and inheritances.
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
While I am not opposed to consolidation, I don't see it as a silver bullet and it shouldn't be dominating the conversation as it has. We need to accept that due to geography and traditional settlement patterns, consolidation of schools, as opposed to school administration is not feasible in many parts of the state unless we are willing to accept >one hour bus rides. Let's start with education outcomes, come to an agreement on what they should be, and then figure out the structure needed and how to equitably pay for it with everything on the table.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
No. The state should have a voice, but the decision must remain with the districts.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
I rate the quality of our schools as high, but there are many opportunities for improvement. We should be looking more at hybrid models that keep core curriculum local but makes better use of distance learning to provide more options, especially in the higher grades. We can do a better job of identifying the schools that are excellent in specific areas and then replicating that into centers or excellence to cover the state. Schools can and should be more integrated into their communities.
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
I'd start with Universal Primary Care and then expand as the savings allow.
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
Reducing lengthy commutes. The Governor's mandate to bring all state employees back to several concentrated areas set the wrong message. The pandemic proved that many jobs can be done very well remotely. This doesn't necessarily mean at home. Shared offices scattered across the state can reduce emmisions and still provide for collaboration. We need to make EVs easier to own. We also need to build upon the success of Efficiency Vermont with more funding. For example, today, Efficiency Vermont has no program for homeowners to install ultra-high boilers and furnaces.
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
It is going to take many things to come together; there is no silver bullet and many things are out of the control of Vermont, such as tariffs on building materials. We need to streamline the permitting process, work with lenders on innovative financing, incentivize manufactured housing, address the impact of short-term rentals, provide a path for empty nesters to move into smaller homes, adopt to changing family sizes, raise the minimum wage, increase the number of workers in the skilled trades. All of these things, and more, need to come together.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Daniel Noyes*
- Age
- 59
- Occupation
- Director Vermont Association of Senior Centers and Meal Providers
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
One part of Vermont's economy I'll keep advocating for is housing that lets older Vermonters age in their homes and communities. The legislature needs to target federal dollars and cut regulatory burdens for this kind of development. Many older Vermonters still live in the homes where they raised their families, especially in rural areas. We've underinvested in these options and the supports that go with them. When we don't prioritize this, people end up without alternatives, meaning fewer homes free up for younger families too. Without it, we're setting up higher healthcare costs later.
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
Yes, with reservations. The changes the legislature made, that I supported, were necessary to begin reducing unsustainable education costs. We can't keep paying for the system as structured now. I supported H.454's consolidation framework and funding formula because our current model isn't working. My reservations are about local control and rural schools. I’m concerned about decisions shifting from communities to the state, since rural districts stand to lose the most if the process focuses only on enrollment, not geography. That's why I've proposed aligning our technical and career centers with our supervisory unions, so rural communities keep a say.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
Again, with reservations. Recent increases in education costs, along with declining enrollment, are not sustainable. These are hard conversations, giving up local control for a structure that reduces costs needs safeguards to protect rural Vermont, with the overall goal of affordability.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
Educating our children is challenging work with everything going on in the world. Students and parents are under stress, but overall, Vermont's public schools do good work, though quality varies from district to district. I really like what Hyde Park Elementary is doing — engaging students and staff in a program built around specific values like courage and friendship, with each group competing on behavior, academics, and school spirit. It's creative programs like this that will improve the quality of education in Vermont.
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
Our health care system is complicated, and one small policy change can have unintended effects. We need a clear picture of how money is being spent before we can be more efficient, that's why I've proposed a statewide audit. I support reference-based pricing tied to Medicaid, starting at 500%, and I'm keeping a close eye on the rural health transformation grants and protecting Vermonters as federal Medicaid changes take shape. We also need to invest in senior centers with embedded nurses and case managers to cut costs through prevention. None of this alone will fix it, but together it helps.
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
We need to invest in our transmission infrastructure. With home heating fuel over $6.00, I'm concerned about how rural Vermonters will heat their homes this winter. Using current technology, including AI for anticipating demand and preventing outages, and supporting rural electric companies, we can increase capacity and efficiency. Our grid is a closed loop, so every efficiency gain reduces waste system-wide and helps keep rates down. Other states use LIHEAP funding creatively to make electricity more affordable, and Vermont should too. We should also shift Efficiency Vermont revenue toward grid upgrades in rural areas, where the gap is greatest.
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
We need to invest in housing for older Vermonters. Opening up existing rural housing lets younger Vermonters build equity here, while giving older Vermonters owner-occupied options without stairs, close to transportation and the services they need. I have not wavered from this and will keep looking for ways to reduce costs and improve access to housing for all Vermonters. We also need to cut regulatory barriers: let licensed engineers outside state government delineate wetlands, with their determinations final, and make sure our permit system is predictable and timely so people aren't stuck waiting to build.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “Yes.”
Malcolm "Mac" Teale
Did not respond to our survey.
Vermont House — Lamoille-3
Adam Howard
Did not respond to our survey.
Deb Nevil
Did not respond to our survey.
Rebecca Pitre
Did not respond to our survey.
Vermont House — Lamoille-Washington (2 seats)
Susanna Guthmann Burnham
Did not respond to our survey.
Saudia LaMont*
Did not respond to our survey.
Jason Thompson
Did not respond to our survey.
David Yacovone*
- Age
- 72
- Occupation
- State Legislator serving intermittently since 193 while serving as Commissioner of Aging and Children
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
Vermonters spend roughly $6 billion a year on groceries. $5 billion of that 6 billion goes out of state never to return to benefit our economy. Vermont must develop the resources to grow our own food with in-state growing centers year-round. Those dollars will then circulate throughout our economy and help prime the pump for an economic recovery while being more sustainable from an environmental standpoint.
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
I do not support forced mergers. Steps by the legislature to spur more collaboration and administrative savings endorsed by the legislature make sense.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
It depends on the design of such an effort. I do not want to punish low spending schools while rewarding high spending schools.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
Educational quality varies in large part on the educational leadership in a community. A key to helping promote educational quality also depends on efforts to address poverty and adverse childhood experiences (ACEd).
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
I support Reference Based Pricing and a reduction of administrative costs.
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
An aggressive home weatherization effort. Vermont has an old housing stock.
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
We must create housing parks throughout the state with affordable manufactured homes for older Vermonters to move into. As older Vermonters downsize from their over-sized homes,more family based housing will be on the market.we should direct the Vermont Housing Conservation Board in this direction. I encourage people to visit the Sterling View park for a model that should be replicated.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Vermont House — Orange-1
Michael "Mike" Tagliavia*
Did not respond to our survey.
Gregory Wilson
Did not respond to our survey.
Vermont House — Orange-2
Nicholas DiLorenzo
Did not respond to our survey.
Lance V. Mills
- Occupation
- Retired teacher, current member of Fairlee Selectboard
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
Health care costs
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
No
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
No
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
I believe Vermont public schools provide a good education. The quality of education can be improved by adequately funding public education. Schools are being asked to do much more for students, and communities, than they were asked to do 20 years ago. Our tech centers need to be upgraded so they can educate 21st century students. This includes infrastructure and equipment.
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
The legislature has passed legislation to do just that, and it is working. We need to build on that. More health care dollars should go towards patient care and less health care dollars should go to health care executive salaries.
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
Encouraging renewable energy is the key, and solar power is a great start. More EV chargers would help. Most every town in Vermont has at least one gas station. They should have an EV charger as well. Incentivizing it would help towns. Renewable energy is the way to the future.
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
Common sense state requirements and zoning regulations would help. Builders shouldn’t have insurmountable hoops to jump through to construct single family homes and/or multi family units. Act 250 needs to be amended.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Vermont House — Orange-3
Fran Covey
Did not respond to our survey.
Vermont House — Orange-Caledonia
Susan Culp
- Age
- 54
- Occupation
- Consultant (land use/recreation planning, policy, nonprofit mgmt); Chair-Town of Newbury Selectboard
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
State leaders need to scale budgetary spending to an appropriate level that can be sustained with the existing tax base and economy of Vermont and that working families can afford. The costs of services are ballooning, even while the population of the state decreases and student enrollment goes down. Too much money is being spent on privatization of services at high costs and money funneled into nonprofits with little accountability to the taxpayers. We need a "back to basics" approach on expenditures to provide essential services to Vermonters that is within our means.
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
No. We have gone down the consolidation path before - with the assurance that it would help contain costs, bring efficiency, and increase educational outcomes. It has done neither. Instead, costs have continued to mushroom, adminstrative expenses are higher than ever, communities lost budgetary control and some schools were closed. Doing consolidation "harder" will not have the benefits advertised. Rural schools, especially at the elementary level, are critical for community life. Shuttering them to transport kids long distances by bus is not the solution.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
No. The system is not working now. I do not believe giving state level bureacracies even more control will improve matters. It will only worsen them.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
The quality of education and the metrics for outcomes are on the decline in Vermont - especially in reading and math. Increasing proportions of students are on independent education programs at increased cost to the districts - which in many ways doesn't make sense when class sizes are relatively small. The way we are approaching education needs a hard look - especially at the use of digital technology in the classroom (recently linked to poorer outcomes), and curricula seem overly focused on "the learning experience" for students rather than on whether they are succesfullyl learning the material.
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
Vermont is a small state, with a small population, and a small economy (#50 in GDP) - and our demographics skew toward the older cohorts. I do not see much that can be done with those realities to bring down healthcare costs through state level action. The healthcare and medical insurance industry in the US is what it is - and it is deeply flawed. Without federal level reform, I can't see Vermont state leaders legislating our way out of this challenge.
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
The state of Vermont has already taken substantial action at the state level to address greenhouse gas emissions - at some considerable cost to residents. Further action to mitigate climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions are unlikely to move the needle (i.e. small state, small population, small economy) and will be very costly. Our best opportunity is to empower local governments and communities to increase climate resilience.
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
Ease regulations and bureaucratic red tape for housing projects in the Tier 1B areas. Materials costs are significant as a barrier to building affordable housing - state leaders should explore providing a sales tax exemption for construction materials to help builders afford to invest in projects (could even be tied to preference for locally produced timber and building materials to support the forest products businesses).
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Aiden Boyd Otterman
Did not respond to our survey.
Tom Otterman
Did not respond to our survey.
Vermont House — Orange-Washington-Addison (2 seats)
Emery Mattheis
Did not respond to our survey.
Lance Ryan
Did not respond to our survey.
Larry Satcowitz*
Did not respond to our survey.
Stephen W. Webster
Did not respond to our survey.
Vermont House — Orleans-1
Richard Nelson*
Did not respond to our survey.
Vermont House — Orleans-2
Woodman "Woody" H. Page*
Did not respond to our survey.
Xavier Stevens
- Age
- 30
- Occupation
- Environmental Engineer
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
The amount of tax breaks going to the wealthy and the struggle those that aren't making over $1,000,000 are dealing with. Our tax brackets are so outdated that many of the wealthy in Vermont think they pay more in taxes than the middle class
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
No. While that system might work in highly populated areas, in the NEK, that forced consolidation would've led to lower school attendance and more struggling families. I do agree that education has gotten too expensive, but education isn't a For Profit field. Maybe Vermont's test scores have suffered because many teachers were afraid of their schools closing, AI is advancing faster than our legislators can regulate, and Technology Regulation hasn't been able to keep up.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
I would need to hear a coherent argument as to why this is a good idea.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
I would currently rate them as 14th in the country. We were 4th very recently and I believe we can get back into the top 5 as we moved passed Covid.
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
The implementation of a Medicare-for-All type healthcare has been shown to reduce healthcare costs by 10-15%.
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
Vermont is a very clean and green state, but we shouldn't let that accolade slow us down from making positive progress. As battery technology advances, Solar Power is becoming one of the prominent renewable energy resources that I believe Vermont should be looking more closely at
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
Increasing taxes on people making over 500k and 1m would help those looking to buy a house in Vermont. Along with looking out Out-of-State Homeowners that aren't growing the Vermont Economy, but instead are syphoning resources from Vermont to their home states.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Vermont House — Orleans-3
Kenneth L. Wells*
Did not respond to our survey.
Vermont House — Orleans-4
Leanne Harple*
- Age
- 44
- Occupation
- High School English Teacher, active JOP and former Select Board Member for the town of Glover
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
Property taxes, affordable housing, healthcare
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
I believe that there are some really small schools that could be brought up to scale and are possibly good candidates for merged consolidations, but I also believe that it would be disastrous to move forward with this plan without community buy-in. I think the legislature did the right thing in walking back forced mergers in favor of more strategic voluntary mergers wiht community input.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
I'm still a little torn on this one. It could work if it wasn't deliberately designed to punish small rural school districts for choosing not to merge, but I'm afraid there is still a lot of mistrust around this issue, and that this type of legislation could be weaponized to force school mergers in a back-door deal. On the other hand, I am not sure that communities always realize that because of the way our state education budget is set, voting down their own school budget doesn't necessarity save property owners money.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
As a public school teacher, I can personally testify that our teachers and our paraeducators are some of our hardest-working Vermonters. However, it's true that there is inequity between schools, including outdated, crumbling facilities, lack of accelerated programming for advanced students, and student populations that are too small to enable some schools to provide the same diverse offerings that larger schools can offer. On the other hand, some of these larger, more urban schools also lack some of the treasures of our rural schools, such as our beautiful trail systems, our working woodlots, and other community assets.
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
I'm really excited about the idea of expanding universal primary healthcare throughout the state. Maybe it will inspire us to fight for this on a national scale as well, because let's be real: until we have universal healthcare in this country, the expectation that we can lower the cost of education will likely remain complicated and out of reach. I also think that if S. 190 had not been vetoed and we could jumpstart reference-based healthcare for those on VEHI and VT Health Connect, it would have translated to property tax savings. What a shame for all VTers.
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
As such a small state, I am not sure that Vermont is really the problem when it comes to climate change, so I think that this is really more about being an exemplar for the rest of the country. Unfortunately, the clean heat standard is not really something a lot of Vermonters feel we can afford right now in the middle of a very real affordability crisis, and we already learned it was a hard sell. I think electric cars are good, but I also know my parents' electric car doesn't make it up my driveway in the snow.
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
We should build up our programs around homeshares and ADUs, and we should also find ways to more easily finance the restoration of the many empty old houses around Vermont that could still be salvaged if done soon. Much easier said than done though, both in terms of bank loans and construction. Maybe we could work with tech students to move this idea forward? I know that in my area, Rural Edge has supported some great new affordable housing projects for families. We need more of this.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Vermont House — Orleans-Lamoille (2 seats)
Mark Higley*
Did not respond to our survey.
Praneet Menon
Did not respond to our survey.
Vermont House — Rutland-1
Patricia A. McCoy*
Did not respond to our survey.
Vermont House — Rutland-2 (2 seats)
David "Dave" Bosch*
Did not respond to our survey.
Thomas "Tom" Burditt*
Did not respond to our survey.
Marsha Cassel
Did not respond to our survey.
Vermont House — Rutland-3
Chris Brown
Did not respond to our survey.
Vermont House — Rutland-4
Christopher Howland*
Did not respond to our survey.
Vermont House — Rutland-5
Eric Maguire*
Did not respond to our survey.
Vermont House — Rutland-6
Cindy Laskevich
Did not respond to our survey.
Chris Siliski
- Age
- 56
- Occupation
- Board of Alderman, Police Commissioner, local Co-Chair VT Creative Economy, Board Member (various)
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
Food, energy, homeowner (school) tax, and medical make-up 50% or more or our family budgets. It's not one or the other. State Representatives need to focus on and find practical, commonsense bi-partisan solutions that are as market friendly as possible but put the consumer first. In particular, VT needs to continue to invest in energy independence, which will limit costs and grow the local economy. My friends and family have saved thousands using local contractors to help us move toward solar, heat pumps and hybrids/ev's. State incentives and deregulation for renewable development should help all families and businesses access savings.
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
Yes, I support Vermont's efforts to consolidate school districts, and I am cautiously optimistic it can do so effectively. I am excited to work with the Governor and both parties. As a public school educator, I've seen first hand a large growth in admin. over the years as the number of teachers decline. District cost savings are there if done right. With that said, instead of one big change, I would like to take a longer term approach and see 3 to 5 pilots in different areas of the State to ensure the cost savings will be worth the change.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
Although I am open to different options if proven to be effective, I am skeptical of moving that much control away from the local tax payer who is more connected to local budgets. Also, education is not so easily standardized. Different communities even with the same number of students have drastically different needs based on location, resources, population types, etc. Quite possibly, the State could play a larger part in expanding its role in investing in our technical schools, such as Stafford Tech. in Rutland County, as these invaluable resources are multi-district initiatives that are critical to our local economy.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
I rate Vermont's schools as some of the best in the country. Teachers who have moved to Vermont to teach often complain of the overwhelming reporting bureaucracies other states have created, excessive class sizes, and unruly state efforts to micro-manage local school curriculums. We must be vigilant not to let this happen here at home. Regarding opportunity, Vermont needs to double-down on technical education. There is a great opportunity to help the local economy and reduce cost burdens if we can produce more trained, blue and white collar technicians, faster.
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
First and foremost, I support current efforts to make pricing more transparent. It seems like God only knows what doctors and hospitals are going to charge you and then how much will be covered by insurers. Even then, once you get a bill or insurance report, it's a month after the fact and it takes a Ph.D. student in medicine to figure it out. If Amazon and Walmart can publish millions of constantly changing prices clearly on a daily basis, our well-reimbursed medical industry should be able to so Vermonters can shop for the best price and make good decisions.
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
We do not necessarily need to attack fossil fuels right now as it will create even more short term cost burdens on families. HOWEVER, Vermont needs to continue to rapidly move toward 100% renewable energy independence. As mentioned, many friends and family have saved thousands each year via solar, heat pumps and hybrids/ev's. Continued tax incentives, education and investment in renewable infrastructure will help more do this. Investments in local, Vermont renewable energy and deregulating renewable development will help create jobs and keep money in Vermont as opposed to sending it down south or to foreign countries.
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
No one-fix solution to housing exists. The left says build more housing via government supported assistance programs, and the right says invest in private sector development. In fact, a balanced approach makes the most sense. There are effective housing programs like the Rutland County Housing Trust that have proven worthy of expanded State investment, but anyone who has paid attention to landlords across the state knows that families and businesses owning multi-unit properties are de-incentivized to invest in fixing blight and renting to the general public given an overburdensome legal, tax and regulation system that needs to be addressed.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Vermont House — Rutland-7
Chris Keyser*
Did not respond to our survey.
Vermont House — Rutland-8
Genevieve K. Duchesneau
- Age
- 38
- Occupation
- I am a software engineer. For more than a decade I have built systems in machine learning, computer
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
Property taxes, specifically reappraisal timing. Everyone argues the education rate, almost nobody discusses this. We are mid-reappraisal now, locking today's peak market value onto your house until the next one in another decade. If the market cools, your assessment will not. We need transition relief and income sensitivity tied to what people earn. That treats a symptom, health benefits are now roughly 15 percent of Vermont school budgets, up from under 10 percent in 2018, and school boards cannot control that. Universal healthcare would take more off your tax bill than any rate we are debating.
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
I am not against reform but our school costs are genuinely unsustainable and pretending otherwise would be dishonest. Consolidation targets the wrong cost. Health insurance is the fastest growing line in these budgets, and merging districts does not lower it by a dollar. Pittsford and Proctor already consolidated once in 2015. Now delegates start meeting this fall toward votes in 2028. Consolidating schools can take part of the spirit from small towns. I want that process kept genuinely voluntary, small schools judged on outcomes instead of headcount, and the Legislature working on the costs that are actually growing.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
No. The state already sets the ceiling through the yield bill and spending caps. This would remove the one piece local voters still hold. Otter Valley's budget failed on Town Meeting Day, came back trimmed, and passed by 34 votes. This is a great example of local democracy in action. Quarry Valley is weighing a building closure, which should be decided by the people who live with it. Take that vote away and a family's only say over their largest tax bill is a legislator they see every two years.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
I'd like to do better. Vermont spends near the top of the country per student and our outcomes do not match it, especially for kids from lower-income families. Consolidation does not touch this issue. Two things I would like to work on. Course access, so a small high school offers the range a large one does, through shared and virtual instruction and dual enrollment rather than closing buildings. And the conditions kids show up in. A child who is housing insecure, or had no childcare before kindergarten, will not learn better in a bigger district.
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
Since 2021, individual market premiums here have compounded to 74.6 percent higher. Modest annual rate approvals do not undo that. Near term, reference-based pricing. Tie what insurers pay hospitals to a share of Medicare. S.190 would have done that for school employees and marketplace enrollees, and it was vetoed in June. I would bring it back. What I want is universal healthcare. Federal is the right level and it is not close, so we may have to go first, alone or with our New England neighbors. Vermont's 2011 attempt died on financing. Together this is a problem we can solve.
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
Buildings, and our grid. Fuel burned in Vermont's homes, businesses and industry is 31.5 percent of our emissions, most of that being for heat. Weatherization and cold-climate heat pumps already work in our winters, each one cutting both fuel bills and emissions with the same dollar. Fund those programs and get homes actually converted. Moving heat off oil and propane moves it onto the grid, so we also have to build in-state renewable capacity alongside it. Electricity is only 2.9 percent of our emissions today. That headroom is limited, and should go to heating Vermont homes, not large data centers.
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
I want village centers people live in. We deserve somewhere walkable, with real third-places. Somewhere that isn't just your house or your job, where you see your neighbors. A town is not a row of addresses, it is the places we experience life. Legalize what our village centers already are. Mixed use, apartments over storefronts, no parking minimums requiring more lot than building. The best blocks in our communities couldn't be permitted today. It is also how someone downsizes without leaving town, freeing homes for new families. Also, stop diverting the property transfer tax from the housing trust fund.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “Yes.”
Alicia Malay*
Did not respond to our survey.
Vermont House — Rutland-9
Jeff Haylon
- Age
- 29
- Occupation
- I am in sales, have worked as a legislative analyst, and am a two-term Brandon Selectboard member.
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
Health insurance costs. While there's been some movement on this in the past couple years, officials at both the state and national level have been largely ignoring health systems and how close they are to complete implosion.
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
Yes and no. Clearly the education system needs work and its funding mechanism is not sustainable at current rates, and I can see the merit in reducing the number of districts. That said, we need to be looking harder at the drivers of cost--declining enrollment, health insurance for public school employees--rather than just finding cost savings. Systemic change is only going to work if we're willing to actually change the system.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
This depends completely on how the structure is set up. In many ways, the state is already setting school budgets, but in a way that is convoluted and not as transparent as I would like. I think a transitional middle ground would be having the state recommend district budgets that the school boards can edit (or not) before submitting to voters.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
Vermont elementary and kindergarten programs are excellent, middle and high school less so. While it's not the entire answer, removing smartphones from the equation during school hours would be a step I would support. We also have to work on our high school graduation rates, where we rank pretty poorly compared to the rest of the country. Part of the equation needs to be workforce placement and training, and making sure there are opportunities for young graduates to enter the workforce for meaningful wages.
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
I'm a strong supporter of universal primary care here in Vermont. Eliminating the middle-man of insurance companies from this essential service would, over time, dramatically reduce ERs being used as (very expensive) primary care and improve health outcomes, while also reducing the administrative hassle for primary care providers. The exact funding mechanism of this is something to be sorted out in the next biennium, and a conversation I'm eager to be a part of.
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
We already have passenger train lines along the two major north-south corridors in our state, which are the largest contributor to our emissions. We should be seeking out agreements with neighboring states (and Canada) to increase service along these rail lines, which are pretty much only served by Amtrak. If commuting by rail along Rt. 7, for instance, was a realistic possibility, the amount of emissions from commuters could be dramatically reduced.
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
The 802 Homes pilot is a great program that I hope to see expanded statewide, and I would also support state trainings for construction crews to build the homes laid out in that program, such that both the designs and the teams to build them can be made available to customers. I would also like to see multi-party ownership of properties be made simpler, such that a group of friends or families can share the ownership of a plot of land or house for reduced cost and opportunity to share resources.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Aida Nielsen
Did not respond to our survey.
Vermont House — Rutland-10
William P. Canfield*
Did not respond to our survey.
Vermont House — Rutland-11
Valorie Taylor*
Did not respond to our survey.
Vermont House — Rutland-Bennington
Jessica Van Oort
- Age
- 49
- Occupation
- I am a small business owner and am currently on the Pawlet Selectboard.
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
Getting food to those who need it and supporting those who grow it. We have many farms, farmers' markets, and community gardens in our state and we also have many people who struggle with going hungry. I work with our local food pantry and see this constantly. Crop Cash at the farmers' market is an excellent program, and we need more ideas like that to pay farmers and feed people.
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
No. We need to control the rising cost of education, but that is largely driven by the increase in the cost of health care for teachers, not by small local schools existing. We could consolidate some services like special education, but I do not support legislation that leads to closing our local schools.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
Only if doing so would bring down property taxes. We need to fund our schools equitably across the state to ensure a good public education for every student no matter where they live or how much their family makes. I think moving away entirely from funding schools through property taxes would be a good idea. We should find a different source of funding that is fairer to all.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
I believe our public schools are high quality and we should work to keep them that way. The human touch of caring teachers is the most important factor, and we should keep AI and invasive software by big corporations out of our classrooms. I used to be an arts educator, and I support improving the quality and availability of arts education for all students.
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
Health care is both a human right and the biggest driver of rising costs for our schools, families, employers, and municipalities. We need to get serious about finding a way to provide universal publicly funded healthcare to all Vermonters. I would advocate for and vote for such a plan, whether it is universal primary care, Medicare for All, or some other similar proposal.
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
Many individuals want to switch from oil or propane heating to heat pumps but cannot afford it. We also have programs to help people weatherize their homes but the waiting lists are years long. Fully funding these programs and reducing their red tape would reduce emissions and help people stay warm in the winter and not rely on fuel oil which swings wildly in price.
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
We need more homes that are sized and priced for young families and for retirees. I support programs that rehab empty houses and help homeowners build accessory dwelling units or convert unused space into rental units.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Chris Pritchard*
Did not respond to our survey.
Vermont House — Rutland-Windsor
Phoebe Tucker
- Age
- 31
- Occupation
- Clinical Herbalist + Health Coach
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
Cost of housing for working-class people.
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
- This candidate did not respond.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
No, I believe that more power should be kept locally whenever possible.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
On a scale of 1-10, we are at about a 5. We need to lessen administrative costs, have more direct support and resources for teachers, and increase the amount of services offered to students.
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
Increase focus on preventative care measures and support universal primary care.
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
Improve availability and access to public transportation and support organizations such as Efficiency VT that can help to button up homes and reduce heating costs for Vermont winters.
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
- This candidate did not respond.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Kevin C. Winter*
Did not respond to our survey.
Vermont House — Washington-1 (2 seats)
Kenneth W. Goslant*
Did not respond to our survey.
Lucas J. Herring
Did not respond to our survey.
Vermont House — Washington-2 (2 seats)
Dara Torre*
- Age
- 59
- Occupation
- WA-2 State Representative since 2023, previous public service roles in local and regional planning.
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
State government has to become more agile and innovative than ever given damaging federal policies that have hurt local farms and businesses, reduced food and health benefits and generally driven up the cost of living. With less revenue to work with and rising needs, we need to ensure that state support goes where and when it's most needed, and that it's easier to access by Vermonters, towns and businesses. The economic instability and uncertainty we're living through requires our best collaboration and process innovation.
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
With property taxes through the roof, we have to pursue a more sustainable trajectory for funding our schools. I support expanding quality educational opportunities around the state, adopting more predictable and transparent funding, and addressing our demographic realities by consolidating where possible. I'm committed to meeting our challenges responsibly, and ensuring the transition avoids harming students in the process. We’ve made complex asks of our schools, school boards and the Agency of Education and the Legislature may need to refine implementation in response to different realities on the ground.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
We're awaiting a legislative report on how a foundation formula could be adapted to work best for student success in Vermont. With that guidance, I could support having the state determine the per-student funding amount that local, likely larger, school districts would then build a budget around and vote on. Getting the pupil weights right, which correct for higher-cost student needs, will be essential in ensuring all our schools are properly funded.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
While some of our schools are high-performing, student outcomes are uneven around the state. Investing in more educator professional development is key, especially given expected retirement trends. Meeting student needs must be at the center of all the reform we undertake, and the regional Cooperative Education Service Areas (CESAs) created in Act 170 have the potential to expand resources across schools and at lower cost overall. A fairer funding mechanism is essential to adequately fund schools that have historically struggled to pass a budget.
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
It’s critical to double down on primary care and continue with the hard work to manage hospital costs and stabilize insurance premiums. It’s been gratifying to see some results from legislative action and the oversight of the Green Mountain Care Board in recent years, including plans for reference-based pricing. The loss of expanded federal subsidies for Vermont Health Connect and impending Medicaid changes are a huge blow to many families and we must seriously explore bringing on universal primary care in our state. It’s shocking that preventative health care is currently so poorly reimbursed.
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
Helping Vermonters access electric cars and public transit and to transition off expensive gasoline, propane and fuel oil is a win-win for wallets and the climate. We've got a pretty clean electric grid but it's aging and poles and wires cost money. Getting more renewables, batteries, and heat pumps into homes can take pressure off the grid at peak, expensive times. This is how our largest utility, Green Mountain Power, saved money during a heat wave this past summer. We need to turn these savings into more dollars for more Vermonters to afford solar, EVs and heat pumps.
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
Larger national forces are at play that affect the cost of new housing like interest rates, inflation and rising labor costs. In the State House, we've focused on things we can control, like reducing regulatory costs and making statewide zoning changes to allow denser housing (duplexes by right, reduced parking minimums, enabling more accessory dwellings). We’ve also funded and expanded programs that support more rental inventory, like the Vermont Housing Improvement Program and funded affordable housing programs. Next up - innovate on smaller housing options for older Vermonters, expand access to manufactured homes, and encourage streamlined permitting and adaptive reuse statewide.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Candice White*
- Age
- 57
- Occupation
- strategic communications consultant; current board member of Lake George Association
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
I think elected officials are well aware of the affordability challenges Vermonters are facing. Continuing policy changes that incentivize more housing are needed, as we know that expansion of housing supply directly drives down the cost of living.
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
Yes, student enrollment continues to decline; expenses continue to rise; and Vermonters cannot afford the increased property taxes that are required to support the education fund. Change must be made.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
Yes, the state needs to decide what we can afford, and dole out grants to schools based on student count and student needs. I expect the CESAs to identify oppportunities for improvement and efficiency in the delivery of special education, teacher training, and other high-cost areas. Additionally, there is room for some school merger statewide, and those opportunities must be seized.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
Vermont's public school outcomes have decreased in recent years. Act 73 required the Agency of Education and the Board of Education to set consistent, statewide graduation requirements.
I'd like to see a statewide focus on the absolute basics--reading, writing, and math. I'd like to see Vermont students excelling at the basic education requirements, and then branching out to include other areas like foreign language, environmental studies, history, etc.- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
I believe we are in a moment of opportunity to do things differently. I'd like to work towards universal primary care in Vermont, so that folks can seek treatment before afflictions become acute, and so that we keep patients out of the Emergency Room--the most expensive care. C
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
Ensure that we have policies that encourage the adoption of solar, heat pumps, and electric cars. Invest in bike/ped infrastructure to encourage less car use and more walking/biking.
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
I'd like to see investment in community housing in the form of tiny houses, communal housing, etc. I would also like to see communities come together to hold discussions on what their housing goals are, and what levers are available to help them meet those goals.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Vermont House — Washington-3 (2 seats)
Michael Boutin*
Did not respond to our survey.
John G. Santorello
- Age
- 71
- Occupation
- Retired. Former school commissioner, city budget committee member, and JOP
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
Vermont needs an "open for business" policy to generate more businesses to locate here; at the same time the cost of living, specifically the tax burden, has to also be addressed.
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
Yes and no. I think something needs to happen with consolidation but more options need to be analyzed. At one time schools were so small that multi-grade levels were taught in a single classroom. I'd like to see different ideas developed and have more discussion.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
Tough question. Local control has both advantages and disadvantages. The State can be effective in school budgeting but oblivious to tax burdens the homeowners and the working class already have. If the state does get the power to set school budgets, the state should also set expectations for school's achievement results and expect higher levels of proficiency.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
My rating for the quality of Vermont’s public schools is poor and not meeting expectations.
In reviewing the scatter graph “school spending and proficiency” it looks to me that spending has less to do with proficiency than people are concluding. I think opportunities to improve quality of education may come from analysis of schools’ teaching methods and curriculum. https://schools.rightforvermontfoundation.org/
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
Hard question. I'd welcome more brainstorming and open discussion. The answer may lie in "out of the box" thinking. I'd like to especially hear other ideas.
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
With Vermont's population size and low manufacturing capacity, I do not consider Vermont having an emissions problem and reduction efforts currently in existence only hurt its citizens.
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
I believe less burdensome regulations on getting building permits, better opportunities for transportation could improve the availability of housing, especially in outlying areas. Multi-level housing with strict rules for cleanliness and accessibility with 24/7 supervision. I've seen at least two successful facilities operating in this capacity and seen several that do not and are problematic.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Sonya Spaulding
- Age
- 54
- Occupation
- Owner-Miles Supply Inc., School board member 13 years, City Councilor 2 years
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
Vermont needs to hold big corporations accountable for paying good wages and providing full benefits to their workers. We cannot allow Walmart, Amazon, and others like them to take advantage of corporate welfare on the backs of hard-working Vermonters to line their shareholders' pockets. Our health insurance premiums are the most expensive in the country, and we get very little in return for the amount we pay. We need to address the high cost of health insurance, while also finding ways to keep people healthy.
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
Yes, I support some kind of consolidation because I don't think we can continue operating the same way we have and still see savings. I like the idea of schools being part of a regional planning group to collaborate and work together. I'm not necessarily in favor of closing schools, and at the same time, I believe we need to find ways to make sure all of our students are getting an excellent education.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
As a previous school board member in Barre City, I would support legislation that gives the state power to set school budgets. Our school district is still without a school budget as I write this because some of our community members feel like we are spending too much, even though we have one of the lowest per-pupil spending levels in the state. I also believe this would allow schools to provide all of the basics for students without pitting taxpayers against their local schools.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
Vermont's public schools have suffered from a variety of factors, including how schools are funded, specifically with changes in weighting, the Act 46 years, proficiency-based grading requirements, the COVID years, and providing the mental health supports necessary to allow most students to learn. On top of this, we do not have enough teachers, special educators, or support staff to adequately serve students. Some of these factors were intended to help, but then a new initiative or plan emerges. We need to give schools time to find their footing and fully fund all the schools to serve students.
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
I support Universal Health Care because I believe we can redirect money we already spend on insurance premiums and use it more efficiently. This would separate health insurance from employment and allow us to require businesses to contribute to Universal Health Care to ensure we have a healthy pool of workers. This would specifically address larger businesses that are not contributing to their workers' health care and allow individuals and businesses to share the cost.
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
The biggest contributor to climate change in Vermont is our cars and trucks. Being a very rural state, we need cars and trucks to get to work, go to appointments, and bring our students to and from school. Building infrastructure to support electric vehicles, like more charging stations, and city infrastructure to support biking would make these modes of transportation easier. In addition, we could improve public transportation with reliable, convenient schedules and very low fares to encourage more people to take the bus.
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
I would support policies that include initiatives such as cooperatives and low-interest loans or grants to renovate older housing stock or convert vacant office space in our downtowns into affordable housing. This would mean using the housing or buildings we already have and turning them into the housing we need. With more people unhoused, I support policies that keep people in their homes. In addition, I believe we could use boarding-house or dorm-style housing to give people shelter at a very affordable price. Housing first would help make other challenges, like mental health, more manageable.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Edward "Teddy" Waszazak*
Did not respond to our survey.
Vermont House — Washington-4 (2 seats)
Jared Duval
- Age
- 43
- Occupation
- I have served as Executive Director of the non-profit organization Energy Action Network since 2017.
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
The biggest reason I am running is to work for a fairer and more progressive tax system where those with the highest-incomes and the wealthiest pay more of a fair share. To make life more affordable for all -- especially lower- and middle-income Vermonters -- requires public investment in affordable housing, accessible and affordable health care, and public education. But right now, the highest-income Vermonters pay a lower share of their income in overall taxes than many middle-income Vermonters (see: https://publicassets.org/charts-infographics/vermont-state-and-local-taxes-as-a-share-of-family-income-by-tax-by-quintile-2024). I believe that's wrong and that we should work to re-coup the Trump tax cuts for the highest earners.
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
I do not support the efforts by the Governor and Secretary of Education to force consolidation statewide into 5 mega-districts. I think the compromise reached by the legislature last year -- creating a clear path and timeline for thoughtful district mergers, while also retaining community participation in the process -- was a sensible step forward. As we proceed, we should keep the focus on what is best for students in terms of educational quality and equity. Community engagement and cost-savings are also very important factors. Unfortunately, the Governor's veto of reference-based pricing for teacher healthcare missed an opportunity for meaningful cost savings.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
From an educational equity and student opportunity perspective, I do think it is important to set floors for school budgets. It is not equitable for some schools and student populations -- for instance, those in Barre -- to perpetually receive less investment. However, I worry that a foundation formula, in practice, will only serve as a floor for the budgets of wealthier districts but will effectively be a ceiling for poorer districts, potentially worsening rather than alleviating educational inequity. My preference for lowering property tax burdens is to fix the cliffs, including updating income-sensitivity thresholds for the first time in decades.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
I think we always need to be working to improve the quality of education in Vermont. Education is the great field-leveler, opening up life-changing opportunities, especially for those from families or communities with fewer resources. That's certainly been the story of my life, as someone who grew up in a lower-income family, and it's one of the reasons why I am so dedicated to public schools and so grateful for the work of public school teachers. I strongly oppose taking public dollars from public schools for private or religious schools that are not open to all students.
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
At the federal level, I strongly support Medicare for All. A recent study by the Yale School of Public Health found that Medicare for All could reduce health expenditures nationally by over $1 trillion, while saving over 100,000 lives a year. Here at the state level, I think we should explore reforms that could improve health outcomes while also lowering system-wide costs, such as universal primary care. When treatment happens in emergency rooms rather than preventatively, outcomes are worse and costs are higher.
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
The greatest opportunities to reduce climate pollution happen to also be the greatest opportunities to reduce energy costs. These win-win opportunities include: weatherization; electric vehicles; heat pump water heaters; and efficient wood heat systems. Public investment in energy efficiency, renewables, and electrification lowers fuel and health costs, creating durable affordability and lasting benefits. But to bring these cost- and pollution-reduction benefits statewide -- especially to lower- and middle-income Vermonters who most stand to benefit -- up-front investment is necessary in the form of grants and incentives. Vermont should follow the polluter-pays principle and make fossil fuel companies pay.
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
We need to build more housing, especially permanently affordable housing. I strongly support the work of organizations like VHCB and Downstreet. We also need to bring unoccupied housing units back online. That is why I strongly support the continuation and expansion of the Vermont Housing Improvement Program (VHIP), one of the most cost-effective tools to make more housing available quickly. Above all, I think we need to treat housing as a vital human need for all rather than as a market commodity to benefit the few. We should work to support home ownership for Vermonters and guard against private equity.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Kate McCann*
Did not respond to our survey.
Vermont House — Washington-5
Ela Chapin*
Did not respond to our survey.
Vermont House — Washington-6
Marc Mihaly*
- Age
- 79
- Occupation
- adjunct professor and dean emeritus at Vermont Law, Vermont State College Board
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
Affordability is the key problem elected officials need to address. And underlying affordability are three realities:
-- Housing is too expensive and there's not enough of it. My work as chair of the House General and Housing committee is dedicated to this issue.
-- Health care is more expensive in Vermont than any where else
-- Vermonters spend about as much on oil and gas as we do on education and that money leaves the state to no benefit to us.- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
Yes. I support the legislation that reinvents our school finance system, simplifies the property tax, and puts reasonable limits on state spending for private schools, but at the same time I'm pleased the bills just past do NOT mandate disctrict consolidation, but rather encourage it and leave the decisions to local citizens.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
No. But I do support an approach where the state sets the basic minimum amount necessary to educate a student well. One of our biggest education problems is huge inequality among districts. The new education finance system addresses this issue.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
Our teachers and administrators are fabulous but working in a broken and underfinanced system. We need to support them in their efforts to improve reading math scores and address a post-Covid problems our students are experiencing.
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
It's difficult because the system needs to be restructured, but in a way that reflects the reality of our geography and our many rural and remote communities. So we have hospitals in the wrong place, hospitals that cannot survive, but we shouldn't become a state where people have to drive hours to a birthing center. We need to train doctors who will become general practitioners and nurses, and encourage more of them to come to the state.
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
Vermonters spend nearly $2 billion per year on oil and gas and are exposed to the huge fluctuations of the world energy market. Recent price increases have already cost Vermonters $700 million. We should support electrification of our fleet of cars with incentives for both new and especially used electric cars and installation of charging stations. Most important we need to find new, effective ways to finance weatherization and energy efficiency.
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
-- Making it easier to purchase and install mobile/manufactured homes
-- Making it easier to permit, finance and build housing in all communities that want to accept housing.
-- Expanding programs to encourage high school graduates to enter the building trades to alleviate the huge shortage contractors, carpenters, electricians and plumbers, etc.
-- Elect a new US president who will support more federal funds to help bring down the cost of housing to a level the average Vermonter can afford.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Vermont House — Washington-Chittenden (2 seats)
Katarina Lisaius
- Age
- 37
- Occupation
- I work at the statewide nonprofit working for a violence-free Vermont
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
Vermont has faced a rise in homelessness alongside the need for more affordable housing. Both challenges need to be talking to one another as they are sides of the same coin.
I believe we need to re-center the challenges on the people most impacted. Addressing homelessness requires a housing first practice; Vermont needs extremely affordable housing such as coop housing and social housing.
This approach is centered on the person, therefore allow us to build community and address underlining needs. As a legislator, I will support an increase in extremely affordable housing.- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
I support that we need to address rising property taxes. Making changes with community voice at the center is imperative - and with the recently passed laws, voters will have the final say on mergers moving forward.
To addressing rising education costs, we also need to address affordability health care. Health care is one of the top costs in our public education system, and without meaningful progress in health care, we will continue to see rising taxes. I support a move to universal health care, starting with universal primary care.- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
Vermonters pride ourselves in local control and I stand by communities knowing their needs the best.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
I attended Vermont public schools, graduating from Harwood Union, a high school within my district. Public schools know how to stretch our tax payer dollars and deliver high quality education.
Our public schools are democracy in action - are available to all students regardless of income or any other factor. Schools take on more and more to provide services to students meeting the common good of our communities. Public schools are our community centers and I would like to see more opportunities for collaboration of community services to ensure students needs are being met.- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
We need to move toward a single payer system, and reimagine a system based on care not payment. A single payer system increases efficiencies in the system, while still supporting access to care.
In the last biennium, the legislature passed a bill for reference-based pricing. I support this move in our health care system as it begins to transparently share pricing.
We also need to support local care centers staying open. When they close, Vermonters often go without care, delaying services and often increasing medical needs at a later date. We need accessible care in our communities.- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
I think the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions is by creatively addressing rural transportation with vehicle electrification along with carshares, public transportation and carpooling. Communities where possible should be moving toward walkable downtowns and bike-friendly streets.
There are also many other ways that we need to support construction of new buildings, movement to sustainable energy sources, and more weatherization of historic homes. To accomplish movement to a green future, we need to be training Vermonters for the jobs and not leaving workers behind as we protect our climate.- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
To accomplish affordable and extremely affordable housing that matches the incomes of average Vermonters, we need to have a multi-pronged approach. Development organizations have the chance to build and expand cooperative housing and social housing programs. We can continue supporting VHIP and support factory-built homes for easily built housing.
We also have to address the rise in short-term rentals and the impact on our towns. By having fewer longterm residents, we lose on that residents income tax, children in our schools, and income being spent in our towns.
To address this issue, it will implement many solutions simultaneously.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Theresa A.M. Wood*
- Occupation
- Retired State employee; Vermont Representative for 11 years; many local & state vol. positions
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
For property owners, the cost of property taxes is the biggest item that continues to need attention. The cost of health care is also a major cost of living issue.
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
I believe we need to learn from past attempts to consolidate school districts, which hasn't really led to cost savings. I do believe we need to consolidate some schools, but believe we need to include local residents in that process.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
I believe that the current system of local voters approving budgets and then sending the bill to the state is not a good system. I do believe a well-thought-out foundation formula is advisable. However, the devil is in the details.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
Vermont has some very high quality pubic schools; however, we do not have equal educational opportunities for students. For example, PreK is available in some districts, but not in others. I also believe we should always be striving to improve major public systems.
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
There is no magic answer here. The GMCB, in recent years, has done a good job at their oversight responsibilities. Additionally, the legislature has passed several bills that are already having the impact of lowering costs (e.g., act to limit the mark-up hospitals can charge for some drugs).
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
Continued efforts to weatherize Vermont's very old housing stock is important for lowering use of fossil fuels and increasing affordability for Vermonters. I am not in favor of a carbon tax; but would like to see Vermont partner with other northeast states to explore a regional approach to reducing carbon emissions.
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
Vermont incentivizes low to no-cost loans/grants to bring currently vacant or under-utilized housing back on the market. I think a similar incentive to encourage current short term rental owners to do the same would be helpful.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Vermont House — Washington-Orange (2 seats)
Melissa Battah
Did not respond to our survey.
Gina Galfetti*
- Age
- 46
- Occupation
- G Force Painting Inc Owner/Operator
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
The Rural Ecomony is in trouble and we need to provide incentives for Agricultural and Forest Products processors to maintain capacity right here in Vermont. The State of Vermont should take on the burden of identifying and pre-permiting sites and working with local municipalites to gain approval so potential business don't have to take on the expense or risk of rejection or our Rural economy will continue to decline and fail.
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
I think it is still too soon to tell if consolidation is working or will provide financial relief. What I do know is we can’t sustain or even maintain this level of spending and cuts will have to be made elsewhere in the state budget until we find a solution. Taxpayers simply cannot keep this up and unfortunately we used a lot of onetime money from covid relief to stand up ongoing programs that while often admirable we simply can't afford.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
I think some degree of oversight regarding school budgets is in order because under the current system local budget votes effect the actual tax rate in that district to a very limited degree. I think we need to address high speeding districts that pass large budget increases with little regard for the effect it will have on poorer districts that spend less to keep taxes down. The current system in my opinion has only widened the iniquity gap in many schools, rather than reverse or stabilize it.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
I think quality is the wrong word to use. I believe that we have many many fantastic teachers that are not getting the support they need in the classroom. I think we need to audit our administration and offer to retrain and redeploy more staff into the classroom. The student staff ratio is deceiving and teachers need more support so they can focus on teaching and not managing disruptions. And if savings are achieved pass some back to tax payers and some on to classroom staff.
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
Align our regulatory system with neighboring states that have not seen the large rate increases like we have had in the last 15 years and use that as a starting point to draw more companies back to the Vermont market. Provide tax incentives and medical school debt relief for new primary care Dr.s and incentivize it on a sliding scale so rural communities are more attractive to them to set up or take over a practice.
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
It is more than clear that weatherazation of aging homes would yield the greatest carbon reduction by far. Our current policies that have provided rebates and incentives to folks who can make the upfront investment in exspensive technology is totally inequitable and is driving up costs for those still living in unweatherized homes and fixed incomes. We can and must do better for folks rather then broaden the equity gap and reward those who can afford it by putting it on the backs of the vulnerable through regressive polices and taxes.
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
We need to look at how we can best support working Vermonters futures, providing large down-payment assistance so folks can purchase homes where they working have a mortgage they can afford. The states share would be returned plus modest interest when the house is sold or could be paid after the initial loan is paid off. We need to create paths to home ownership if we want folks to stay and put down roots. Shared equity partnerships with seniors that want to age in place could help solve two problems we face with an aging population.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
David Soucy*
Did not respond to our survey.
Emily Wheeler-Reynolds
- Age
- 44
- Occupation
- Small Business Owner, School Board Director, Justice of the Peace
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
Our Property Tax structure needs reform. As costs rise for municipalities and schools, more and more pressure is put on our working families, small businesses and homeowners to absorb the bulk of the tax burden. It is not fair or right to take more from the people that make Vermont work. We need practical and thoughtful tax reform that lifts the tax burden on us and puts more money back into the pockets of everyday Vermonters.
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
There is no data to suggest that consolidation improves student outcomes or reduces costs. Many communities, mine included, are still resentful of the forced mergers of Act 46. The current roll out of Act 170, has shifted most of the actual work of Education Transformation away from the Legislature on to local school boards without sufficient resources to accomplish this. It seems like Act 46 all over again and I'm afraid we will end up with the same result; an overcomplicated, more expensive system that doesn't meet the needs of our kids.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
I am responding to this questionnaire the day after the BUUSD school budget was voted down for the third time. The proposed budget represented a 2.11% increase. We are the only district in the state to start the school year without a budget. We continue to struggle with one of the lowest per pupil spending rates and lowest graduation rate in Vermont. Wealthier districts pass their budgets and their kids get more while our kids get less. We are trapped in a system where opportunity and outcome are determined by zip code. This is not sustainable. It is not fair.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
The AOE released preliminary results of our statewide testing. The results demonstrate modest gains in proficiency across nearly every tested grade level and subject, reflecting progress in student achievement. However, widening proficiency gaps between historically marginalized students and their peers underscore that these gains are not yet being experienced equally. Wealthy districts are doing ok, poor districts are not. When funding, resources and opportunities are not distributed equally, outcomes are not equal. Our educators deserve equal resources and training regardless of where they work. Our kids deserve equal opportunities and outcomes regardless of where they live.
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
Health care and health insurance premiums are one of the main cost drivers of increases in our school budgets. We see double digit increases year after year. Medications are so expensive, that one cost containment solution has been to restrict coverage of life changing medications. I support reference based pricing as a cost containment strategy. RBP creates plans from the bottom up, eliminates the need for "in network" providers and increases transparency. I also support Universal Primary Care, a community doctor who has the freedom to treat patients outside the restrictions and red tape of health insurance billing
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
The illegal war with Iran has opened everyday Vermonters' eyes to the fact that our reliance on petroleum is costly and unsustainable. Heating season is approaching and many of us are wondering how we are going to afford heating fuel oil. Now is a great opportunity to help Vermonters reduce their fuel use by expanding access to practical programs that help them insulate and button up their homes so they use less heating fuel oil. This improves the quality of our homes, reduces emissions, and puts money back into our pockets.
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
Creating a more fair and balanced property tax structure would immediately lower the cost of housing for Vermonters.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Vermont House — Windham-1
Zon Eastes*
- Occupation
- Musician, conductor. State representative since January 2025.
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
Affordability affects nearly every aspect of Vermonters' lives these day. Property taxes, healthcare, housing, education, just to start the list.
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
Yes.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
As the question is phrased, No. But, the issue of equitable education for all is complicated, and I'm comfortable discussing how best to educate our children, using fair and practical methods to secure high quality opportunities for all.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
From my vantage point, the quality of education of Vermont is not consistently high, varying from district to district, sometimes widely. I support increased consistency in academic standards (that might include greater statewide policy development).
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
As I understand it, the legislature currently has some control over only about a third of the spending Vermonters make on healthcare annually. The legislature really cannot produce significant financial relief inside the current system. Because Vermont is not large enough to establish a viable single payer system, and short of a national healthcare system, I am interested to learn more about a universal healthcare system shared within a region or with other states.
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
Vermont must align itself with the zero- and near-zero-emissions programs, technology, and science. I realize that recent efforts and proposals have proven controversial for some Vermonters. It is important, as we move forward, to use clear, evidence-based information in policy creation and program development and implementation.
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
Big, complicated question. In the last legislative session, honest attempts to address even some of the most straightforward issues got mired. More work is needed, for sure. There is no single silver bullet. Some wish for simpler processes, some wish for greater subsidies, some wish for less influence from various interests. Working from the base value that increased housing/development ought to occur in already designated or likely-to-be-designated areas makes a lot of sense to me.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Nancy L. Gassett
Did not respond to our survey.
Vermont House — Windham-2
Laura Sibilia*
- Age
- 56
- Occupation
- Director of Regional Economic Development Strategies, 20 year school board member, VCBB Board
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
Non pre K-12 education costs that are included in the property tax
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
Mostly. I believe the state responsibility for ensuring substantially equal education opportunities needs to shift so that the state has more responsibility for the current status and outcomes of our schools and the governor and legislature can be held accountable for quality and cost. Larger local governance units can both retain regional control and hold the governor and legislature more accountable for disparities in cost and quality.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
I don’t know. I would be willing to carefully consider proposed language and whether or not it was likely to deliver better outcomes for students and taxpayers. The current situation is not meeting our obligations. If the state weee to set budgets I would want to see a de politicization of the Secretary of Education and have that position put back under the State Board of Education.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
Following COVID many schools have struggled. There is a lot of room for improved, high quality technical assistance and accurate data from the Agency of Education to local districts.
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
The current problem that we are having directly relates to the laudable and appropriate goal of wanting to increase healthcare access for more Vermonters, actually increasing access to healthcare for more Vermonters over the last several decades, and being overreliant on federal funds while not raising state funds for that increased to access. It seems reasonable to think that we need to raise more money in the State or reduce healthcare access for Vermonters in order to impact healthcare costs. I think we are all open to proposals that don’t cost more and don’t reduce access.
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
Weatherization
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
CHIP and other publicly funded infrastructure, staffing at the state level to streamline permitting, increase funding to VHIP
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Vermont House — Windham-3 (2 seats)
Michelle Bos-Lun*
- Age
- 59
- Occupation
- State Representative, past six years for Windham 3 &4, also a high school teacher
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
Vermont has the highest health care costs in the nation. As a cancer survivor I am aware the extraordinary costs of receiving life saving care. Every Vermonter should be able to access the high quality care that is available for us. We need to implement reference based pricing and follow up on the legislation passed this past year to address prescription drug costs also. Vermonters need to stay healthy and treat their health challenges before they can consider other issues and policies to control costs could help that.
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
I do not. I voted twice against the House Education bill because it included forced mergers which are not in the interests of our rural communities or small towns, like the ones I represent. Forced mergers result in high costs for transportation and long rides for kids. I already have young kids in my district who have a one hour school bus ride to get to the public school that serves where they live. This is already too far for kids to go back and forth everyday. I did support the 2026 Education bill which only had voluntary mergers.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
The framing of this question makes it not easy to answer. I supported the 2026 Education bill which included provisions to develop a weighting system where a school's population needs (i.e. how many second language learners they serve, how many students have special education needs, etc) are weighted and help determine the funding a school would recieve. The budget of each school would still be determined by the local School Board. I would not support legislation that would put all fund distribution in only the hands of the State- only one where local authority is guaranteed.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
The quality of Vermont Schools varies immensely. I would like to see a day where all schools are high quality and provide an excellent education: supporting those with special needs, reinforcing the basics, and challenging all students. We are not there yet. In my district Westminster Center School is an example of a school which is providing excellent opportunities for kids. They utilize effective strategies to keep teachers up to date with effective teaching techniques and the results show: test scores are improving! They also have a thriving garden and outdoor education: supporting all aspects of kids' development.
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
Reference Based would help bring down hospital costs. An approach to both help with the prevention of chronic disease and alleviation of symptions and intensity of chrnoic diseases is the idea of Food as Medicine. We had 4 pilot programs in Vermont where patients at health care clinics had access to local fresh produce and other products. Information about how to cook with fresh fruits and vegetables was provided, and recipes too. This type of program has had impressive results in neighboring Massachusetts where people participating lost weight and had 15% fewer hospitalizations. Vermonters deserve access to farm fresh foods.
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
It is important that Vermont invest in public transportation both between towns in our rural areas and within our smaller to medium size towns. Where I live nearly everyone I know drives frequently with only themselves in the car: to buy groceries, to go to the doctor, to go to work, to visit a friend. If we had more microtransit, with smaller buses or vans shuttling people between common destinations it would be of great benefit to people who don't have cars, and would also reduce emissions with fewer solo drivers. Encouraging carpooling is another easier strategy that could help.
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
We need to continue to invest in affordable and mixed income housing projects around the state, but in a much more intensive way. It would be wise to utilize reserve funds to create more housing which is unavailable all of the state and having dire consequences. I have heard from numerous employers who can't fill positions: in sustainable energy, in schools and in hospitals because people who want to work here can't find a place to live. Continuing to fund helping people create apartments in their houses or giving funds to addon to make rental space available is also important.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Nicole Amanda Cota
Did not respond to our survey.
Ryan M. Coyne
Did not respond to our survey.
Chris Lundberg
- Occupation
- retired
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
By far the concern I heard the most while door knocking was property taxes. Many on fixed incomes. Can the legislature do anything to reduce this burden?
Beyond that, the economy could use more jobs that pay a good livable wage, be it more manufacturing or service oriented or even startups, but keeping in mind our desire to be environmentally friendly.- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
Act 73 is, hopefully, a step in the right direction. We’ll see how things progress. Adaptation along the way may be necessary. I’m still of the opinion that any school consolidation should be voluntary, not mandatory.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
As of right now, I’m of the opinion school budgets are better set at the local level.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
I do not have a great deal of knowledge about this, but have read that Vermont’s reading and math scores have gone down over the last several years, so “quality” needs to come up. However, I really do need more data/facts before I can give ideas on improvement.
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
This is a complicated issue. I would really want a better working knowledge of the health care system before I could provide a meaningful answer.
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
More charging stations for electric and hybrid vehicles, more public transportation (thought getting more people to use it to make it more cost effective might be a hurdle), perhaps more tax incentives for purchasing energy efficient cars and appliances, more teleconferencing.
None of these are new ideas and the biggest hurdle will be how to pay for them.- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
Removal of tariffs. Increasing trained work force with building and carpentry skills of which have a serious shortage.
Small tax on short term rentals/bnb’s and secondary homes (though I expect there will be some push back here) to help fund low interest loans or grants for buying a home, building new and/or converting older homes to multi-units. Some of this is already in place.
Minimizing or preventing large real estate investment firms (in state or out) from buying up house and rental properties, especially cash sales.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Vermont House — Windham-4
Ian G. Diamondstone
- Age
- 61
- Occupation
- Work with small producers in Latin America and Community Building in Vt
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
It is time for universal healthcare! It is time to tax the rich and make the United States more equitable for everyone. It is time to support labor unions and workers rights. It is time to recognize that everyone is created equal and deserves equal chances. Vermont is poised to be the leader! Let’s do it.
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
I support certain aspects however I believe it’s very important that we keep as many community schools as we possibly can. I think it’s more important to consolidate administration and less consolidation of school houses.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
No
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
We need to look at consolidating administrative costs and the cost of maintaining certain buildings that just doesn’t make sense anymore and look to alternatives like solar power for all municipalities.
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
Universal healthcare!!!!!
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
Mandate solar for every municipality!
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
Low interest, loans and the development of thousands of tiny homes so that everyone is building equity because equity is power.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Mike Mrowicki*
- Age
- 72
- Occupation
- Child care, after care, non-profit admin. farm worker, landscaping
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
Housing is THE keystone to so many other aspects of our economy that are languishing. It's the largest piece of family budgets that chews up family income.
Housing limitations are inhibiting attracting new workers from health care to education to businesses trying to grow or just sustain.
More housing can bring down costs and make it accessible for younger families trying to come to or stay in Vermont.
We can make greater investments -especially in elder housing, which would then free up larger houses for young families- and continue to smooth the regulatory limitations while also protecting the environment.- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
I support the current plan to use CESA's as a way to share costs and services such as Special Ed, and continue with working a process to see how we can better reform Governance and Funding.
And, building more housing to bring more kids into Vt. and increase the towns' Grand Lists -which could then reduce local taxes.
Many of our schools are underutilized. e.g our town of Putney has a school that once serve 300 students and now serves 210.
As importantly, more Community Schools would better nurture the whole child, with better outcomes.- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
No. Local voices are essential. Without accounting for that "the State", becomes isolated and insulted from local realities.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
Starting with the schools in the 2 towns I represent, Putney and Dummerston, our schools are exemplary. Our schools are vibrant community assets embraced by our towns and that support translates into high performing students with admirable outcomes.
As a whole, our schools have their challenges and we do well to make sure we ensure quality education at a cost taxpayers can afford. Our children are our future. The kids of today will be taking our blood pressure tomorrow. Don't we want them to be able to do it accurately?- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
-cultivate more multi state initiatives such as with ArrayRx
-Better organized and available mental health services in conjunction with population health outcomes e.g. maintaining healthy weights, reduce smoking, maintain healthy eating habits, regular preventive care.
-Set consistent pricing for services at hospitals across the state.
-Limit pharmaceutical markups.
-Look into Canadian prescription services.
-continue planning for universal care with the next administration when we could get the necessary Waiver from CMS for Meidcare/ Medicaid patients.- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
Conservation and Efficiency.
Expand the services of Efficiency Vermont
- incentivize more EV's and E-heat pumps.This is not only good environmental policy but good economic policy as it creates jobs and reduces costs for consumers.
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
Greater investments by temporarily moving some conservation dollars into housing.
continue to reduce regulatory limitations on building, where environmentally feasible
We will also need workers so...
Immigration from other states and nations., specifically
Targeted immigration for specific workers as Canada has been doing.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Lynne Wilkins
Did not respond to our survey.
Vermont House — Windham-5
Emily Long*
Did not respond to our survey.
Vermont House — Windham-6
Emily Carris Duncan*
Did not respond to our survey.
Vermont House — Windham-7
Emilie Kornheiser*
Did not respond to our survey.
Aaron Smith
Did not respond to our survey.
Vermont House — Windham-8
William "Bill" Harvey
Did not respond to our survey.
Daniel Quipp
- Age
- 48
- Occupation
- Family Services Program Coordinator for SEVCA; former Brattleboro Selectboard member
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
Health insurance costs
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
I was frustrated by the Governor using kids and teachers in a game of political chicken last session. I think where the legislature ended up was acceptable but the whole situation generally has been profoundly difficult.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
No. Although, I do recognize that the way education is funded by rolling up local budgets into one big pot at the state level makes it difficult for local boards who are trying to listen to their constituents and deliver budgets that match their values.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
I am a former teacher but only had one year working in a Vermont public school (the rest were in an alternative school in Brattleboro, a charter middle school in Brooklyn, and a high school in London). My experience at the VT public school was that it was high quality. I do not have children in the school system but I hear mostly positive reports from friends about schools in Brattleboro. I would need to listen to more expert voices before making claims about where to improve education quality here.
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
Move away from our private insurance based system to a taxpayer funded system that operates as a public good rather than a business.
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
Continue to make a move away from fossil fuel powered transportation affordable, accessible and practical for all Vermonters. Increase funding and eligibility to Weatherization programs.
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
I wish I had a clear answer for that! In my work with low income folks I know that more housing vouchers would be helpful. Also, building more senior housing to help folks who want to downsize but have few options.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Vermont House — Windham-9
Ian Goodnow*
- Age
- 34
- Occupation
- Deputy State's Attorney
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
Housing at every level. There are many other issues related to our economy and our cost of living, but I feel strongly that our housing crisis sits at the center of many of those other issues and must be addressed.
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
Yes.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
In a classic political answer, I would have to see the details of the legislation before I could commit to supporting something like this. Generally speaking, I don't think a blanket shift of power in this regard to the State would be effective and would need to be more of a balancing of state and local control. I do believe more work should be done and will be done on making our school budgets more sustainable and equitable across the state.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
Unfortunately, I believe the quality of education in Vermont varies drastically depending on where you live and send your kids. This is one of the most important reasons why we need to continue the work in transitioning our education funding and structure to ensure all Vermont students are receiving equal quality education and have access to extra curriculars.
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
Universal Healthcare either in a regional system or shared with other similar States. Anything short of this is putting a band-aid on a broken system that woefully underserves Vermonters across our State.
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
Our greatest opportunity related to climate legislation is to ensure that future legislation is focused on helping our lower income Vermonters reinvest in clean and affordable energy and to protect our most vulnerable communities from future climate related disasters.
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
I wish I had the answer to this question and could put it into 100 words.
There is no single solution. Attacking our housing crisis needs to include: providing housing for our older Vermonters to age in our state with dignity; lowering the price for new construction; Modernizing our landlord tenant laws and prioritizing this type of legislation across the branches of government.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Vermont House — Windham-Windsor-Bennington
E. Stuart Coleman
Did not respond to our survey.
Chris Morrow*
Did not respond to our survey.
Vermont House — Windsor-1 (2 seats)
Dylan Morse
- Age
- 23
- Occupation
- Athletic Director for the Town of Hartland
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
The property tax burden is the issue that requires the most attention from elected officials. We need systemic changes to how we fund education and a future-focused economic vision for our state. An underdiscussed aspect of this issue is the shift in funding and requirements that has taken place from the General Fund to the Education Fund, from income tax to property tax.
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
I support some measures, like shared services across schools and districts. I'm open to regionalizing school districts/supervisory unions in ways that make practical sense. But I strongly oppose measures that threaten the viability of Vermont's small, rural, local primary schools. We have consolidated before without seeing a level of cost-savings that would indicate success - in some cases costs increased. I want to spend my time focusing on what I see as the key drivers of education spending: health care, declining enrollment, and the existing tax structure.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
No.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
I went to Vermont public school K-12 and couldn't be more grateful for my experience. I know we have the best teachers in the nation. I know we have the most dedicated communities who believe in public education. But I also acknowledge the reality we face today: we are spending more and more to educate our kids and they are struggling academically. It's often missed in education policy conversations, but our kids are learning less today than they used to, for a litany of reasons. We should set the goal to have the best public system in the nation.
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
I believe the fee-for-service model of administering health care is a fundamental flaw in our nation's health system, and even in public life as a whole. Our nation pays astronomical prices for substandard outcomes; something must change. We have to find a way to move our system off of fee-for-service so that we can receive the care we deserve. I will put patients first, though I believe this change would provide predictability and stability to providers and insurance as well. I will pursue policies that move us closer to a managed care system.
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
I think the greatest opportunity would be to expand clean energy production here in Vermont. I dream of creating a green economy NOT through mandates but through abundance. More energy, lower prices, and increased access and reliability for households in all corners of our state.
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
The state already invests a lot of money into building housing, and that's good - we should continue. But the money doesn't go nearly as far as it should. We should reform Act 250 to make sure everyday people have the same property rights as the wealthy. We should continue to invest in our trade school programs that are building our next workforce. We should make sure that second homes owned by out-of-staters are not paying a lower tax rate than year-round VT residents. And we must reduce the property tax burden overall.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
John G. Tansey
- Age
- 64
- Occupation
- Retired. Served on boards for schools, selectboard, hospitals, and economic development.
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
There is a need for a continued focus to achieve positive results across numerous fronts including taxes, health care, transportation, housing, energy and more.
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
I support the Legislature’s current approach of requiring school districts to participate in cooperative educational service areas (CESAs) and merger discussions.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
No. Certainly not without a compelling case for doing so which I have not seen.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
I rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools as good to very good. Improvement efforts should give priority to proficiency in English language arts (ELA) including reading for comprehension, and to math and science instruction. Instruction across the arts, humanities and social sciences are also critically important and must continue to be supported; these areas will benefit from gains in proficiency in ELA. Efforts to support school/parent/community partnerships should continue to be prioritized to ensure a holistic learning environment from birth to graduation and beyond, including an emphasis on career and college readiness.
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
The state should continue to invest in areas that would improve health outcomes and reduce costs overall, such as expanding access to primary and preventative care. Regional collaboration with neighboring states should be explored as a way of broadening the risk pool and exploring opportunities for cost-sharing and cost reduction. With its relatively small size and demographic mix, it is uncertain how much progress the state can achieve on its own in this area without further positive investments at the federal level and/or through regional collaboration.
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
Vermont should continue to support efforts to reduce reliance on fossil fuels in the transportation and energy sectors, promoting use of renewables.
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
I am interested in exploring opportunities to streamline state and local planning and regulatory processes that could lessen the overall time and cost associated with bringing new housing online without compromising local zoning, planning and environmental goals. Engagement with builders, landlords, planners, financing entities, realtors, community members and others is key for identifying workable solutions and achieving meaningful results.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Rich Thomas
- Age
- 56
- Occupation
- General contractor, small business owner, former Selectboard chair, Windsor
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
All of it needs work, but I would like to see greater help to small businesses and more of a can do vs no can do in housing development and building.
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
Where applicable I am for consolidation and regionalization of school resources. I would push to apply this same thinking to emergency and municipal services. My hope would be to ensure every Vermont child has the opportunity for a quality education regardless of their towns tax base.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
No.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
While my three daughters did well in Vermont's public school system, I understand that there are challenges facing our schools. I would like to see public tax payers money stay with public schools, increasing resources available to our students.
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
Support the implementation of Executive Order 05-26 and push for meaningful improvements to Vermont's healthcare system.
Focus on reforms that actually address the cost of healthcare — not just who pays for it.- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
Protect Vermont's clean air, water, and open spaces — they are core to who we are and what makes this state worth living in
Pursue responsible economic development that works with Vermont's environment, not against it.
Reject the false choice between environmental protection and economic growth — smart policy can achieve both.
Support outdoor recreation as an economic driver for our communities.- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
Reform laws and regulations that unnecessarily stand in the way of responsible housing development to
make it easier for Vermonters to build homes while continuing to protect Vermont's environment and open spaces. The goal would be to have more balanced and fair practices to address the lack of affordable housing.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Vermont House — Windsor-2
VL Coffin*
Did not respond to our survey.
Mark Yuengling
- Age
- 52
- Occupation
- Furniture craftsman, designer, sales. Supervisory union and school board member, Arts facilitator.
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
Housing. It is a right for all people and an obligation of government to provide pathways to. We have all the resources, skills, ingenuity, drive for community, and grit we need for the next generations to craft the life they want, right here. What Montpelier needs to do is functionally roll out the Welcome mat and put the kettle on. Beyond regulation, Vermont needs to give back. Providing access to startup funding and obstacle free plans for pre approved starter housing, water, sewer and power for towns to approve is crucial. Young families are not lazy, they just need options.
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
A few, yes. Administrative staff, curriculum, special education support, purchasing and new high school construction where needed, should be consolidated where beneficial.
The two year quagmire caused by the notion of forced consolidation is totally unacceptable to me. The highest performing, structurally sound schools, that generations of Vermonters have built, adapted, and maintained are being threatened with closure. Vermont is not Florida. Efficiencies should be adopted and guided by local control and input from taxpayers.
Better outcomes for the students will not come from forcing bigger piles of pieces when considering the puzzle that is public education.- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
No. Montpelier's part time legislature developing a formula doesn't meet the variable real time, or long term needs of towns and school districts. Local control and accountability cannot be replaced by additional, historically unrealized claims of affordability. The cost overruns we see are not ever going to be addressed by incorrectly blaming volunteer school boards and their historic contributions.
Honestly addressing the societal factors that interfere with the delivery of education is essential to the calculation. Separating staff healthcare premiums, student mental health expenditures, and effects of student housing and food insecurity illuminates the actual cost per pupil.- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
Vermont's public education system is only measured accurately by implementation of learning by district, schools, educators, parents and students. Implementation and effort determine results.
As a matter of health, safety, and affordability, I would like to see us move over to the standard of a screen-free classroom in K-8. A.I. has to be barred from the learning models and day to day instruction. Our educators know what traditional forms of teaching work. Let them teach.
An improved Agency of Education providing guidance and usable resources to our schools instead of budgetary oversight would aid us in reaching our educational goals.- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
Universal primary and preventative care delivered straight to the people in rural Vermont is the most impactful route forward. Town doctors, midwifery, nutritional, addiction and lifestyle counseling, occupational therapy, and emphasizing the responsibilities of the individual are going to be crucial in fending off the impending collapse of our healthcare system.
The exploitive, for profit, denial of service "healthcare system" needs to be needs to be reclaimed and reworked by service providers and patients. A fair market system would actually support care providers and certification.
High tech and specialty surgical units should not be supplemented by preventative care costs.- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
We need to focus and expand electrification and solar power generation on already cleared non-farm-ready land. (land cleared for powerlines, rooftops, roadsides etc.) What we are doing is working. Monetarily, it is like a car. The cheapest vehicle to get into is the one you already own.
Expanding rate payers ability to offset their own usage through generation of electricity is important.
Immediately override any veto freezing data center development.
Vermont and our environment cannot afford the choice to cower before big data and spike our electric and fuel consumption on behalf of special or federal interest.- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
Pre approved, zone appropriate development plans, accessible to towns would streamline the development and rehabilitation of our downtowns and appropriate areas. Local control and ownership is crucial for sensible development.
Funding support for communities to incentivize permanent full time residence tax status to properties is a huge step.
Investment into universally accessible multi unit structures will pay dividends by giving the elderly residents options to downsize when appropriate.
State developed and approved wastewater system plans need to be provided to municipalities to reduce local capital expenditures for supporting development.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Vermont House — Windsor-3 (2 seats)
Alice M. Emmons*
- Age
- 71
- Occupation
- State Representative, Springfield
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
Healthcare costs. With so many Vermonters finding healthcare coverage unaffordable, many are going without insurance or are under insured. As a result Vermonters will get sicker. With more and more folks uninsured there is increasing financial pressure on our hospitals and health care system, leading to a situation of unsustainability in our healthcare system.
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
Yes we do need to look at school consolidation, but the decision needs to come from the local communities as to how to consolidate. Consolidation of districts will look different in every part of the state and we need to acknowledge one size doesn’t fit everyone.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
Not at this time. Again, the local communities need to be involved in this decision before any steps are taken for the state to set school budgets.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
The overall quality of our public education is high, but we still need to improve by looking at student outcomes. And that differs across the state. We also need to separate from the school budgets the social and mental health needs of our students. These services should be provided by our social service providers, not our schools. By shifting the cost back to those providers our property taxes for schools would be decreased.
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
Increase the number of primary care providers in the state. When we see our providers on a regular basis, there’s less of a chance a health situation will escalate, needing more expensive care. Also, the state needs to look at ways to increase Medicaid reimbursements to our providers so the cost of their service is cover, thereby eliminating a lot of the cost shift that is currently occurring in our system.
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
Everyone needs to take a look at their energy consumption first and foremost. Also, we need to diversify our energy sources and move away from so much reliance on fossil fuels. We need to diversify our energy production with wind, solar, and any new technology. To do this we need to first address the capacity of our grid, especially if we are to use more electricity to heat our homes and charge our vehicles.
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
Our real estate market needs to stabilize after the increase in house prices as a result of the COVID 19 pandemic when many folks moved to Vermont. Also, as a result of that time, many properties were bought as investment properties and taken off the market of providing housing for local people. On top of that we have an aging population in the state, they can’t afford to move out of their current home, thereby that property isn’t available to the younger generation. There is a log jam in our housing market due to a lot of factors coming together.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Randy A. Gray
Did not respond to our survey.
Kristi C. Morris*
Did not respond to our survey.
Judith Stern
Did not respond to our survey.
Vermont House — Windsor-4
Kyle Hansen
- Occupation
- I work as a Zoning Administrator. I am a member of Pomfret's Zoning Board, and the Selectboard.
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
Our elected officials must give more attention to strengthening our rural economy. We must support and encourage agriculture of all shapes and sizes, and help family farms and small businesses. This will boost in-state food production, and our towns will thrive. Food will become more readily available and affordable to our residents, and small town economies will grow. If our farms thrive, so will our residents, rural towns, and communities.
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
I oppose the forced consolidation of schools. Public schools are an essential pillar of our communities and must be protected. Teachers are essential workers and they must not be forced to lose their jobs. Supervisory unions should work together to reduce overhead costs and cut redundant administrative expenses, while keeping schools open in our towns. We need to understand the severe impact to our communities, and acknowledge the real human cost which comes from closing schools in our small towns.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
I do not support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets. Local control of school budgets is important to ensure that smaller, rural schools are actually provided the funding they need and deserve. A top-down approach to school budgeting may inadvertently favor larger schools and leave smaller, more rural or less wealthy schools behind and underfunded. Local control matters, especially when small towns are concerned.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
I believe that the quality of our schools is well above the national average, but improvement is always possible. We must ensure that after school programs receive funding, as well as music, art, and language classes, sports, and extra-curriculars. All these programs offer a way to encourage camaraderie among students, provide more options for activities, and give students a safe place to stay while their parents and guardians are still at work. Our schools must remain fully funded to provide quality education for Vermont children.
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
Implementing reference-based pricing is a must. Unfortunately, we have a health insurance monopoly in Vermont, which causes prices to be high. I would like to regulate this monopoly to bring prices down. While a national single-payer system such as Medicare-for-all is preferrable, a state option may be possible, but only if it does not increase net costs for or raise taxes on working Vermonters. We must invest in our rural healthcare system and keep hospitals and clinics open and available for all.
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
While I do not support ridgeline wind projects, there are ecologically friendly locations for wind and solar projects across Vermont. If this energy is used in-state, it can reduce the use of fossil fuels and bring the cost of electricity down for all Vermonters.
I support investments in the use of anaerobic digesters for dairy and livestock farms, to harness methane and produce power from it, rather than simply allowing the gasses to enter the atmosphere with no benefit to our power grid.- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
We must provide tax relief for working and retired Vermonters, by expanding the property tax credit to apply to all resident households earning up to $150k per year. This can be offset with a property tax rate equity rule, stating that residential properties declared as non-homestead cannot be taxed at a lower rate than properties declared as a homestead in the same municipality. We can also create a Pied-a-Terre tax on second+ homes owned by non-residents. To make housing available, we must regulate Short Term Rentals statewide so that only Vermont based companies and residents may operate them.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Michael Hoyt*
- Age
- 50
- Occupation
- Program Manager Dartmouth College. Currently serving as Windsor 4 Representative.
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
I think the cost-of-living issue is forefront on the minds of everyone. Putting aside the federal cuts in funding, particularly for health care subsidies, Vermont's problems stem from an unsustainable increase in school funding with its impact on our property taxes and a lack of housing which forces people to pay too much of their earnings in rent or to live far away from their place of work which bleeds paychecks due to high gas prices.
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
That is the path that we are on and we must ensure that the moves towards consolidation and reduced spending will not negatively impact the education our kids are receiving. Something must be done because the rate of spending increases is unsustainable.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
Vermont is moving towards the "foundation formula" to set a base amount of school spending per pupil. I support these efforts as long as proper oversight is conducted to ensure that schools and students receive adequate resources. It is hoped that the creation of cooperative educational service areas will help ensure resources are available at reasonable cost as the foundation formula is enacted.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
I think generally Vermont's public schools perform adequately. I think investment in career technical education is important. The average age of a Vermont worker in the trades is high. Trade jobs are skilled, stable, and well-paying and provide opportunities for our young people to establish businesses.
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
Vermont is taking steps to move to reference-based pricing. Reference-based pricing ties what insurers pay hospitals to a percentage of Medicare's rates, rather than letting each insurer negotiate separately. This will curb the wide cost variation across providers that drives up premiums. Vermont's 2026 legislation, S.190, would have fast-tracked those savings specifically for two groups: 1) public school employees, which would have had a positive impact on property taxes; and 2) Vermonters, including small businesses, buying coverage on the state's ACA marketplace. I voted for this legislation. Unfortunately, it was vetoed.
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
One way is to pass a moratorium on the construction of data centers that consume massive amounts of resources and contribute to climate change.
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
Continue to streamline the permit process to encourage development in areas with the infrastructure to support it in a timely and cost-effective fashion. Continue to invest in affordable housing, long-term care capacity, and apartment rehabilitation through the Vermont Housing Improvement Program.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Justin Schoville
- Age
- 37
- Occupation
- I am an attorney.
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
Elected officials should attack WEALTH inequality, not just income inequality. If Vermont wants to support redistributive policies for the poorest, we need to increase taxes on wealth (i.e. on trusts). We can also lower the estate tax threshold. It currently kicks in only when you die with over $5 million in assets. This should be reduced to at least $1 million, if not further, to reduce intergenerational inequality and fund state programs.
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
In general, I support it. I believe we need quality public services, including education, but it doesn't need to come at the expense of increasing property taxes to an unsustainable level. Consolidation means realizing efficiencies and leaner management.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
Yes, because it would help reduce inequities between districts and standardize outcomes. I like Governor Scott's proposal to allow a certain amount of spending above a set cap if a district wants to increase spending for certain activities.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
The quality of our schools are good. However, I would advocate for additional focus on math and reading to help students recover from Covid-era deficits. I support restricting electronics in the classroom. I think we need to teach our students analytical and critical thinking skills so they can sift through large amounts of information. Students should also learn how to use tools (like large language models, also called "AI") as a supportive tool.
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
At a state level, I'm not sure. If we pooled our aging population insurance pool with other states or populations, it may reduce costs. However, federal regulations may pre-empt what we can do on the state level.
At this point, I am in favor of wholesale nationalization of the healthcare industry and radical restructuring of it as a public good, not a for-profit system. However, the best way to achieve this would be on the federal level, not the state level.
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
At this point, the greatest way to reduce emissions is probably in the transportation sector by moving away from fossil fuel combustion engines in favor of electric vehicles. However, we would need to build out EV refueling stations before large scale adoption of electric vehicles.
I support the policies the Biden administration advocated for in the Infrastructure Reduction Act, and Vermont has done a lot already to have currently enacted to reduce greenhouse emissions, like supporting heat pumps and decentralized power generation with wind and solar. We can do more with batteries to reduce the need for natural gas plants.
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
I think the legislature and governor helped this with Act 181 to promote development where it's needed (in towns). However, I would support a state-run bank providing zero interest loans to Vermonters to lower housing costs for purchases. I also believe the state should be the houser of last resort, and provide habitable housing so private landlords are less on the hook for rehabilitating old housing. This would ensure habitable housing to the poorest while preventing the poorest from being a liability to private landlords.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Vermont House — Windsor-5
Charlie Kimbell*
Did not respond to our survey.
Vermont House — Windsor-6 (2 seats)
James "Jimmy" Coleman
Did not respond to our survey.
Alanna Ojibway
- Age
- 33
- Occupation
- Restorative Justice Educator & Program Director. Member of VT Commission on Native American Affairs
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
The gap that exists between what is considered livable wages (across many sectors) and the cost of living to sustain basic needs such as food, housing, healthcare, and childcare. For far too many Vermonters, they are working one or more full time jobs and still the vast majority of paychecks are going almost exclusively towards paying bills and expenses for essential things like rent, gas, and groceries. It is not sustainable, to say the least, for cost of living essentials to continue rising while wages and those on fixed incomes cannot keep pace.
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
No. For so many districts across the state like mine, the push for consolidation has only exacerbated inequity and the costs associated with it. This cost is not only in the property taxes, but on student learning outcomes, resources lost, and staff burn out. Consolidation as a singular strategy for education funding reform feels to be missing the mark on the root causes driving these high costs in the first place, and in the process jeopardizes the best qualities of our public education system.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
While I agree there are certainly challenges and economic inequity that exist when local districts have full control over setting budgets, I do not think the solution lies in giving that autonomy and power over fully to the state to determine. I think there are many options in between both ends of this spectrum that could allow for both more accountability/boundaries in local districts, while still upholding their autonomy to determine what's best in their own community.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
Rating the quality of our public schools is challenging because I think it depends on what the comparison is based on. Public school systems across other states? Our same schools from the past? Quality based on test scores? Or quality based on student learning outcomes? Schools are having to adapt to ongoing crisis and simultaneously asked to be doing more with less. A few of the areas I see as opportunity to improve this is investing in mental health/anti-bullying resources, experiential learning programs and vocational trades, and teacher continuing education/retention incentives.
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
I think reference-based pricing models are a good start, and should be expanded in order to lower costs and place stronger limits on price variation from insurance companies. I also support advancing plans for universal primary care for all Vermonters--recognizing that so many chronic disease and illness could be prevented or minimized if it were able to be addressed earlier on. Universal primary care should also include mental health and substance use disorder services--which would further bring down healthcare costs.
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
Increasing funding programs and incentives for residents to transition from gas heating to renewable sources in their homes.
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
The problems driving the issues housing cost and availability are multi-faceted, and I believe that the solutions must be as well. Examples of several policies that I believe would improve issues of cost include ones like rent increase caps, increased taxes for non-primary residence homes and short-term rentals, incentive loans for first time home buyers, and expanded development for subsidized and coop housing structures. In terms of availability, there is both a need for new development but also in revitalizing and remodeling existing structures to better fit the housing demand needs for Vermonters today--such as senior housing and ADUs.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Vermont House — Windsor-Addison
Kirk White*
Did not respond to our survey.
Michael J. White
Did not respond to our survey.
Vermont House — Windsor-Orange-1
John K. O'Brien*
- Age
- 63
- Occupation
- Farmer, small business owner (Weddings at Landgoes Farm), State Rep, Tunbridge Selectboard
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
I think there should be a reassessment of our tax system. We should move away from an education fund that is mostly funded with property tax dollars, and replace it with an income tax model. We also need to be more creative with who we tax. We should tax food by how far it travels; we should tax energy the same way. We could tax tourists, but let them know where the money goes—every time you ski Vermont, one dollar of your lift ticket goes towards Vermont’s farms and forests. Why not pioneer taxes with buy-in from the taxpayer?
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
No. The discussion began with the idea of closing schools that didn’t meet class size minimums or school size minimums. Every school in my SU district would have been forced to close. Starting there, I had no faith in the Agency of Education’s plan or House Education’s variation. Yes, we should have less supervisory districts and supervisory unions, but we’re not going to save hundreds of millions shrinking to seven districts. We tried consolidation already, it was painful, and we saved next to nothing.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
No. I would like to see more local control over school budgets, not less. And if Brigham aspires to equal opportunity for all Vermont students, why does one high school with PCBs get a brand new high school (Burlington) and another high school with PCBs get an “Oh, too bad for you, we ran out of state funding for that program.” (North Country Union)?
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
I’m not a huge fan of testing data being the ultimate measure of our schools’ quality, but we should aspire to being better, way better. Being a product of Vermont’s public school system, I’d say I went to decent schools with the occasional exceptional teacher…and that made all the difference. I would say most Vermont schools are just like that.
The scale of our schools and CTEs makes Vermont ideal for teacher creativity, connectivity to real jobs, and community involvement.- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
Figure out why a medical procedure—let’s say a colonoscopy—in Maine costs half what it does in Vermont. Our healthcare providers are inexplicably top heavy in overhead and compensation. We should also support a statewide program of town nurses.
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
When it makes sense, we should encourage Vermonters to work from home. We spend our lives driving. We should also incentivize investment in state-of-the-art wood burning power plants. Why import so much electricity or fossil fuels from away, when we have a renewable fuel source right here at home and smartly-managed working lands?
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
We should incentivize building with local materials, rehabbing underused and abandoned housing, streamlining permitting, and discourage the building of houses in working lands.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Bruce Post
Did not respond to our survey.
Vermont House — Windsor-Orange-2 (2 seats)
Dee Gish
- Occupation
- I recently retired from work in financial & grants management at regional commissions and nonprofits
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
Improving access to affordable housing needs to be the top priority for elected officials.
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
I support education efforts to combine shared services through CESAs (cooperative educational service areas) to reduce school district spending on costs including administration, special education and IT services. I would like to work to protect our local schools that serve as the heart of our communities and appreciate that decisions to merge schools will be voluntary. We can strengthen our schools by making our communities more accessible for young families through affordable housing, reduced healthcare costs, access to quality childcare and supports for our local businesses.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
I do not support the currently proposed funding formula where the state decides a baseline student cost and where local voters have less room to spend above the baseline. I fear the current foundation formula and excess spending penalty models will defund our community's schools and penalize local taxpayers$.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
US News and World Report, the World Population Review and WalletHub rank Vermont as one of the top 20 states in the country for education. We know, however, that we need to improve student proficiency in language arts, math and science in Vermont. Opportunities to improve the quality of education begins providing basic needs support for families. When families struggle with housing, healthcare and food insecurity, students do not go to school ready to learn. Instead, students struggle with hunger, mental health needs and trauma. Increased funding for district wide math, science, and literacy instruction could be helpful for faculty.
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
To reduce healthcare costs I will work to implement universal primary care, reference-based pricing tying hospital reimbursement rates to Medicare benchmarks, and consider models such as a multi-state or sector-based collaboratives to pool purchasing power for health insurance. I will also advocate for community nurse and local healthcare advocates to provide health assessments, referrals, and coordinate services to help residents live safely and age in place.
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
I will work to help Vermonters mitigate and adapt to the climate crisis by working to reduce carbon emissions and bring back favorable net metering rates and community solar, increasing incentives for weatherization, electric vehicles and charging, transitioning to electrification and ground thermal sources of heating, investing in public transportation, prohibiting the development of AI data centers and crypto currency mining centers, and defending the Climate Superfund Act that allows the state to recover costs from fossil fuel companies for climate change impacts. I will also work toward the consideration of legal standing for the rights of nature.
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
To improve the cost and availability of housing, I will work to increase funding for down-payment assistance, first-generation homebuyer grants, town infrastructure financing, and tax credit programs for small-scale developers. I will work to restrict private equity purchases of housing and will incentivize year-round occupancy through changes to homestead tax rates that tax second homes and short-term rentals greater than primary homes. New and rehabilitated housing that is energy-efficient and powered by renewable energy will reduce the long-term housing costs. I support Vermont's Homes For All program to help housing development, housing trust organizations, housing cooperatives and co-housing developments.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Lauren Morando Rhim
Did not respond to our survey.
Vermont House — Windsor-Windham
Thomas F. Charlton*
Did not respond to our survey.
William "Will" Hoser
Did not respond to our survey.
Vermont Senate — Addison (2 seats)
Ruth Hardy*
- Age
- 56
- Occupation
- Non-profit adminstration & teaching. State senator since 2018, school board member 2010-2018.
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
Many of the factors driving up costs in Vermont are nationwide issues – skyrocketing fuel prices due to the war with Iran; increasing cost of food, goods, housing & materials due to Trump-imposed tariffs; and the high cost of health care due to severe cuts to Medicaid and federal health insurance subsidies. These issues need attention from elected officials in Washington. In Vermont, we must do more to rein in the cost of health care. We passed legislation to implement reference-based pricing to lower hospital costs and capped outpatient prescription prices, saving Vermonters millions annually, and more must be done.
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
I have been directly involved in “education transformation” over the last couple years, and have been both vocally supportive and vocally opposed to aspects of this work. To be clear, Governor Scott, not the Legislature, has pushed forced consolidation. We heard clearly that most Vermonters did not want this, and wanted a local process to decide whether to merge school districts. I helped negotiate a package that protects public schools, maintains local decision-making, and works to reduce costs. Now, local officials need to take up the work to ensure local school districts are educationally strong and financially viable.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
Education finance is an extremely complex area that I’ve worked on a lot. I value school boards and local democratic decision-making. While the proposed foundation formula would determine the per pupil amount of funding at the state level, the details of school budgets would still be determined at the local level. And while voters wouldn’t vote on an overall school budget, they would vote on whether to spend more than the foundation amount and whether to issue bonds for school construction. If done well, I support this approach as a means to balance local control with equitable spending.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
Vermont has excellent public school teachers and staff who do a great job. Student needs have become more complex and schools have been struggling to meet them. To improve schools, we have to start with stronger, more trusted educational leadership at the Agency of Education. Schools do not have a constructive state-level partner, making K-12 education more expensive and less effective. We need to standardize oversight and access to career & technical education, and open opportunities for more students to go to college if they want to. We need to do better meeting the needs of the most vulnerable students.
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
I helped pass legislation to implement reference-based pricing to bring down hospital costs, and supported a bill that Governor Scott vetoed that focused these efforts on crucial areas. I also supported efforts to lower the cost of prescription drugs and expand the scope of practice for certain health care professionals, to lower the cost and increase access to health care. I support the Green Mountain Care Board reining in hospital and health insurance costs, but only without reducing access and quality, especially in rural areas. I would support universal primary care, if we could find an affordable, viable path forward.
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
The two biggest sources of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Vermont are transportation and thermal heating of buildings. To reduce transportation emissions, we should increase investments in public transportation & electric vehicles and create denser, walkable development that enables more Vermonters to live close to where they work. For thermal heating, we must invest in more weatherization and lower-emission heating sources like heat pumps, solar, and geothermal. In addition to reducing emissions, Vermont must become more resilient in the face of climate change and related natural disasters, like recent flooding and droughts.
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
There is not one solution to improving the cost and availability of housing in Vermont, and to be clear, Vermont is not alone in facing this issue. Over the past several years, the legislature has focused a lot of attention on housing policy, including easing regulations for building duplexes, auxiliary dwelling units, and housing in downtowns; investing in programs to improve rental housing (VHIP); funding housing infrastructure (CHIP); and building affordable housing (VHCB & VHFA). We need low-cost solutions like mobile homes, right-sized homes for seniors, and supported housing for Vermonters with special needs.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Steven Heffernan*
Did not respond to our survey.
Andrew Klein
Did not respond to our survey.
Hannah Sessions
- Age
- 49
- Occupation
- Dairy farmer, Cheesemaker, artist. Served on school boards, land trusts and affordable housing board
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
Housing: We need to build more affordable and one bedroom living units and ALSO limit investment purchases of homes in Vermont and raise taxes on second homes. We need to encourage multi-generational and duplex homes.
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
I am glad that the Legislature rejected Act 73 that would have forced consolidation. I am a fan of rural schools but I do believe savings could be found at the administrative level. I like the compromise bill Act 170.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
I would. Since I have been a parent in Vermont I have seen the gap between the "haves" and "have-nots" in the world of education continue to grow as some communities perpetually vote down their budgets and some will approve them no matter the cost. As a result, affluent families rend to flock to the districts with greater resources, leaving the rest of the districts at both a fiscal and an academic disadvantage. Were the state to set budgets this would level the field more.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
I would say when it comes to community spirit and character development our schools are doing very well. Our kids are seen, valued, and cared for (highest in the nation for summer meals program for instance, as well as local food in schools). Our test scores, however, are falling and this needs to be addressed. The first thing is to create a culture where students respect the test and understand the value of performing well. It is important the tax payers see positive outcomes for their dollar, so improving test scores and getting kids into the community is huge.
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
Primary Care. One dollar spent on primary care saves $13 in emergency care, according to a University of Oregon study. Like Dr. Dynosaur and health care for kids, it's the lease expensive form of health care that provides the biggest impact and ultimate savings. If we can't do Universal Primary Care, give grants to towns to hire town nurses.
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
Transportation: According to a report by Energy Action Network, Vermont has the highest annual vehicle miles traveled in the Northeast-- we drive a lot! We should emphasize building in town and village centers, and we should encourage development for areas just outside of a municipal septic by exploring ways to tie into water and septic. Also, heating costs are a huge source of pollution- we should continue to encourage and subsidize weatherization as well as shared housing arrangements to maximize heat and cooling sources.
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
Continue to support ADUs, grants to convert your home into a duplex, increase taxes on second homes to help build "first homes" for people, limit "investment" purchases of homes.
Part of encouraging small homes and shared living situations also relies on quality "third spaces" like libraries and common spaces for all to enjoy outside of home. This builds community, encourages walkable communities, and allows folks to live in smaller dwellings when they have a third space to occupy.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Vermont Senate — Bennington (2 seats)
Seth Bongartz*
- Age
- 71
- Occupation
- I am a retired attorney. I continue to work part time as a non-profit consultant. out of room
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
we need housing that is affordable for the average Vermonter. We need to make our school apparatus more efficient to lower costs and improve outcomes. We need to reduce the overall cost of our health care system. We have made progress on all of the above, but we have a lot more work to do.
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
It depends on what that means. If you mean the framework for discussions about voluntary mergers, yes. If you mean the earlier discussion about mandatory mergers, no.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
Again, hard to answer this as a yes or no question. I support the foundation concept, but the specifics will determine whether my answer is yes or no.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
There are a lot of people trying hard and doing really good work. We have some systemic problems we need to address that are holding us back.
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
We have taken about $130,000,000 out of the system in the last few years. The bill Governor Scott vetoed would have helped. I cannot make sense of his veto of the reference based pricing bill. But, we have to be careful because our hospitals are under a lot of financial stress. The main thing we need to do is emphasize primary care.
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
Continue with weatherization. More solar and more battery storage. Continue to build out charging stations.
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
802 Homes is brilliant. This effort to bring down costs is focused on the right levers. We have done a lot of work on the regulatory front, with both zoning and Act 250, to make it easier to build in places we know it makes sense to build. There is some more we can do on the regulatory front, but the real opportunity is for the administration to bring laser focus to 802 Homes.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Robert F. Plunkett*
Did not respond to our survey.
Rachel Shaw
Did not respond to our survey.
Lawrence "Spike" Whitmire
Did not respond to our survey.
Josh R. Williams
- Age
- 52
- Occupation
- Real Estate Professional
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
Property Tax and Education Tax
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
Yes. The system is very top heavy and redundant for the student population we have.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
Yes. Think of it as a contract. This is the money you get per student, and the local school sets their budget on that provided contracted rate.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
Our public school system needs an overhaul to produce better student outcomes.
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
We need more healthcare insurance options for all Vermonters.
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
We should accelerate weatherization and efficient heating that fits Vermont
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
Repeal Act 250 and bring it up to date and reduce the red tape it currently has on growth.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Vermont Senate — Caledonia
Scott L. Beck*
- Age
- 58
- Occupation
- Educator and Business Owner, involved with St. Johnsbury Kiwanis and R.I.N.K.
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
Vermont needs to finally reform its education funding system and reduce the property tax rate. The easiest way to do this is move the property tax credit to the General Fund. This will lower the homestead property tax rate by $0.35/100, $1050 on a $300,000 home. This will also reduce the cost of the property tax credit from $134M to $75M.
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
I voted for Act 170. We'll have to see if our local school districts will consolidate in a meaningful way that respects local communities and schools.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
I support a foundation model of financing, but also support allowing a district to spend a different amount of money with an associated tax impact.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
Most of the research and data indicates that Vermont's public schools are struggling. Vermont would do well to focus on students and expand their opportunities and options.
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
Fully adopt the Affordable Care Act and increase the number of insurers and competition in Vermont.
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
Vermont should continue to promote efficiency, adopt proven technologies, and reduce the cost of electricity.
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
Vermont should reduce regulation allowing more homes to be built per parcel. We should also continue to support CHIP (Tax Infrastructure Financing) and 802 Homes. These will reduce the cost of construction.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
David M. Roth
- Age
- 56
- Occupation
- I'm a small business owner in St Johnsbury, a sugarmaker, a community volunteer and an educator.
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
Our reliance on property taxes to fund public education is unsustainable. It is placing an increasing burden on working Vermonters, particularly families and homeowners whose property values may rise even when their incomes do not. We cannot allow rising property taxes to become the reason families conclude they can no longer afford to live in Vermont.
We must shift more of the responsibility for funding education from property taxes toward a more progressive income-based system, one that reflects a Vermonter’s actual ability to pay and asks those with the greatest resources to contribute their fair share.
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
No. Vermont’s history of school consolidation has been a history of attempting to take decision-making power away from local communities and attempting to concentrate it in Montpelier. That is the wrong strategy.
Our schools are the beating heart of our communities; places where children learn, families gather, neighbors connect, and communities build their future.
Decisions about the future of those schools must begin with the people who know their children and communities best: the people who live there.
Strong public schools require strong communities, and strong communities require a meaningful voice in the future of their schools.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
No. As with my previous answer, local communities understand the needs of their students better than anyone, and they must be equal partners in determining the budgets and resources necessary to educate them.
That does not mean the quality of a child’s education should depend on where they live. Every Vermont student deserves an excellent public education, and we have a statewide responsibility to ensure that opportunity.
Statewide standards should not, however, require centralized decision-making. The resources, staffing, programs, and investments necessary to achieve those standards should be determined in genuine collaboration with the educators, families, school boards, and communities.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
Teachers are my heroes, and our schools are at the very heart of our communities.
Beyond the essential academic foundations, I believe our schools must keenly focus on something increasingly important: teaching our children how to think critically.
In an age of rapidly advancing technology and artificial intelligence, students have access to tools that can write, calculate, summarize, and increasingly do their work for them. Those technologies may offer opportunities, but they also make it vital that students learn how to reason for themselves; to question, analyze evidence, recognize misinformation, construct an argument, write clearly, and reach their own conclusions.
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
One tool we should use more effectively is the federal 340B Drug Pricing Program. We should encourage eligible Vermont hospitals and healthcare providers to maximize the program’s ability to purchase qualifying prescription drugs at significantly reduced prices, and, importantly, ensure that those savings translate into lower costs and better access for Vermonters through community pharmacies.
At the same time, I believe we need to reexamine the structure and effectiveness of the Green Mountain Care Board. Vermonters deserve a regulatory system that is transparent, accountable, and clearly focused on controlling healthcare costs while preserving access to high-quality care.
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
One of the most practical ways Vermonters can reduce transportation emissions, individually and collectively, is to make the transition to electric vehicles more affordable and accessible.
For many families, however, an EV remains simply too expensive. We can't ask Vermonters to make a transition they cannot afford. If we believe electrification is important to our environmental and energy future, then we must provide meaningful incentives that put electric vehicles within reach of all families, not just those who can already afford them.
That investment must also include the infrastructure to make EV ownership practical throughout Vermont, particularly in rural communities.
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
Throughout the NEK, I hear that the cost, complexity, and uncertainty of permitting are significant barriers to building the homes our communities need.
We should address those barriers directly. Vermont can use tools that have been employed successfully many places, including targeted tax incentives, expedited permitting and carefully designed regulatory relief, to make housing projects financially possible in communities where the market alone is not working.
These incentives should be targeted. We should prioritize communities with the greatest housing shortages and projects that create affordable and workforce housing, starter homes, rehabilitate vacant or deteriorating properties, and expand opportunities for homeownership.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Vermont Senate — Chittenden Central (3 seats)
Nikhil Goyal
- Occupation
- Adjunct assistant sociology professor, UVM; former senior policy advisor on education, Sen. Sanders
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
Vermonters pay the highest health care costs in the entire country, and I have a comprehensive plan to lower costs.
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
There is no empirical evidence that mass school consolidation will yield major property tax savings. I will be closely observing the district merger committees in the coming months. That said, I do support the cooperative education service areas which can help reduce costs across districts.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
I am deeply critical of the proposed foundation formula. I will fight to make sure that the Burlington, Winooski, and Essex schools receive their fair share of resources.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
As an educator, policymaker, and organizer, I have dedicated my career to defending and strengthening public education. Vermonters deserve a fully-funded public education system that champions equity, democracy, and community as the classroom. All public schools should have experiential, project-based learning, flexible pathways, well-paid teachers and staff, small class sizes, meaningful relationships between students and teachers, universal, free school meals, and restorative justice. I'll fight for major investments in community schools to improve educational and health outcomes.
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
I’ll fight to establish publicly-financed, universal primary care and stop our hospitals from price-gouging patients. By removing the unnecessary and costly insurance middleman, this program will cut the cost of health care, reduce the risk of diseases and disabilities, improve health outcomes, and save lives. I’ll prioritize investments in community-based health care and community nurses and health workers, increasing reimbursement rates for Medicaid, and supporting our nurses, staff, and primary care physicians.
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
We all deserve clean air and water and a healthy, habitable planet. The effort to clean up Lake Champlain has been ongoing for decades, and I support bold action to reduce phosphorous pollution in order to improve water quality, health, and tourism. We spend more than $2 billion annually on fossil fuels—more than 75 percent of which leaves the Vermont economy. By investing in electrification, energy efficiency, battery storage, weatherization, electric vehicle chargers, and restoring wetlands, we can keep more of our dollars in the Vermont economy, create thousands of living-wage union jobs, cut energy bills, and improve flood resilience.
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
One of my top priorities is establishing a state land bank that would acquire abandoned, distressed, and foreclosed properties—nearly 11,000 across Vermont—and turn them into permanently affordable housing units.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Martine Larocque Gulick*
- Age
- 60
- Occupation
- State Senator. High school teacher for 30 years. Eight years Burlington School Board.
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
Healthcare. Vermont has some of the highest healthcare costs in the country, and those cost get transferred to Vermonters. We see them in our high insurance premiums and in our property taxes, and they make living in Vermont an expensive proposition and out of reach for many would like to live and work here.
We must make lowering healthcare costs a priority, and this can not be done solely by the legislature. The Governor must make this his number one issue in the coming session. If you want affordability, you must tackle the cost of healthcare.
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
The legislature took steps to stop the flow of public dollars out of the country. We also took steps to limit the number of private schools that are funded with public dollars and greatly reduced public dollars flowing to other states.
We identified that there are some school districts that need to consolidate, both to provide more opportunities to kids and to reduce costs. We identified the need to create economies of scale to make contracts and purchasing more affordable and accessible. I support all of these steps, and we need to continue this important work.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
The provision mentioned here is called a "foundation formula." I have several reservations. First, I support local school boards and communities setting their budgets and voting on them. This is Vermont's mechanism to control spending. Taking that authority away is a big step. Second, we have seen in other states that it becomes easier to underfund education when the decision is in the hands of the legislature. Third, we have a bad precedent in school construction. We underfunded it for years and that has had disastrous consequences. I will only support this formula if it is backed by sound policy.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
Our public schools are excellent, but they have not had it easy. Some public schools have to compete with private schools that don't follow the same regulations and laws. In these "choice" districts, public schools often see their resources flowing elsewhere, as well as students and families who have the means to travel further afield. Our public schools have also had to bear the burden of providing services that used to be the purview of other government entities or nonprofits, such as mental health services and universal school meals. Critical dollars flow to deferred maintenance rather than programming and staff.
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
I would start by passing S.190. This year Vermont had a great opportunity to lower costs by tens of millions of dollars by beginning to implement reference-based pricing for small groups. It was a missed opportunity to veto this bill. We need to continue to move non-acute services and primary care out of hospitals. Community-based care is a lower cost alternative to hospital care and must be supported. Given the incredibly high cost of healthcare in Vermont, it is time we relook at universal primary care as both a needed investment and ultimate cost saver.
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
Car emissions and heating are the biggest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions in Vermont. The opportunity to reduce emissions would lie with those two contributors, so reducing car travel would be a great first step. Encouraging Vermonters to transition to electric vehicles would help as well as encouraging renewable energy.
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
I would like to see a focus on updates to zoning laws, especially encouraging growth in and around city and town centers. We should avoid building single-story stripmalls that don't included housing above the ground floor. We should prevent the sale of housing to large private equity firms and should minimize short term rentals. We should tax second homes at a higher rate, and we should rehabilitate abandoned property.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Louis "Louie" Manno
- Age
- 68
- Occupation
- Hall of Fame broadcaster, former business owner, voice actor, writer, producer.
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
The NGO’s need to be more responsive to the state municipalities needs. The entry knows need to be assimilation machines, turning people in their charge from clients into stakeholders.
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
Yes, for the economy of scale. It would prevent the state from having to negotiate with local school boards. It would make the process much more efficient.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
Absolutely, the state knows what money is available and how it should be allocated.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
Vermont public schools are under performing. The fundamentals are not being taught. Social experiments do not belong in the classroom.
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
I would improve the community health center system.
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
The planet Earth is a closed system. There is not much Vermont can do to move the needle. We have to view our economy as an ecosystem as well. Our economy is out of balance.
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
Loan covenants need to change. The Enos have got to stop being master landlords. Only the housing stock that they are in charge of is affordable.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Tanya Vyhovsky*
- Occupation
- Social Worker
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
While there’s a wide body of research that shows that investments in social safety nets reduce the much more costly emergency interventions, this has largely been abandoned in the Statehouse as we try to fund stop gap measures as band aids to chronically underfunded prevention and low level supports. We can’t keep letting our social infrastructure crumble. It is unethical and fiscally irresponsible to continue to wait until people are in crisis and then use far more tax payer resources to intervene than we would have if we had funded the stabilizing factors in their lives earlier on.
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
While I support the Cooperative Educational Service Areas (CESA) as a tool to increase access to supports and services while sharing costs, I have significant concerns about the rest of the plan that moved forward. We built checks and balances in to prevent some of the potentially destabilizing proposals from going forward if they prove harmful, but we still have a lot of work to do. Public education is one of the most important responsibilities of government and we need to be sure we get it right for everyone involved.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
I have deep concerns with the foundation formula as it is proposed and voiced them throughout the last session. I am very worried that if this move is made without adequate guardrails to ensure proper school funding, that it will systematically underfund our schools. Until more questions are answered I am not comfortable with this model of school funding.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
While Vermont schools are regularly ranked well in comparison to other schools nationwide, they are trending down over the past couple of years, which is troubling. Having worked in our public schools I’ve seen the unmet needs and how they result in poor outcomes first-hand. Investment is critical, as is following the science to be sure that teaching standards, curricula, conditions, and interventions are in line with current best practice. These should be the baseline across the state, including for private schools that accept public money.
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
While we as legislators have chipped away at healthcare costs in the last few years with caps on prescription medicines and restrictions on private equity takeovers, we need to be far more ambitious. I believe in universal single-payer healthcare, and will continue to introduce bills that expand eligibility for Dr. Dynasaur by age in tiers to get us close to single-payer with our existing systems on a realistic timeline. Medicare for All will have to be implemented on a federal level, but we are not powerless to make change in our state.
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
Transportation makes up nearly 40% of Vermont’s greenhouse emissions and presents an opportunity to make meaningful change in ways we can control on a state level. Growing the infrastructure for electric vehicles in rural areas is vital to make sure the cars on the roads are using as little fossil fuel as possible, as is focusing on improving public transportation and ride sharing to increase transportation access regardless of income and reduce the number of cars on the roads.
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
Housing is a human right. As long as we continue to use real estate investments as a source of wealth and not a public good, we will continue to have half of all renters paying more than 30% of their income for housing and a quarter paying more than 50% of their income. We need options beyond single family homes. As legislators we can set policies and fund publicly-owned, perpetually affordable, resident-managed mixed income properties that follow the social housing model and take the instability of rent fluctuations out of the equation for thousands of Vermonters.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Vermont Senate — Chittenden North
Ashley R. Bartley
- Age
- 33
- Occupation
- Current State Representative Franklin-1, Human Resources Professional
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
Montpelier needs a more holistic approach to the conversations on economy and cost of living. That is why I co-founded the “Caucus for Vermont’s Economy,” a non-partisan group of Legislators focused on bringing the voices to Montpelier who are often left out of the conversation. These voices include our amazing small businesses, job creators, and rural Vermont. They are all ready to take a seat at the table and help guide Montpelier with meaningful and often immediately impactful ideas. It wasn’t until Montpelier became balanced that affordability became a serious topic. We need to continue on the trajectory.
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
I support the direction the Legislature has taken, but it can't be the finish line. Vermont's education system has too much administrative overhead spread across too many small districts, and consolidation reasonably responds to declining enrollment and rising per-pupil costs. But as elected officials, we must remain vigilant to ensure this change delivers real results, not just numbers on a spreadsheet. That means watching for unintended consequences; communities losing their voice, rural districts losing access, or savings that don't materialize. We started this process; now the job is making sure implementation matches the intent.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
Local control is something I will always fight for, it’s critical However, under the current system, one school district's budget can affect the statewide property tax rate — which effectively strips other communities of local control and predictability. The system is broken; which is why we need to continue collaborative conversations on what the new system will look like. Similar to the housing crisis, there’s no one-size fits all solution. But at the core, we need to safeguard Town Meeting Day and our votes for our local budgets so we, as citizens, still provide direct oversight of local spending.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
It's important that we acknowledge the work of our amazing educators and the care they have for our students. I see a few key areas for opportunities. First, every student learns differently, and we need a system flexible enough to support students' emotional, physical and mental wellbeing. Second, we need to invest in proven early interventions, tutoring, and literacy support; rather than assuming time alone will close the gap. Third, as a state we need to continue to encourage CTE and alternative career opportunities for our students.
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
This isn't just a healthcare problem, it's a demographics problem too. Vermont's aging population drives up per-capita costs while at the same time, our shrinking workforce means less paying into the system. We need to retain and attract a younger workforce and families through affordable housing and good jobs, spreading costs across more people and easing this imbalance. Bringing down healthcare costs in our state requires both structural reform and long-term economic strategy, not just cost shifting. Historically, Vermont's healthcare markets are heavily consolidated, so I'd support more competition among insurance providers.
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
We should celebrate Vermont as a leader in reducing emissions but we must be realistic about what it will take to balance protecting the environment and the current needs of Vermonters. If the state continues to require Vermonters to move toward electric vehicles, elected officials must ensure the necessary infrastructure is in place first. That means reliable charging stations, including in rural communities, and a realistic plan to maintain our roads as gas tax revenue declines. We cannot require change in how Vermonters travel without addressing the infrastructure and funding needed to support our roads and bridges during that transition.
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
Despite significant state investment, we must recognize no single policy will fix this crisis. As Vice-Chair of the Housing Committee, I’ve prioritized Act 250 reform to reduce permitting delays and costs, incentivize for denser development near downtowns and job centers, and expand support for modular and starter-home construction to diversify supply. We also need to make it easier for municipalities, not the state, to have final say over where development occurs. Housing costs are directly tied to our workforce, so solving the Housing crisis isn't optional; it's essential to attracting and keeping Vermonters here.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Irene Wrenner
- Age
- 62
- Occupation
- 2 years, State Senate. 12 years, Essex Selectboard. 21 years, local gov't volunteer.
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
Accountability. People w/ the time and ability and expertise to access the public record will begin to uncover the backdoor deal-making and outright circumvention of laws put in place to make sure our tax dollars are well spent.
While I called out the waste, my peers continued to greenlight a $139 million dollar project that was poorly rated by an independent reviewer, after a no-bid contract was signed. The law requires 3 bids. The law requires independent reviews of all types of IT equipment. I saw numerous instances where various state departments ignored the laws, hoping no one noticed.
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
Public education costs must be reined in.
Studies have not shown, however, that forced consolidation will save money. In fact, students spend many more hours on school buses in some merged districts. That takes away from children's play / enrichment time.
Local control is important to Vermonters. I support school consolidation if and only if a town(s) votes to consolidate their schools.
A Foundation Formula has been tried before. I want to understand why Vermont stopped using one and how we might institute a better version. It would need regular tweaking, which we should commit to.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
Local control is important to Vermonters, and every school district is unique. The state already has a “spaghetti formula” for determining how local budgets turn into tax bills. Setting the budgets from higher up would exacerbate that.
No one knows their district as well as those who serve in it. Administrators, with input from instructors, should set the priorities and goals for their schools' budget.
Having seen firsthand some lobbyists and consultants at the state level who've leveraged their power to make money for themselves, I would be reticent to entrust the state with the power to set school budgets.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
My children received an excellent education in our local public schools during two recent pre-COVID decades. I understand that post-COVID teachers are still working hard to help students recover from isolation and their inability to learn well via day-long remote classes. We should support remediation efforts.
"Quality of education" isn't easy to measure. Teachers tell me that test scores went down after a new testing firm took over and the testing date moved earlier in the spring. Students no longer get the instruction they need to score highly on part of the test. No wonder their scores went down!
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
Encourage UVM Medical Center to divest itself of its out-of-state holdings? VT taxpayers paid millions of dollars to shore up those entities this year, I was told.
Re-introduce a reference-based pricing bill. The Governor vetoed S.190, which would have saved up to $60 million: enough to cover the money that was taken from VTRANS to buy down the education tax rate increase. (Instead of paving 220 miles of roads, we only have enough money for fewer than 150 miles in FY26.)
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
Rescind the Governor's Return to Office mandate. Thousands of state employees have telecommuted since the Telework Policy was instituted back in 2012. They have saved time, money and pollution by not commuting for years. Vermont should encourage other employers to allow / promote remote work.
Legislators should propose another set of regulations for Data Centers -- and get the Governor's buy-in this time. They have proven to be devastating to the environment and to the price of electricity in other states.
We need a renewed push for Conservation, which used to be promoted, equally, along with Efficiency and Renewables.
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
Market-based forces, including tariffs, are driving up the cost of building houses, while the demand for housing has driven up the cost of existing homes.
Because the number of new short-term rental conversions recently exceeded the pace of new construction units, I'd like to investigate dis-incentivizing remote ownership of STR's.
We need to encourage non-homestead property owners to live here or free up their units. We have a high vacancy rate that, if lowered, could house more homesteaders.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Vermont Senate — Chittenden Southeast (3 seats)
Thomas Chittenden*
- Age
- 48
- Occupation
- Senior Lecturer, UVM Business School.
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
Growing Vermont’s economy requires a proactive approach: making it easier to start and expand businesses, while inviting small, medium, and large employers to invest in our state. By expanding job opportunities, career pathways, and wage growth, we can directly elevate the quality of life for all Vermonters. Major private investments—such as the Amazon distribution facility—would bring unsubsidized capital that funds critical road, sewer, stormwater, and telecommunications infrastructure while growing our grand list. Ultimately, expanding our commercial properties would balance our state tax revenues and would relieve the property tax pressure on residential homeowners.
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
Maintaining 119 school districts is inefficient, indefensible, and unfair to students in micro-districts with under 100 kids, where low voter density and property values cap educational opportunities.
However, we do not need to close local elementary schools. K–5 students thrive learning close to home without needing state-of-the-art facilities. Instead, we must regionalize and consolidate middle and high schools. Scaling secondary education allows us to offer broader academic programs, modern technology, and better student outcomes at a lower cost to taxpayers.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
I support a foundational education funding formula that guarantees every child a quality baseline education, provided the state gives comparably sized, regionalized districts the local option to fund additional voter-approved priorities.
However, I strongly oppose setting the foundation formula at an artificially high national peak. Doing so would force unnecessary tax hikes on communities that routinely vote down high spending, while silencing the community voices in towns that would choose to invest more in their local schools. We need a balanced formula that guarantees fairness without overriding local voter control - we need a balance of Freedom AND Unity.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
Vermonters deeply care about our kids, consistently voting to fund the safety, nutrition, and education they need to thrive.
Infrastructure matters, but human potential comes first. By smartly regionalizing secondary schools while protecting local elementary classrooms, we ensure our kids get a fair chance without breaking town budgets.
We must also modernize Career & Technical Education (CTE) by allowing CTE centers to issue diplomas. Public schools should set core high school requirements up to 10th grade and then empower CTEs to grant final diplomas through community-aligned vocational programs, opening direct pathways to high-paying local careers Vermont needs.
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
Bringing down Vermont’s unsustainable healthcare costs requires bold structural reforms. We must empower the Green Mountain Care Board to enforce strict commercial price caps and hold hospital budgets accountable. To lower underlying spending, we must expand primary care access, reduce administrative overhead through streamlined health data exchanges, and address critical healthcare workforce shortages to eliminate costly temporary staffing agencies. Finally, we must support global-budget initiatives like the AHEAD model to shift our payment system from fee-for-service toward value-driven, preventative care that lowers long-term costs for families and small businesses.
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
Our biggest opportunity to cut emissions is decarbonizing transportation and home heating—the largest sources of Vermont’s carbon footprint.
Moving from expensive and volatile imported fossil fuels to efficient heat pumps, weatherized homes, and electric vehicles creates a win-win: significantly cleaner air and major cost savings for Vermonters. We must accelerate residential weatherization, expand rural EV charging networks, and modernize local grid capacity. This strategy retains energy dollars in our local economy while creating high-paying, un-exportable green jobs for Vermont workers.
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
To lower housing costs and expand availability, we must reform multi-layer permitting and restrictive local zoning that stifle development. Expanding Act 250 exemptions would allow housing to be built faster and more affordably where infrastructure already exists and where communities want development to occur.
We need to reform the appeal process setting clear timelines (a 'shot clock'), narrow party status eligibility, expand on-the-record review and create 'fast pass' adjudication for qualified projects. We need to rationalize the arbitrary thresholds like the 10-5-5 rule and we need to incentivize modular construction methods and higher density development.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Kesha Ram Hinsdale*
- Age
- 40
- Occupation
- Adjunct Professor, University of Vermont; Former Adjunct, Vermont Law & Graduate School
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
Housing, which I have tackled multiple years in a row through regulatory reform and affordable housing investments. Cost of living is a science, and I recommend to colleagues and constituents that they look at the Economic Policy Institute's Family Budget Calculator, which will show the basic costs in each county and demonstrates that Vermont's cost of living is simply out of reach for many working people.
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
I support steps taken to ensure we have a sustainable public education system in the first place. A functioning system implies that our kids have equal access to opportunity regardless of their geography and income, and that is still unfortunately not the case. We need community elementary schools and regional high schools equipped with the best of career technical education offerings and college and career readiness resources.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
I do not think that is an accurate reflection of what the Foundation Formula is, which is utilized in 49 other states. It is ensuring that political leanings do not dictate a school budget, but every child is given substantially equal resources when generously weighted for different types of learning needs. I do support an accurate, meaningful Foundation Formula.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
Vermont's public schools are world class, and that is what Vermonters are afraid to lose in the conversations about consolidation and loss of local control. Unfortunately, we are falling far behind on Career Technical Education, and have an incredibly disjointed CTE system that is limited by space and capacity, which means 60 percent of our students who do not need a college degree are currently underserved.
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
Hospitals need to contain costs, and the Legislature passed S.190 to accelerate the bending of that cost curve. It was unfortunate that Gov. Phil Scott vetoed it and then tried to take the pieces of reference based pricing that suited his political agenda. It has further disjointed an already broken system.
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
Our greatest emissions come from heating old housing stock and emissions from long commutes without access public transportation. The greatest opportunity is to build denser housing closer to schools and employment.
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
If they exist, I have sought to pass them. Montana has just settled at its Supreme Court level that municipal plans for increasing housing cannot be appealed by individual citizens. I think that would be the next best place to look.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Virginia "Ginny" Lyons*
- Occupation
- Professor of Biology at Trinity College VT, CCV, UVM. School, CCTVBoard, Selectboard, JP, others.
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
Cost of health care reflected in high insurance premiums resulting from highest in nation hospital costs, insufficient workforce, low payment rates for many primary care practitioners, OB services, high cost Rx drugs, transportation issues, uneven geographic distribution of services, needed support for mental health, substance use disorder, long term care and other community based services. People should not have to choose between food, Rx drugs, health care, college tuition, time off from work. I will continue to work on these key health care issues to improve access and quality. Collaboration with health and community services, constituents and others is key.
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
Yes. Legislatively developed task force moved decision making for change to the community rather than the top down approach in the administration’s empty proposal. CESA work can identify initial cost savings while supporting quality outcomes for kids. Work on a funding mechanism includes an important legislative check back on any foundation formula proposals. It is unfortunate the Gov vetoed S190 which would have lowered health care premiums in public school districts and lowered property taxes for all property tax payers in those districts. By reducing hospital payments through reference based pricing S190 would have immediately lowered premiums for school boards.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
No. The state already has authority to legislate change and work with local districts. Laws affecting purchasing agreements, transportation, health care, and other policies can affect school budgets. Changes to education finance should include movement away from dependence on property taxes and adhere to the Brigham decision for equal treatment of schools to ensure equitable outcomes for kids. Decisions to consolidate districts will determine new options for school budgets including the potential for regional teacher contracts. Economic differences across the state influence school budgets. Local and regional decision making can better consider these as well as distinct educational needs.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
8.5-9.0 on a 10 point scale. Most kids who graduate from our public schools are successful. Greater access into the job market or further education is needed. VT has terrific hireability, Pathways, Dual Enrollment, CTE programs, educators coordinate internships, and other opportunities for kids to learn and enter further education or employment. Supporting creative programs maintains and improves public education. Community efforts to prevent negative effects of social determinants of health, including SUD, MH issues, lack of housing will help kids thrive. Public dialogue about public education should be consistent with postive values communities place on their local schools.
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
Recent laws will reduce hospital costs, improve Primary Care and help patients navigate the HC system. Reference based pricing will lower VT hospital costs closer to national reimbursement benchmarks, reduce insurance premiums, and lower education property taxes. Filing regional gaps and needs for primary care, social services and hospital care is connecting the system of care. Rural Health Transformation funds will contribute to this transformation. Universal primary care can prevent expensive chronic illnesses. Improved long term care, hospital
centers of excellence, telemedicine, transportation, increased access to MH and SUD services are each important. New laws are lowering Rx drug costs- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
Replace transportation fossil fuels with renewable energy. Complete IT build out and support remote tele-communications policies. Provide incentive payments from state renewable energy funds for public-private renewable projects. Increase renewable generation including roof top solar, over parking areas, and for new development. Identify and support appropriate wind projects. Declare a statewide initiative for renewable projects for development in downtowns, villages, growth centers, industrial parks. Include incentives for trains, busses, battery storage, and charging. Raise needed funds by assessing fossil fuels, electric vehicle miles travelled, charging station fees, and transportation use of storage. Use efficiency VT and established programs for administration.
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
Identify needs, gaps, and outcome measures for housing. Target VHCB funding for: work force, income levels, housing for those with disabilities, long term care, unhoused Vermonters, MH, SUD, transitional. Expand renter rebate and perpetually affordable housing programs. Improve SASH and Choices for Care to reduce pressure for housing. Increase public-private relationships linking employers with workforce housing. Increase downtown tax credits. Develop model zoning ordinances for infill in downtowns, growth centers. Engage regulators, planners, municipalities for up front environmental review prior to development. Encourage VLCT, LURB, rural VT to educate Vermonters about natural resources, environmental protection, and Act 250.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Rohan St Marthe
- Occupation
- I am a Vermont retail operations manager and business owner with leadership experience and more.
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
One area that needs much greater attention is housing affordability, especially the combined burden of high rents, home prices, and property taxes. Too many working Vermonters—including young people, families, seniors, and essential workers—are being priced out of the communities where they work and want to stay.
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
I support education reform that reduces administrative costs and protects taxpayers, but not one-size-fits-all mandates from Montpelier. Consolidation must preserve local input, educational quality, and rural access. I support shared services and voluntary mergers where they make sense, with clear accountability and a funding system that does not place ever-growing costs solely on property taxpayers.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
I support a stronger state role in setting responsible school-budget limits to protect affordability and prevent property owners from carrying an unsustainable burden. But I do not support eliminating parents’ and communities’ input in local education decisions. Any reform should preserve local voices, respect homeschooling and other educational choices, and keep the focus on student success and taxpayer accountability.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
Poor! Vermont has many dedicated educators, but we must better prepare students for life after graduation. I support parents’ right to homeschool and want public schools to focus more on individual student needs, financial literacy, budgeting, credit, entrepreneurship, and career pathways. We should expand hands-on learning, trades, and career-and-technical education so every graduate has real options.
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
I would expand consumer choice and competition in Vermont’s insurance market so insurers must compete for people’s business on price, coverage, and service. More options can help create downward pressure on premiums. I would also demand transparency and accountability from hospitals, insurers, and regulators to ensure savings reach patients, families, and small businesses. Vermont’s premiums remain among the nation’s highest.
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
Vermont’s best opportunity is practical, affordable efficiency—not costly mandates that raise heating, electricity, and transportation bills. I oppose policies that make working families and small businesses less affordable. We should remove unnecessary regulations, support innovation, modernize infrastructure, and let Vermonters choose efficient technologies that lower costs and use less energy. Any environmental policy must be transparent, voluntary, and economically sustainable.
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
Vermont must make housing easier and less expensive to build, renovate, rent, and own. I support reducing unnecessary permitting delays, excessive regulations, and zoning barriers that prevent responsible development. We need more starter homes, apartments, accessory dwelling units, manufactured homes, and workforce housing near jobs and services. Property-tax relief and accountable state spending are also essential, since rising taxes affect homeowners and renters alike. We can protect public safety and natural resources without creating red tape that prices families, young people, and seniors out of Vermont.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “Yes.”
Bruce Roy
Did not respond to our survey.
Javen Sears
Did not respond to our survey.
Vermont Senate — Essex
Russ Ingalls*
Did not respond to our survey.
Vermont Senate — Franklin (2 seats)
Alexander Bobella
- Age
- 33
- Occupation
- Social Worker, mostly in healthcare; Labor/community/political organizer; LGBTQIA+ community organi
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
While all of our financial systems have become misaligned with our economic reality, two deserve attention first. We need first to shift the financial burden off of low-income or struggling Vermonters by creating a system of progressive taxation where high income, wealth, and assets are taxed higher (lessening property taxes for most and removing our social security tax.
We need then to revamp our healthcare costs by creating a single-payer healthcare scheme, breaking apart healthcare monopolies, and capping rates for certain procedures and services. We need also to raise wages/conditions for healthcare and social service workers.
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
No, I do not; while there's room for consolidation and costs need to be managed, schools are the beating hearts of small communities. We need to unify and consolidate some services, but communities should be endowed with decision making power rather than a one-size-fits-all, five school district approach currently pushed the VT Department of Education.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
No, I do not believe that the state can account for context and local need as local districts can. There needs to be dialogue between local districts, regional groups, and the legislature ro ensure equitable, context-appropriate resource distribution.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
Achievement isn't measured in test scores, and Vermont's public school quality is unfairly criticized; our schools are doing well, though they can and should always be looking toward improvement.
We need better supports and resources for our teachers and, more critically, our school paraprofessionals; we need also look into adaptive technologies and reduce the deleterious impact of other technologies in academic settings (i.e. phone use, AI tools, computer v hand-written assignments, etc). Data on pedagogical practice is constantly evolving and we must keep pace with research on how best to create generative, accessible education for all students.
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
Healthcare rates need to be capped, and services need to be mitigated away from expensive acute care/emergency settings by improving lower-cost, higher-outcome preventative care systems. We need to dismantle the Healthcare monopolies that have destroyed our Healthcare infrastructure. And we need to honor our Act 48 commitment by creating a Healthcare scheme focused on real people and the care they need rather than earnings for predatory insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies, or health networks.
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
We have an obligation to continue building out our local renewable energy infrastructure by making high-quality, renewable technologies accessible and affordable for all Vermonters. A mechanism we haven't explored enough is supporting local technology companies that create, improve, and provide renewable technologies right here in Vermont; we can incentivize/support local companies to lean into the renewable marketplace and infuse our economy with more jobs and with locally produced technologies available at reasonable or subsidized cost.
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
We need multiple approaches to solving our housing crisis. We need more new housing built, and should prioritize local companies and contractors over out of state developers; we need to ease the high cost of construction materials (especially vis a vis current tarrifs); and we need education for more young Vermonters to pursue careers in the trades.
We need also to refurbish old decaying housing infrastructure and support repurposing buildings into affordable housing.
Taxes should be increased on second homes, and regulations passed to curtail the short-term rental market that leaves Vermont homes empty much of the year.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Randy Brock*
Did not respond to our survey.
Robert W. Norris*
Did not respond to our survey.
A. Gregory Rainville
Did not respond to our survey.
Vermont Senate — Grand Isle
Pat Brennan*
Did not respond to our survey.
Kim Gleason
- Age
- 59
- Occupation
- Partnership & Outreach Specialist for MENTOR VT. Vice Chair on VPIC, oversee $8B in public pensions
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
Vermont is one of the oldest states in the nation, and Grand Isle County is among the oldest counties in Vermont. These demographics contribute to rising healthcare costs, a constrained housing supply, and declining student enrollment in our schools. Our mountains and lakes attract visitors, while our limited housing supply makes it more difficult to grow our workforce and attract the younger families that we need to establish roots in our Vermont communities. We can't improve affordability in housing, healthcare and education without addressing these interconnected issues in a strategic, collaborative manner with a fresh perspective.
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
Somewhat. Our current structures are not sustainable. I served on the Redistricting Task Force. We reviewed data, engaged with 5,000 Vermonters, and did not find evidence of savings from forced mergers. We proposed a plan for regional Cooperative Service Agencies to collaborate across school districts to increase capacity to serve students and find efficiencies in administrative services. This plan became the basis for the law that the Legislature passed and the Governor signed. Communities are also required to engage with neighboring school districts to consider voluntary mergers and bring reports to communities for consideration. I support this thoughtful analysis.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
The foundation formula that is in effect July 1, 2029, will give the state the power to set school budgets based on a formula weighted for the relative cost to educate students with a variety of needs. And the weights have yet to be determined, which causes me to pause. I don’t believe our communities feel they can trust the government and that's a problem with shifting more decision making from communities to the state. Our district needs to be represented and our Senator needs to be engaged in these conversations.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
We moved to Vermont 29 years ago for quality of life and the public education system. Our schools step up everyday for students and families to address challenges like hunger and safety matters that are far beyond traditional “education.” So I am proud of our public schools and I know that schools can’t do it alone. We can benefit from collaboration, support and accountability. I would invite the Agency of Education to consider how they can support the work of schools and educators to prepare Vermont students to be the thinkers and doers that our workforce so desperately needs
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
With reference based pricing in 2027, hopefully we can stem healthcare costs, but I remain concerned about affordability and access. We must realize the cost of emergency and urgent care to our system and our health and wellness, and we must prioritize access to universal primary and preventative care. We need to be able to incentivize access to high quality healthcare in every corner of our state, especially our most rural communities. Funding these priorities by recouping Trump tax cuts to highest income Vermonters is an opportunity for us to address the impact of federal cuts on Vermonter's services.
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
Vermonters are feeling the effects of climate change, in our extreme weather events, floods, and natural disasters. We can’t insulate ourselves from these effects or hope to solve them in isolation. Our local communities are often left without the resources to fully analyze decisions for alternative energy methods, and may also be challenged by the infrastructure development process. We must consider how to collaborate across regions and municipalities, and streamline the process to ensure that the prolonged process isn’t the reason for abandonment of otherwise important projects.
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
We must find pathways to reduce redundancies and costs for housing developers and concentrate development and infrastructure investment in places of job density to attract younger people and families. We must consider the use of our current structures in our more rural centers as an opportunity to address the housing needs of our aging populations. Streamlining the development process where the infrastructure already exists will expedite growth in the areas of density and demand. Zoning should be revised to address the “missing middle.”
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Vermont Senate — Lamoille
Richard A. Westman*
Did not respond to our survey.
Vermont Senate — Orange
John K. Benson*
Did not respond to our survey.
Monique Priestley
- Age
- 40
- Occupation
- Occ: State Rep, Consultant; Service: Capstone Community Action, Green Mtn Econ Dev Corp
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
Tax modernization. We tax land and labor, but we barely touch wealth, digital services, or property owned by people who don't live here. We fund schools through property taxes, with values set by out-of-state buyers instead of local incomes. That load needs to shift. We tax building materials while exempting cloud subscriptions and AI tokens. Companies selling software into Vermont contribute almost nothing to the state. Second homes and short-term rentals pull housing off the market, driving up prices and cutting supply. We need a hard look at who is paying their share and who isn't.
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
Generally, no. Almost everyone I've talked to in my local education districts agree that something has to change as our population shifts and costs keep rising. But top-down map drawing that looks arbitrary from the outside is not how we get there. Too much of the education conversation has been political instead of grounded in responsible policy and planning. Consolidation by itself will not solve our problems. We need to do a better job listening to our schools, especially the ones in our most rural towns.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
No, not if the state holds complete control. The Agency of Education has not demonstrated that it understands the nuances of local schools, particularly in our most rural towns. I would rather see the state rebuild its support for districts, with real transparency and oversight, than centralize control. Restoring trust in Vermont's institutions means showing up for towns, not moving decisions further from the people they affect.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
Uneven. We have schools doing excellent work and schools where kids get less than they should. Vermont spends near the top nationally per pupil and outcomes don't match the amount we're paying. Our education system is the problem, not our teachers. The Agency of Education lost staff and tools. As a result, small rural districts were left to solve curriculum and workforce problems alone. Some towns lost their high schools, putting kids on 40-mile bus rides. Rebuild AOE capacity. Get technology and career pathways into small schools. Let's tie dollars to outcomes.
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
Vermont families are paying some of the highest premiums in the country and getting less care for it. Patients should see what a procedure costs before the bill arrives. AI needs real controls on how it makes coverage and billing decisions. The Green Mountain Care Board needs the authority and staff to hold hospitals and insurers accountable. Hospitals should have the right to repair their own equipment instead of paying massive service contracts. We have to protect rural clinics instead of consolidating them away. And we have to figure out what it would take to offer universal primary care.
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
Heating our buildings. It's one of Vermont's biggest sources of emissions and the one where the fix already exists. Weatherization and heat pumps work. Meanwhile, our programs are a maze, upfront costs are real, and the people who need them most are the ones who can't front the money. We need to fix the delivery so the average Vermonter can actually participate. Also, consumer energy data is a huge market. As we build out smart meters and connected systems, let's make sure people own their energy data, control who sees it, and aren't manipulated by the sale of their information.
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
We can't build our way out of a problem if we don't have builders. Let's fund career and technical centers for the trades that matter, and fix the wood processing bottleneck so Vermont lumber can go into Vermont homes. Let's keep investing in what works, like VHIP and CHIP. Let's tax second homes and short-term rentals that pull housing off the market and drive up costs. Let's make it easier for the average Vermonter to add supply themselves: ADUs, homeshares, vacant lots, underused churches, and school buildings. Vermonters need real-life solutions for a variety of family sizes, needs, and incomes.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Vermont Senate — Orleans
John Morley III*
Did not respond to our survey.
Vermont Senate — Rutland (3 seats)
Brian "Bc" Collamore*
Did not respond to our survey.
David H. Weeks*
- Age
- 65
- Occupation
- VT State Senator (4 years), Iraq vet, Navy Officer (28 yrs), USMC Enlisted (3 yrs)
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
Three significant items need immediate attention:
- Vermont’s healthcare system is completely out of control. As I have said many times on the Senate floor and as a member of the Health/Welfare Committee, the situation is less complicated than some suggest. Vermont’s healthcare costs are three times those of neighboring New Hampshire - an entirely unsustainable level.
- Immediately flatten Vermont’s budget/taxes and reprioritize how we spend our revenue for the benefit of all Vermonters not simply special interests.
- Addressing the lack of 21st-century transportation systems across much of the state and the resulting stagnation of Vermont’s economy.- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
Yes, as Vice Chairman of the Senate Education Committee, for the past four years I have been closely involved in examining Vermont’s nationally most expensive education costs, sharply declining student population, and declining proficiency results. In many parts of the state, high schools only a few miles apart each graduate just a few dozen students. As a matter or priority, we must address this debilitating and critical issue for our students and communities.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
I support an education foundation formula that ensures students across Vermont have equitable access to resources. Education spending currently varies by more than $10,000 per student between the state’s highest- and lowest-spending districts - an inequity that harms students, parents, and communities. The formula would significantly narrow this gap. Once the education foundation formula takes effect, local districts would retain the authority to set their school budget.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
Schools graduating only a few dozen students each year cannot provide the same range and quality of college-preparatory or career-technical programs as larger regional schools. Most Vermonters understand this, but community pride has discouraged an honest assessment, leaving students to bear the consequences. Strong state leadership is essential to reversing Vermont’s decline in student readiness.
Vermont must also increasingly prioritize Career Technical Education (CTE). Turning away CTE applicants who are already unlikely to pursue college is shortsighted. CTE programs must expand to serve these students and adapt to the state’s evolving workforce needs.
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
As a member of the Senate Health/Welfare Committee, I saw the legislative supermajority add special-interest programs to a healthcare system already under severe financial strain. Vermont’s healthcare entitlement commitments exceed what our stagnant economy and aging population can afford. Because healthcare is among the largest costs in the state budget, the Legislature should immediately hold new obligations flat for the upcoming biennium and reprioritize existing spending.
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
The greatest opportunity - and most fiscally conservative approach - to addressing climate change is to incentivize homeowners to replace fossil-fuel vehicles and appliances at the end of their service life, rather than prematurely.
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
During my two years on the Senate Economic Development and Housing Committee, I examined Vermont’s housing costs and availability in depth. What I found was startling.
Compared with New Hampshire, Vermont’s permitting process adds more than $150,000 per housing unit, whether it is 1, 2, or 3 bedroom homes or apartments. We must immediately reduce these cost drivers by making permitting faster, less expensive, and more predictable. This includes reforming highly restrictive and costly requirements established under Acts 250 and Act 181.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Terry K. Williams*
Did not respond to our survey.
Dave Wolk
- Age
- 73
- Occupation
- Recently Rutland Asst Judge; first elected state senator in 1988; in public service over 50 years
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
There are many reasons for the very high cost of living in Vermont, but impacting most critical issues related to affordability is the excessive cost of health insurance and health care, higher than in almost every other state. Education costs, the highest in the country on a per pupil basis when considering the combined state and local share alone, are directly related to health insurance expenditures statewide. Health care and health insurance costs have a significant impact on virtually all sectors.
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
I served as the Governor's lone representative on the School Redistricting Task Force last summer. The group was unable to reach consensus on the map(s) that were required for legislative consideration. I support the multiple efforts to bring down the cost of education, but even before voluntary mergers and CESAs make their way through the long framework recently enacted in Act 170, the surest way to find savings would be to combine back office business functions across districts that will save money and do not have a direct, negative impact on the classroom. Continued in the next answer.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
No.
But the best way to save money, as noted above, would be to combine business office functions across districts into a regional approach. This means that budget/finance oversight, accounts payable, accounts receivable, HR functions, etc. would be consolidated to save money. The most obvious significant savings could be derived from combined purchasing, utilizing volume discounts across districts. This could also be accomplished with statewide purchasing to secure the lowest costs for items from computers to school buses. I am not sure why we are not doing this already.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
Where you stand depends on where you sit. For many years parents and other voters have generally criticized the overall quality of education, but often believe their local schools are quite good. This is not endemic to Vermont. As a former Principal/Superintendent/Commissioner of Education, I have witnessed schools of varying quality. With the graying of Vermont's population (for which I am in part guilty), and declining school enrollments, the tensions have grown. A diminishing percentage of voters have school aged children. Some but not all small schools work well for students, but all of our kids deserve expanded choices.
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
The honest answer is that, at least in the present moment, I don't know.
A focus on enhanced opportunities for primary care, and the inherent prevention measures associated with widely available primary care, seems like the best starting point.
It is interesting that at least three aspects of addressing health care are similar to those challenging education: access, affordability and quality.
If we were to invent healthcare in Vermont we would not start with so many hospitals, some of them providing the same level of care available elsewhere with better quality grades.
No one panacea alone is obvious to me.
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
As is the case with addressing health care, Vermont cannot do it alone.
Most emissions arise from our dependence on fossil fuel powered vehicles. As EV technology improves, and the cost of owning EVs becomes more affordable, we will see the most significant reductions in emissions. Vermont has been a leader but it will take a national approach to make the most impactful difference.
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
In an economic landscape where tariffs and inflation in general have had the most negative impact on new or renovated housing availability, the levers for Vermont become that much more important. The Governor and Legislature have made good progress of late in addressing this issue. The localization of Act 250 oversight to the specific needs of communities would eliminate some of the bureaucratic and expensive challenges many well intentioned and reputable builders and developers have encountered in attempting to address housing at the local level.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Vermont Senate — Washington (3 seats)
Ann Cummings*
- Occupation
- Retired Realtor and social service worker, non profit Board and city government
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
The legislature needs to focus its attention on job creation and workforce development. We need to create jobs that pay a wage commiserate with the cost of living in Vermont. We need to create clear pathways from education to employment and ensure that the skills we are teaching, either academically or technically are the skills needed in the workforce. Our high school graduation rate is declining among young men. We need to reverse that trend by showing them there is a path to a better future.
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
I think that after some rough stops and starts we have reached a space where is is possible to move forward. The state is working with communities to develop a path to right sizing our educational structure to reflect our present reality. our school aged population has been declining for over two decades while the demands on education have been increasing. We need to right size our structure so our schools can afford to meet todays challenges and prepare students to thrive in todays world.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
The present law requires the state to provide schools with the amount necessary to educate each specific student according most recent educational studies. It's not a perfect system but it is used by 48 other states. In order for it to work, the state must supply the necessary funds and I understand why that makes people nervous. However, I think it is better than our present system in which towns can export their costs to other towns and there is not connection between what you spend and what you pay. Towns will decide how to spend the money.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
Vermont once had one of the highest ranked school systems in the country. Unfortunately, our rank on every national ranking I've seen is continuing to slide. We once had one of the highest high school graduation rates in the country, we are now somewhere in the middle. Costs are forcing many schools to make cuts in there educational offerings to keep costs down. We have set up a downward spiral that is not benefiting either the taxpayers or the students. We need to right size our system and require the DOE to better support schools
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
Like education, health care is a vital and complicated system. Nationally, small rural hospitals are failing financially. Health care in Vermont costs significantly more than in the surrounding states, primarily due to hospital costs. Our largest hospital is one of the most expensive in the country. The Legislature is actively working with the GMCB to reduce those costs. At the same time we are working with our rural hospitals to develop an integrated system of care in which hospitals will develop areas of expertise. We must also find a way to fund universal Primary Care.
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
This is an area in which I have the least expertise. Our primary sources of emissions are transportation and heating. In a cold, rural state those are not things we can eliminate. We've done a decent job of creating a clean electric grid, but the cost prevents many people from being able to switch from fossil fuels. We had hoped money from the Climate Superfund legislation could help, but that may be in trouble in the courts. Given the present economic climate, I think the best we can do is to continue to develop public transit and ev infrasturcture.
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
This is another area that the Legislature has been focusing on. We continue to work on ways to adjust environmental rules to encourage housing development and protect our natural environment. More money would be helpful but that is not likely to appear in the present political or economic environment. The most helpful thing we could do at this point is reduce the cost and time tied up in appeals of issued permits. We also need to work with towns to help them improve their permitting processes.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Rob LaClair
Did not respond to our survey.
Christopher A. Neddo
Did not respond to our survey.
Andrew Perchlik*
- Age
- 58
- Occupation
- Energy Program Manager for VT State Energy Office. Past Marshfield Selectboard and Vol. Fire Dept.
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
We need targeted and strategic support for growing VT's economy in sectors we have structural advantages in - and that offer good jobs. I think our forest products sector is one such sector not getting enough attention.
The cost and wide variability in property taxes has garnered sufficient attention recently but we need to follow through on solutions that provide stability and control of property taxes.
We can also do much more to control the costs of home heating, using more wood fuel and weatherizing more homes.
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
I did not and do not support the focus on consolidating schools for the sake of consolidation. The goal should be to get property taxes under control and lower the burden of school taxes paid while providing the best education possible. To that end, the steps we have taken towards a foundational formula are ones I support and we need to finish that work to put a foundation formula in place.
With State support for school construction/renovations and a foundational formula we will see consolidation happen organically instead of by State Government force.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
I support the current track we are on for the State (Governor and Legislature) to appropriate the total state-wide educational spending amount. Local budgets (that set how the money appropriated to them will be spent) should remain in the control of school districts that know their students and communities best.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
I rate Vermont's public schools and our entire education system highly. We have great and dedicated teachers, active and involved parents, students interested in learning, and administrators trying their best to navigate their districts and schools though difficulties towards success. This is not to say it is perfect, there is room for improvement and a need for creating commonly accepted measures for how Vermont determines the quality of our public education system on an annual basis.
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
The legislature needs to override Governor Scott's veto of the referenced based pricing bill that was passed this year. That bill would directly bring down prices of health care in a responsible way. The Governor's veto increased health care costs. We do want to keep our rural hospitals in operation but not by increasing the cost of health care and insurance. I think the Green Mtn. Care Board is putting us on track to lower healthcare costs in VT while also protecting basic rural care, and the Care Board should be supported om their continued efforts.
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
Transmission emissions are the biggest source, by sector, and also the sector with the greatest opportunity to lower our imports and reliance of toxic and costly fossil fuels. Relying on locally produced electricity for a greater share of our transportation needs is going to save Vermonters money and is going to be an economic development driver as we build more local electricity plants.
I'm also a big promoter of advanced wood heating to meet a greater % of our heating needs, especially for larger older institutional and commercial buildings but also advanced pellet and cord wood stoves for our homes.
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
There remains work to be done on permitting - for example we should have permit-by-right rules in VT, that can help. I think controls on corporate purchases of homes to turn them into short-term rentals will help keep more homes as homes and help lower the escalation of home prices.
I think economic development of the forest products sector can also help produce the wood building materials we want to use in homes and that can help to lower the costs of locally sourced building materials over the long term.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Peter Schmeeckle
- Age
- 53
- Occupation
- Musician/Performer/Teacher/Composer - Snowboard Instructor
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
We cannot afford to give our limited fiscal resources to people who aren’t here legally. It makes no sense. Help Vermonters get back on their feet and welcome new businesses to the state to create more jobs.
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
Yes, they’re small steps but I trust what Governor Scott is trying to do. I’m all for small schools in tiny communities, but if it’s being paid for by people outside the community it defeats the purpose. If a community can support a school great, if not then they should probably consolidate.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
Perhaps, it depends…
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
Very poor. Our schools focus more on indoctrination rather than education. We’ve made steps to limit boys in girls sports, this needs to continue and the culture of gender fluidity needs to come to an end. If the basis of a child’s education starts with such a backward ideology we are setting them up for a moronic education.
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
There is a healthcare monopoly here in Vermont. Allow for options and let people pick their provider.
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
Develop clean nuclear power
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
Put a cap on property insurance. Freeze it for those on social security.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Anne Watson*
- Age
- 44
- Occupation
- High School Science and Math Teacher, current State Senator, former Mayor of Montpelier
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
As long as we are largely dependent on fossil fuels for heating and transportation, then we are at the mercy of the fossil fuel roller coaster. EAN reports that “Price increases for gasoline, diesel, and fuel oil added $124 million in estimated costs in Vermont from March through May” - that is, in the first three months alone of the war with Iran. The government must help lower the cost for transitioning away from fossil fuels without asking more from the average Vermonter. There’s also a need for greater food security, especially as we see prices for food continue to rise.
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
Consolidation has never been my focus, mainly because what I heard from voters in the last election was a need to lower property taxes, and we have yet to see confirmation that consolidation would actually lead toward reduced costs in Vermont. There may be other reasons to consolidate (for example, when it benefits students learning), but I otherwise think there are other solutions that we can pursue to relieve the property tax burden for the average Vermonter. Other solutions include reducing teacher healthcare costs through reference based pricing, and shifting some special education costs to medicaid.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
I have a lot of hesitation around this because giving that power directly to the legislature means that we are likely to under-fund education, in the same way that most states under-fund education. I don’t want funding education (and doing what’s best for our kids) to become a political football. Having said that, I think there could be better regulations or guidelines for school districts to ensure that the disparity between school district spending does not continue to grow. There’s very little wiggle room in school budgets now. I don’t see this as a magic bullet.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
I think Vermont on the whole provides a good education for our children, but it can always be better. Speaking as an educator myself, I think during COVID19 educators became very dependent on screens and digital learning (because we had to!), and I think we need to now move away from screen time in education for the sake of student learning. I’ve seen data that suggests that the more time a student spends on a screen, the lower their standardized test scores. Re-evaluating student screen-time I think will be important for continuing to improve education.
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
Reference based pricing is one of the keys to bringing down healthcare costs in Vermont. We passed a bill to move in that direction a couple of years ago, but then Gov. Scott vetoed a bill that would have accelerated the pace of implementation and would have saved Vermonters money. So again, I think it will be important to implement that. But especially with healthcare costs so high, I think it is time we run the numbers again to evaluate the viability of a universal single payer system in Vermont or with a coalition of states.
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
The biggest sector for climate pollution in Vermont is the transportation sector, so I think the best ways to both reduce climate pollution and save Vermonters money is to help get Vermonters into EVs and other alternatives like buses or carpooling. This means building more public charging stations, making it easier for renters to access EV chargers, and keeping the promise of Clean Cars and Trucks II, which Gov Scott walked back. It also means sufficiently funding our bus system so that they can be both frequent and rurally accessible.
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
I have multiple ideas, but here’s one: How do we address appeals? We could move the timing of when an appeal is possible. Right now it happens at the end, when the project is basically ready to go. Overcoming appeals is the last hurdle. But it could be moved up to the time of the adoption of a town plan. People could appeal the plan, but once the plan is in place, that’s it. Then each individual project doesn’t stand to have an Act 250 appeal if it meets the criteria of the town plan.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Vermont Senate — Windham (2 seats)
Dale L. Gassett
Did not respond to our survey.
Wendy K. Harrison*
- Occupation
- Local Government Administration, Town Manager and Interim Manager in three Vermont communities
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
The role of transportation in Vermont's economy needs more attention. State roads are in disrepair which costs Vermonters' in car repairs. Paving companies are moving operations to other states as our work is reduced. Crashes are increasing with less law enforcement. Employers tell us that their workers need transportation but they don't want to be the only payers. Hospitals tell us that their employees and patients lack transportation. Residents and businesses want more frequent Amtrak trains and resuming service to Montreal would benefit tourism and encourage new residents. Bike trails are a popular summer economic driver, supplementing the ski industry.
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
The Legislature did not initiate the consolidation effort, which was and is a priority of the Governor. I support local schools and local control of schools. I served on the Redistricting Task Force and we found that rural areas in the south and north have strikingly similar geographical constraints. Wholesale consolidation would likely create educational "deserts" in our rural areas, which is most of Vermont. CESAs are a proven way to reduce costs, while consolidation savings are speculative. I encourage voters to review our report which recommended cost savings through CESAs, Strategic Voluntary Mergers and Comprehensive Regional High Schools.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
The assumption in recent legislation is that the state would move to a "foundation formula" that would use a pre-determined matrix or equation to equalize pupil funding statewide. I'm not convinced that this would be effective or even reduce taxes. I would prefer that we consider the recommendations of the Task Force (CESAs, Strategic Voluntary Mergers and Comprehensive Regional High Schools) and implement the health care cost reductions as proposed in S.190. These would be more in line with our existing system and preserve local control and increase education quality.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
Vermont schools are solid and respected. My district borders New Hampshire and Massachusetts and I hear from parents, teachers and students that Vermont schools provide a quality education. Students are still feeling the impacts of the COVID years and attendance is a serious problem. There is also a critical need for support services in the schools. Again, the recommendations of the Task Force are targeted to both the quality of education and the cost to taxpayers.
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
Last year, legislators, hospitals, regulators, and payers collaborated on a bill (S.190) that would have reduced healthcare costs. It passed with bipartisan support. The Governor vetoed it. The bill would have lowered the cost of hospitals (currently the highest in the country) through reference based pricing, reduced school district health insurance costs (lowering taxes) and reduced Vermont Health Exchange premiums for individuals and small businesses who lost federal subsidies. We will need to do that work again.
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
The two top generators of emissions continue to be the transportation and thermal sectors of our economy. Individuals can reduce transportation emissions and save money through EVs, especially with the robust network of chargers on major roads to be completed next year. Newer gas cars also are generally more efficient. For businesses, we have unused capacity for freight rail, which would reduce emissions and wear and tear on our roads. Reducing use of oil to heat homes would reduce emissions and save money. Heat pumps can be a secondary source of heating and life-saving cooling in our warmer summer months.
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
Housing legislation in 2023 and 2024 is resulting in more available homes as realtor information shows, and we need to do more. We need to publicize that duplexes are allowed anywhere that single-family homes are allowed, which is a low-barrier way to create additional units and an income source to Vermonters. We (VEPC) will be reviewing the first CHIP application this month. CHIP will help towns finance infrastructure (water/sewer for example) to support housing. VHIP, the most cost-effective state subsidy for private renovations increasing housing, is now permanent. We need to monitor and assess all of the programs.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Nader Hashim*
Did not respond to our survey.
Rusty E. Sage
Did not respond to our survey.
Vermont Senate — Windsor (3 seats)
Elizabeth Burrows
- Age
- 57
- Occupation
- I am a three-term member of the Vermont House of Representatives 13-year school board member
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
There are SO many things we could be doing to help, but one thing that would alleviate pressure at almost every level, including property taxes, is addressing healthcare costs. I will not elaborate on the litany of other things we could be doing-- that would not be answering the question-- but solving healthcare costs *while* shoring up our delivery system is going to be a huge challenge that our legislative branch will have to address carefully and thoroughly. In my opinion, universal primary care is one solution worth committing to.
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
No, I do not. The process is not student-centered, is sloppy, removes local control, and doesn't consider collateral damage to the system. We could have decided to instead address underlying acute reasons for rises in costs; we could have decided to wait for the benefits of Cooperative Educational Service Areas (CESAs) to come into effect before forcing consolidation (which is what the foundation formula does do). We could have based decisions on a 20-year economic projection analysis of the impacts of school closures for students, communities, and the state. The governor and legislature opted not to do these.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
No.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
Vermont's public education quality, guided by AOE, began to spiral eight years ago when Act 173 of 2018 was not fully implemented; if it had been, the number of IEPs and para-educators would have been reduced. The Agency of Education should have continued to provide instructional guidance to teachers (including those with provisional licenses), but almost fully ceased to eight years ago; school culture improvement programs also ceased eight years ago. The quality of education we have now is the result of eight years of gutting AOE programs and staff, and then blaming underfunded school districts for the resulting shortcomings.
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
Commit to universal primary care, and then also explore the possibility of a state-wide captive insurance program that cuts down administrative costs and profit-seeking motivation to cover the costs of healthcare beyond primary care.
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
One thing I think we can do is complete our EV infrastructure-- while also committing to finding a way to fund our transportation fund. We could also provide more ways to make solar power accessible (but not mandatory) to every Vermonter at every income level, which would lower emissions, lower costs, remove stress on our electrical grid, and normalize its use.
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
Ban private equity from purchasing existing homes; fully match federal funding for rural home improvement programs; create a tiered system for STR taxation; examine how to balance environmental goals without encouraging land hoarding in rural areas; address landlord-tenant laws as two-sided relationships; require all housing built using state funding to be adaptable/visitable; fully commit to adding more senior housing and affordable housing into the mix, prioritizing both over high-end developers; pass a prevailing wage requirement to get more skilled tradespeople into the state (we are surrounded by prevailing wage states and lose workers to our neighbors as a result).
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Jonathan Gleason
- Age
- 57
- Occupation
- Ski Instructor (winter) Summer Activity Guide (summer)
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
Affordability for housing. Both the cost of housing and rent.
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
Yes, and No. I agree that Vermont needs to control costs, but I do not like that schools are closing and children are being bussed for long periods of time. I would like to see local control of the schools.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
No.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
Vermont is underperforming and outcomes could improve. We need to evaluate which schools are providing the best outcomes and follow their lead. We could even look to other states and see what is working for them, etc.
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
Regulatory reform. Incentivize more providers to offer healthcare insurance in Vermont.
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
Educate homeowners about winterization methods that will reduce their costs for heating. Protect forests and wetlands that trap carbon.
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
Vermont has many good housing programs that are working. Evaluate each one and increase funding to the highest performer.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Joe Major*
- Age
- 61
- Occupation
- Vermont State Senator and Treasurer of the town of Hartford
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
Health care needs more attention because it is one of the main drivers of the affordability crisis here in Vermont. When families are paying more for insurance premiums, deductibles, prescriptions, and medical care, that money is not available for housing, food, childcare, or other basic needs. We have to address the rising cost of healthcare as a central part of the solution.
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
I do support making the public education system more efficient, but I do not support consolidation for consolidation sake. I believe we need to be careful that those changes do not weaken local voices, reduce educational opportunities, or force communities into mergers that do not make sense for them. The educational outcomes of our students should be as important as the financial implications of a revamped education system.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
I do not support this. There is not a better arbiter of a communities funds than that community. This should not be a one size fits all solution to the budget problems across the state. Instead this can and should be a collaborative effort between the state and the municipality or district.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
I believe that Vermont's quality of education is strong but there is always room for improvement. While Vermont rates as one of the highest in per pupil spending it is in the middle of the pact in national rankings. This has to improve. We must also put more funding and emphasis on career and technical centers.
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
Bringing down health care cost has to be a multi prong approach. This is why I was so disappointed that Governor Scott vetoed the S191 health care bill. It would have immediately brought down cost, took steps toward greater transparency, and accountability. The center piece of the legislation was reference based pricing. While this was not a magic pill, it took steps to bring substantial saving to Vermonters.
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
Vermont is one of the best states in the nation in carbon emissions. This philosophy has to continue. A byproduct of these actions is major weather related disasters are not as severe as other parts of the county. That stated, there still have been weather related extremes such as the floods and drought in recent years. So, there is more to do.
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
We have to understand that the answer to that question varies community to community. This is not a one size fits all solution. This means continued revamping of Act 250 to make it easier to build in certain communities. It also means price point housing to accommodate moderate income families, workforce and seniors.
We also have to dedicate funding for infrastructure upgrades. As a rural state, it is vital that the state and municipalities work together to invest in water, wastewater, road construction.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
John Morley III*
Did not respond to our survey.
Andrea Murray
- Age
- 53
- Occupation
- I'm a farmer, mom and serve as JP, on DRB, Veterans committee & other local groups
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
Too many Vermonters can no longer afford to live in the state they spent their lives building. We must rein in excessive government spending, reject aggressive new taxes, and roll back arbitrary regulations that increase the cost of housing, farming, and doing business. We must also fully exempt Social Security and military retirement income from state taxation. Elected officials must remember that every dollar the government spends was first earned by a hardworking taxpayer. Affordability should be measured by whether working families and seniors can remain in Vermont, not by whether government programs remain funded.
- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
Yes, I support Gov. Scott’s goal of creating fewer, stronger school districts that can reduce administrative duplication, use staff and resources more efficiently, and provide students with greater educational opportunities. Vermont cannot sustain its current structure as enrollment declines and costs continue to rise. However, consolidation must produce measurable savings and better outcomes, ensuring we are not just creating larger bureaucracies. Rural schools that are small by necessity should be protected, and affected communities must have a meaningful voice as these changes are implemented.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
No. However, guardrails are necessary to ensure one district’s spending decisions do not unfairly affect taxpayers elsewhere. The weighted foundation formula should establish a statewide baseline for educational opportunity. If local voters choose additional spending for unique programs or to maintain a small school, they should have a clear pathway to approve and fund it locally. Act 73’s 5% cap on supplemental spending should be removed. When local taxpayers are responsible for the additional cost, local voters—not the State—should decide how much they are willing to spend.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
Vermont has dedicated teachers and many strong schools, but student outcomes do not reflect what taxpayers are spending. We must strengthen our core 3-Rs learning and return to clear letter grades in core classes so students and parents can easily understand academic progress. We should also expand career and technical education, apprenticeships, and partnerships with Vermont employers so every student graduates prepared for college, skilled employment, military service, or entrepreneurship.
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
I support Governor Scott’s efforts to expand affordable health insurance choices for Vermonters. We should remove unnecessary barriers that limit competition and allow individuals and small businesses greater flexibility to select plans that meet their needs and budgets. I would also support reinsurance, greater price transparency, stronger oversight of hospital and prescription costs, and reduced administrative burdens. The goal must be to lower the actual cost of healthcare, not shift those costs to patients, employers, and taxpayers.
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
Vermont’s greatest opportunity is to reduce emissions and energy costs from heating and transportation through practical investments in weatherization, efficiency, and affordable cleaner technologies. We should help families, farms, and small businesses use less fuel without imposing costly mandates they cannot afford. Our approach must recognize Vermont’s rural character, expand reliable and affordable options, and strengthen the electric grid. Vermont should also explore small modular reactors and other advanced nuclear technologies as part of a reliable, clean, long-term energy strategy.
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
We will not solve Vermont’s housing shortage by preventing landowners from building homes on their own property. Vermonters should be able to build a home for their children, subdivide appropriate land, and add a rental unit without facing years of delays and expensive, duplicative permitting. We must modernize Act 250, protect private property rights, and return reasonable land-use decisions to local communities. Rural landowners should be treated as partners in creating housing while preserving Vermont’s working lands and rural character.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Rebecca White*
- Age
- 32
- Occupation
- Current State Senator, Regional Training Director for the Northeast for Emerge America
- What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?
I appreciate this question and I have a long list of issues that impact Vermonters wallets and thats what I think about when I consider cost of living and our economy. I like to look at specific problems I can address, so some examples of issues I plan to introduce (and in some cases re-introduce) bills on would be:
- Reducing mobile home lot rent increase allowances
- Making vehicle inspection bi-annual
- Removing taxes on social security income- Do you support the steps the Legislature has taken in the last couple of years toward consolidating the public education system?
I am the product of Vermont's public school system, and I am grateful for the educational opportunities Dothan Brook School, Hartford Memorial Middle School, and Hartford High School provided me with. I have brought that experience and the perspectives of constituents with me whenever I think about our public education system. I support the steps to consolidate inefficiencies in services provided by our school districts, specifically the introduction of the BOCES model and the steps taken in H.955. Yet I did not support the Yield Bill and the excess spending thresholds placed on school districts.
- Would you support legislation that gives the state the power to set school budgets, instead of local districts?
When a school board in Vermont creates their budget, and looks at what they need to spend, they do not can not predict or know what their budgets will do to the tax rate for their voters. This quirk then continues with the legislature setting the tax rate after the budgets of have been voted on. A foundation formula would give each district the same amount per student at an amount set by the state. I generally do support the gradual move to a foundation formula, as long as it adheres to common benefits clause constitutional requirements.
- How would you rate the quality of Vermont’s public schools, and where do you see opportunities to improve the quality of education?
I highly rate the quality of our public schools. I'm so deeply impressed by the way our educators kept going during COVID19. I'm excited to see how the Cell Phone Ban in our schools improves the quality of education. I would focus on more Career and Tech education to fill our workplace needs longterm. As the daughter of a plumber/electrician I know how badly we need to train our young folks to work in these well paid trades.
- What would you do to bring down healthcare costs in Vermont?
I would re-introduce S.190. I would also put forward legislation in implement universal primary care.
- What do you think is the greatest opportunity for Vermont to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change?
As the current co-chair of the Climate Solutions Caucus I think about this question quite a bit. I believe our greatest opportunity is in the transportation space, that is why I chose to serve on the Senate Transportation Committee. We know Vermonters want to drive alone less and spend less money on fuel, and we know single person vehicle trips are where we can make a huge impact on carbon emissions and air quality. I support access to public transportation, bike and pedestrian infrastructure, carpooling and telecommuting strategies, support freight and commuter rail, smart growth development and electric vehicle adoption.
- What specific policies do you think would improve the cost and availability of housing in Vermont?
I think making the homestead property tax rate less than, or at the very least equal to, a rate carved out of the non-homestead property rate that is specific to secondary or vacation homes would remove the tax incentive to own a second, third, fourth, ect. home in Vermont. I would also continue to support the affordable housing programs like the ones designed for first time homebuyers and like the one my family used with shared equity. We must make sure the CHIP program does well, and to expand wastewater development for denser development in our downtowns.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Jack Williams
Did not respond to our survey.
County Offices
State's Attorney — Addison County
Peter Bevere
Did not respond to our survey.
State's Attorney — Bennington County
Erica Albin Marthage*
Did not respond to our survey.
State's Attorney — Caledonia County
Claire E. Burns*
Did not respond to our survey.
State's Attorney — Chittenden County
Sarah George*
- Age
- 43
- Occupation
- Chittenden County States Attorney. Have worked as a lawyer for the State for 15+ years.
- What would be your top three priorities if elected?
1. Continuing to build our Support Court - getting folks into court, connected to services, and resolving their cases - all in short time from when a crime is committed.
2. Working closely with law enforcement to investigate, solve, litigate, and close, crimes of violence, quickly and in ways that help victims move through the legal system and find some closure without significant delays and additional trauma.
3. Educate and update the community more regularly about what our office is doing, outcomes of cases, and changes in laws or policies that impact the legal system.- What do you see as the greatest public safety need in your county, and how could you address it as state’s attorney?
I believe housing is the greatest public safety need in our county. The majority of folks who are unhoused and also committing crimes would have a lot more treatment options available to them, and better outcomes with those services, if they had stable and safe housing. This isnt something I can address myself, but I can continue to advocate for it with legislators and other electeds. I will also continue to advocate for the opening of a safe consumption space in Burlington so that people are not using drugs in public - and they are safer when using.
- What are the factors you weigh when determining what charges to file?
1. Whether we can prove the charge beyond a reasonable doubt.
2. Was someone harmed? What does that person need to be healed?
3. Is there an avenue within the community that accessed that will allow for a better outcome than the legal system?
4. Is the person who committed the harm safe to be in our community or do they need to be removed from the community?
5. If there is PC for a felony: what benefit does charging a fel vs. a misd provide, and is there some way to get that benefit through charging a misd instead?
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Jace Laquerre
- Age
- 28
- Occupation
- Software Engineer
- What would be your top three priorities if elected?
While I am not seeking the office for myself, I believe the next State’s Attorney should focus on:
1. Holding repeat offenders accountable. Repeat offenders must face meaningful consequences, while protecting victims and law-abiding residents.
2. Restoring order in downtown Burlington. The State’s Attorney’s Office should work with police, businesses, residents, and community leaders to address public-safety challenges and restore a safe, welcoming downtown.
3. Repairing the relationship with law enforcement. The next State’s Attorney should rebuild trust, communication, and cooperation with police. Effective prosecution depends on a strong partnership with the officers who investigate crimes and protect our communities.
- What do you see as the greatest public safety need in your county, and how could you address it as state’s attorney?
While I am not seeking the office for myself, I believe the next State’s Attorney should focus on addressing repeat offending and restoring safety and order in our communities. Too many residents, businesses, and law enforcement officers are frustrated when individuals repeatedly commit crimes without meaningful consequences. The State’s Attorney should work closely with law enforcement to prosecute cases effectively, prioritize repeat offenders, support victims, and seek appropriate consequences for those who continue to break the law. By rebuilding trust with law enforcement and focusing resources on individuals causing the greatest harm, the office can make Chittenden County safer.
- What are the factors you weigh when determining what charges to file?
While I am not seeking the office for myself, I believe the next State’s Attorney should follow the law as it was written, not as they wish it were written. Charging decisions should be based on the facts and evidence, the applicable statutes, the seriousness of the offense, and the defendant’s history, including repeat offending. Personal political beliefs or policy preferences should never interfere with the fair and impartial enforcement of the law. Prosecutorial discretion is important, but it must be exercised consistently, responsibly, and within the law, while considering the rights of victims and the safety of the community.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “Yes.”
State's Attorney — Essex County
Vincent Illuzzi*
Did not respond to our survey.
State's Attorney — Franklin County
John Lavoie
Did not respond to our survey.
Zach Weight
- Age
- 40
- Occupation
- Deputy State's Attorney (Prosecutor)
- What would be your top three priorities if elected?
1. Collaborate with community partners, service providers and law enforcement to address habitual offenders and create a county-wide public safety plan.
2. Hold those that commit violent crime and drug trafficking accountable, including requesting hold without bail be imposed by the courts.
3. Stabilize the State's Attorney's Office by acting with integrity and providing ethical and clear leadership.- What do you see as the greatest public safety need in your county, and how could you address it as state’s attorney?
We cannot keep using the same old reactive approach that has repeatedly failed to address our community's concerns and public safety needs.
We can break the cycle of repeat offenders and make our neighborhoods safer by coordinating with the people dealing with them everyday: our community partners, police officers and service providers. My experience leading the Governor's Accountability Court is proof that this collaboration works, and it requires a State's Attorney that is willing to tackle these issues head-on.
- What are the factors you weigh when determining what charges to file?
All charges will be decided by the facts, evidence, and law. If there is sufficient probable cause to sustain the charges, I will file them.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
State's Attorney — Grand Isle County
Douglas E. DiSabito*
Did not respond to our survey.
Joshua Martin
- Age
- 52
- Occupation
- Civil Rights- Trial Attorney
- What would be your top three priorities if elected?
The first job is keeping people safe by bringing even-handed accountability to anyone who hurts another person.
Every case would start with an eye toward local restitution and community service, restoring what was taken from victims, and keeping fines, fees and resources in Grand Isle whenever possible.
A struggling person shouldn’t go to jail solely for unpaid fines or bail. On the other hand, if a very wealthy person harms somebody or breaks the law, they shouldn’t merely pay a fine and walk away without addressing the behavior that brought them into the system.
- What do you see as the greatest public safety need in your county, and how could you address it as state’s attorney?
DUI and dangerous driving, addiction, domestic violence and threats, and limited law-enforcement coverage are real public-safety concerns. On addiction, I will favor treatment, recovery and keeping people alive over reflexive incarceration or policies that simply accept continued drug use. I will act quickly when victims need protection, take repeat and escalating conduct seriously, and make sure dangerous cases get immediate attention. Resources: Montpelier takes enough money off-island through taxes, fines, and fees. A lot of it goes to no-bid case management and prison contractors. Grand Isle is safer when we have more of our resources and make our own decisions.
- What are the factors you weigh when determining what charges to file?
Whether a victim needs immediate protection; whether anyone was hurt or could have been hurt by the offense; the accused person’s history, circumstances, and experience. I would also consider whether the matter is appropriate for community justice or in-house diversion, how best to repair the harm. Whether there is a way to hold the accused person accountable but also bring them back into the fold without disproportionately taking away what they and their families need to get back on track. The victim and public should feel safe and know that we are working to prevent future harm.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
State's Attorney — Lamoille County
Aliena J. Gerhard*
Did not respond to our survey.
State's Attorney — Orange County
Colin L. Seaman*
Did not respond to our survey.
State's Attorney — Orleans County
Farzana Leyva*
Did not respond to our survey.
State's Attorney — Rutland County
Ian C. Sullivan*
Did not respond to our survey.
State's Attorney — Washington County
Michelle Donnelly*
Did not respond to our survey.
State's Attorney — Windham County
Steven M. Brown*
Did not respond to our survey.
State's Attorney — Windsor County
Ward H. Goodenough*
Did not respond to our survey.
Sheriff — Addison County
Michael R. Elmore*
Did not respond to our survey.
Sheriff — Bennington County
James A. Gulley Jr*
Did not respond to our survey.
Sheriff — Caledonia County
Brandon C. Thrailkill*
Did not respond to our survey.
Sheriff — Chittenden County
Daniel Gamelin*
Did not respond to our survey.
Sheriff — Essex County
Trevor Colby*
Did not respond to our survey.
Sheriff — Franklin County
Andre Labier
Did not respond to our survey.
Chad Miles
Did not respond to our survey.
Sheriff — Grand Isle County
Ray C. Allen*
Did not respond to our survey.
Sheriff — Lamoille County
Roger M. Marcoux Jr*
Did not respond to our survey.
Sheriff — Orange County
Jacob Held
- Age
- 38
- Occupation
- Currently a Corporal with the Orange County Sheriff's Department. Previously POST Certified in MN
- What do you see as the greatest public safety need in your county, and how could you address it as sheriff?
Orange County needs more Law Enforcement available within small towns that don't have a local PD or VSP presence. To address this issue, I will work with those towns to acquire new contracts to meet their needs and expand coverage throughout the county while building both community trust and the department as a whole. Additionally adding Dispatch for nights and weekends would expand our patrol hours to cover more problematic times of the week, and at the same time addressing more issues within our community.
- Vermont sheriffs fund their departments in part through contracts. How would you decide which contracts to take? Are there any types of contracts that you wouldn’t take?
The contracts Orange County could accept would be based on the amount of Deputies we have; though, to acquire those deputies, we need contracts in place to employ said Deputies. Ideally I would be able to obtain multiple smaller contracts with multiple towns which would allow more coverage, and in turn, our department to grow overall allowing us to accept more contracts over time while providing more services to the community.
- Sheriffs in Vermont have been accused of misconduct and criminal behavior in recent years. Should the state Constitution be changed to increase oversight of sheriffs? For example, should sheriffs be certified law enforcement officers, or should there be another method to remove a sheriff from office other than impeachment?
Sheriff's in Vermont are overseen by the Sheriff's Association, the Vermont Criminal Justice Council, and State Audits. Adding additional over sight would only increase administrative time to the Sheriff's duties while taking that time away from the communities we serve. HOWEVER, I do believe Sheriff Department should be audited on a annual basis instead of randomly every few years. Those departments that fail the audits should be audited more often until they are within compliance. Sheriff's who regularly fail multiple audits in a row should be investigated to learn how/why those departments are failing.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Lon T. McClintock*
Did not respond to our survey.
Sheriff — Orleans County
Jennifer L. Harlow*
Did not respond to our survey.
Sheriff — Rutland County
David J. Fox*
Did not respond to our survey.
Sheriff — Washington County
Marc Poulin*
- Age
- 51
- Occupation
- Level III certification, FBI National Academy Graduate, National Sheriff’s Institute graduate
- What do you see as the greatest public safety need in your county, and how could you address it as sheriff?
Our greatest public safety need in Washington county is ensuring that every resident has access to law enforcement response, whether or not they live in a community with its own police agency. That is the role our office is working to fill, by contracting or increasing contract services with local towns. However, funding for these services is problematic in the current financial environment we are all experiencing.
- Vermont sheriffs fund their departments in part through contracts. How would you decide which contracts to take? Are there any types of contracts that you wouldn’t take?
We provide services via contract to local towns, schools, construction companies, and others needing assistance. The only times this can be problematic is when they ask for services we cannot provide for various reasons, such as insurance coverage barriers, or when the groups requesting a contract have private rules vs public law. We will not take on contracts that are political vs public safety minded, could restrict our office from exercising independent law enforcement judgement, or creating a perception as serving one faction of the community rather than the public as a whole.
- Sheriffs in Vermont have been accused of misconduct and criminal behavior in recent years. Should the state Constitution be changed to increase oversight of sheriffs? For example, should sheriffs be certified law enforcement officers, or should there be another method to remove a sheriff from office other than impeachment?
I believe that there can be additional qualifications to run for office as sheriff, such as requiring a level III certification. However, removal from office should remain as impeachment, even after loss of certification. Removal of any elected official is and should be a high standard, equal for all elected officials. If a sheriff loses their certification, they are then ineligible for reelection even if impeachment does not occur.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Sheriff — Windham County
Mark R. Anderson*
Did not respond to our survey.
Sheriff — Windsor County
Richard King
Did not respond to our survey.
Claude E. Weyant
Did not respond to our survey.
Probate Judge — Addison County
Pam Marsh*
Did not respond to our survey.
Probate Judge — Bennington County
Jim Dingley
Did not respond to our survey.
Lon T. McClintock*
Did not respond to our survey.
Probate Judge — Caledonia County
Annette Lorraine*
Did not respond to our survey.
Probate Judge — Chittenden County
Gregory J. Glennon*
Did not respond to our survey.
Probate Judge — Essex County
Samuel J. Swope*
Did not respond to our survey.
Probate Judge — Franklin County
Vaughn Comeau
- Age
- 55
- Occupation
- Attorney in solo practice in Enosburgh and former Probate Judge
- Why do you want to serve as a probate judge, and what personal qualities and experience make you qualified?
Many members of the public, local attorneys, and community leaders have asked me to run. I served as Franklin County probate judge 2019-2023 and am ready to do so again.
I will bring integrity, experience, and dedication my opponent cannot match. I will be in the judge’s office, working with the staff, and available to the public, not working largely remotely, outside of business hours as my opponent has the past 3 years.
To learn more about me, please visit me on Facebook at Vaughn Comeau, Attorney at Law, or email me at attorney@comeaulaw.com.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Bob Farrar*
Did not respond to our survey.
Probate Judge — Grand Isle County
George "Ned" Spear*
Did not respond to our survey.
Probate Judge — Lamoille County
James R. Dean Mahoney*
Did not respond to our survey.
Probate Judge — Orange County
Kathryn A.C. Kennedy*
Did not respond to our survey.
Probate Judge — Orleans County
Angela M. Ross*
Did not respond to our survey.
Probate Judge — Rutland County
Karl C. Anderson*
Did not respond to our survey.
Probate Judge — Washington County
Andrea Gallitano
Did not respond to our survey.
Probate Judge — Windham County
Jodi P. French*
Did not respond to our survey.
Probate Judge — Windsor County
Frederick Glover*
Did not respond to our survey.
Assistant Judge — Addison County (2 seats)
Patricia "Patty" Ross*
Did not respond to our survey.
Nicole B. Wilkerson*
Did not respond to our survey.
Assistant Judge — Bennington County (2 seats)
Mary C. Frost*
Did not respond to our survey.
Brian W. Peat*
Did not respond to our survey.
Assistant Judge — Caledonia County (2 seats)
Joe Benning*
Did not respond to our survey.
Merle L. Haskins*
Did not respond to our survey.
Assistant Judge — Chittenden County (2 seats)
Connie Cain Ramsey*
- Age
- 66
- Occupation
- Assistant Judge of Chittenden County.
- Why do you want to serve as an assistant judge, and what personal qualities and experience make you qualified?
I have much more to do as Assistant Judge. I especially like acting as a steward for the Chittenden County properties, which include the beautiful, historic, white marble courthouse on the corner of Church and Main Street in downtown Burlington, and the Sheriff’s Department in South Burlington. I am running to continue this good work. I also feel I am a good fact-finder in non-juried, civil court cases. Which is what I spend most of my days doing. I like to think I can work with the various Presiding Judge’s well. These judges work very hard for our community.
- One of the assistant judge’s duties is to set the county budget. What experience do you have in public budgeting or management of a budget?
I have been Assistant Judge for 15 years.
As the Assistant Judge I have been responsible for the County Budget all of that time. I also write down and take pictures of everything we have spent the money on as well as what we are going to be spending the money on next fiscal year and share that with the community at the yearly pre-budget and final budget meetings.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Anne Nichols Williams
- Age
- 61
- Occupation
- I develop and oversee budgets/expenditures for a military national corporation at multiple location
- Why do you want to serve as an assistant judge, and what personal qualities and experience make you qualified?
I want to serve as Assistant Judge for Chittenden County because I believe I can be a positive voice for the community.
I feel I understand and can represent the diverse needs of the community.
My children are graduates of Chittenden County public schools and I have been a foster parent and community volunteer where I have lived for over 30 years.- One of the assistant judge’s duties is to set the county budget. What experience do you have in public budgeting or management of a budget?
I have unique insight into the position of Assistant Judge having served as Deputy Clerk and County Clerk for many years. I assisted in developing and writing the County Budget as well as production of monthly budget reports. I am well versed with the Statutory Budget Requirements of the State of Vermont. My current position expands on my budgeting nd oversight experience to multiple locations
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate did not respond.
Assistant Judge — Essex County (2 seats)
Elizabeth Benoit
Did not respond to our survey.
Evan Hammond*
Did not respond to our survey.
Aleda G. Routhier
Did not respond to our survey.
Kenn Stransky*
- Occupation
- Assistant Judge, Vermont Superior Court
- Why do you want to serve as an assistant judge, and what personal qualities and experience make you qualified?
I want to continue my 25+ years serving Essex County. My experience in Family Court, Civil Court and as the Vermont Judiciary's representative on the Opioid Abatement Special Fund (with training as an addiction counselor) will continue to help Vermonters. My depth of judicial knowledge helps in Chambers when we need to decide child custody, visitation and other highly sensitive legal matters. Being a judge requires one to separate from local politics and decide based on Vermont legal statutes. Judicial Experience, staying on Budget and getting the Courthouse Connector Project Completed qualify me to continue in this role.
- One of the assistant judge’s duties is to set the county budget. What experience do you have in public budgeting or management of a budget?
Keeping my select board, regional economic development board and this county budget on or under budget for many years shows that I have proven abilities and business leadership experience. The Courthouse Connector Project of $5 million is on budget and on schedule due to my ability to work with a team of 10 key parties from design through construction where everybody understands that we cannot afford what everyone wants and compromise is the best way to get the best courthouse for most of the interested parties involved within the budget we have from the legislature.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Assistant Judge — Franklin County (2 seats)
Kelly Fitzgerald Gosselin*
- Age
- 63
- Occupation
- I am currently an Assistant Judge in Franklin County. I have been in since 2011
- Why do you want to serve as an assistant judge, and what personal qualities and experience make you qualified?
I want to continue to make a difference in hearings of family and civil matters where I can, and since county judges are administrators of the county, and responsible for the county budget, I would like to continue to be an advocate for responsible spending for the people in Franklin County
- One of the assistant judge’s duties is to set the county budget. What experience do you have in public budgeting or management of a budget?
Since I have held this position since 2011 I have had hands on experience in this capacity
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
David Abell McWilliams
Did not respond to our survey.
Jay H. Sweeny*
- Age
- 64
- Occupation
- Retired Captain, Franklin County Sheriffs Office
- Why do you want to serve as an assistant judge, and what personal qualities and experience make you qualified?
I was appointed to fill a vacancy in April of 2025 and have been actively working in that position since then. I worked for 34 1/2 years in Law Enforcement and worked closely with the judiciary during those years. An Assistant Judge requires common sense and integrity. Being fair and impartial in decisions are qualities I have strived to maintain my whole career.
- One of the assistant judge’s duties is to set the county budget. What experience do you have in public budgeting or management of a budget?
One of my duties with the Sheriffs Office was assisting with preparing the annual budget that comes from the county. I worked with a number of assistant judges over the years to achieve a fair and responsible budget. I wrote and managed numerous state and federal grants for the sheriff’s office while there. I also assisted in preparing and managing several contracts for police services.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Assistant Judge — Grand Isle County (2 seats)
Deb D. Allen
Did not respond to our survey.
Sherri L. Potvin*
Did not respond to our survey.
Assistant Judge — Lamoille County (2 seats)
Patricia Gabel*
Did not respond to our survey.
John Randy Pratt
Did not respond to our survey.
Assistant Judge — Orange County (2 seats)
Laurel Mackin*
- Age
- 55
- Occupation
- Orange County Assistant Judge
- Why do you want to serve as an assistant judge, and what personal qualities and experience make you qualified?
I was honored to be appointed Orange County Assistant Judge by the Governor in 2020, and then elected to my first full term in 2022. Throughout my career, I have been committed to public service and strengthening the communities I serve. I would be grateful for the opportunity to continue serving the people of Orange County over the next four years.
- One of the assistant judge’s duties is to set the county budget. What experience do you have in public budgeting or management of a budget?
Together with my fellow Assistant Judge, Joyce McKeeman, I have been setting and managing the Orange County budget since my appointment in 2020.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Joyce E. McKeeman*
- Age
- 71
- Occupation
- Incumbent Assistant Judge
- Why do you want to serve as an assistant judge, and what personal qualities and experience make you qualified?
I was first elected as Orange County Assistant Judge in 2010 and have both enjoyed and been humbled to serve since that time.
I am well versed in the challenges of living in a rural county and believe that all elected public servants must keep the needs of our citizens at the forefront of all decisions we make.
I am also president of the Vermont Association of County Judges which provides education to the state's 28 independently elected assistant judges.- One of the assistant judge’s duties is to set the county budget. What experience do you have in public budgeting or management of a budget?
Have been managing the county budget annually since 2011.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Assistant Judge — Orleans County (2 seats)
Curtis A. Hardy*
Did not respond to our survey.
Sean Selby*
Did not respond to our survey.
Assistant Judge — Rutland County (2 seats)
Stephen P. Benard Sr*
Did not respond to our survey.
Kevin E. Geno*
- Age
- 70
- Occupation
- Assistant Judge
- Why do you want to serve as an assistant judge, and what personal qualities and experience make you qualified?
To give back to the community and help those in need of services.
- One of the assistant judge’s duties is to set the county budget. What experience do you have in public budgeting or management of a budget?
Thirty years of budget planning for a Police Department and a County wide program.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Assistant Judge — Washington County (2 seats)
Anne Dielensnyder
Did not respond to our survey.
Daniel Gates
- Age
- 73
- Occupation
- Pot washer as my retirement job, Justice of the Peace, Motor Vehicles, Tax Dept.
- Why do you want to serve as an assistant judge, and what personal qualities and experience make you qualified?
I want to do something useful with my life. I'm also inquisitive and ask lots of questions, like Columbo(a TV reference). I've been a Washington County resident for 45 years. I was a Justice of the Peace for Montpelier for two terms. I was Hunger Mountain Co-op Council member for several years. I volunteered at the St. of Vt. Biomonitoring Lab, off and on, for 40 years. I worked mostly in food retail. I've been a union member when available. I 've worked at DMV and the St. of Vt. Tax Dept. The job isn't a popularity contest.
- One of the assistant judge’s duties is to set the county budget. What experience do you have in public budgeting or management of a budget?
I dealt with budgeting while on the Hunger Mountain Co-op Council. I was the treasurer of the Franklin Square Homeowners Association for four years. I have no photo due to technical difficulties.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Leah Murphy Jones*
Did not respond to our survey.
Ture Nelson
Did not respond to our survey.
Assistant Judge — Windham County (2 seats)
Lamont Barnett*
Did not respond to our survey.
Carolyn Partridge*
Did not respond to our survey.
Assistant Judge — Windsor County (2 seats)
Alison Johannensen*
- Age
- 52
- Occupation
- Assistant Judge
- Why do you want to serve as an assistant judge, and what personal qualities and experience make you qualified?
I have served in this role for nearly four years and it has been the greatest honor of my career. It is a privilege to serve the residents of Windsor County and I hope to continue that service. I approach this position with fairness, integrity and common sense. My entire career has been focused in law. I was a paralegal for 26 years prior to taking office and that experience has helped me greatly in the role of Assistant Judge.
- One of the assistant judge’s duties is to set the county budget. What experience do you have in public budgeting or management of a budget?
I have been managing the county budget along with Judge Michael Ricci, since I took office nearly 4 years ago. I have previous experience on local non-profit boards, managing their budgets. In addition, I have served for nearly 4 years as the treasurer of the Vermont Association of County Judges.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Michael A. Ricci*
- Age
- 73
- Occupation
- I have significant experience in business management, non-profit management and municipal leadership
- Why do you want to serve as an assistant judge, and what personal qualities and experience make you qualified?
Assistant judges have the opportunity to serve members of our community during some of the most difficult times of their lives. Our decisions can shape people’s lives for years. It is extremely important for our assistant judges to possess knowledge of and commitment to our community as well as demonstrated judgement and decision making skills.
I have had a longstanding commitment to our community and believe that my experience and temperament are well suited to the position. I approach each case empathy for the members of our community to reach fair and thoughtful decisions.
- One of the assistant judge’s duties is to set the county budget. What experience do you have in public budgeting or management of a budget?
I have held senior management and finance positions with Norman Williams Public Library, Windham Northeast Supervisory Union and Dartmouth College as well as for a variety of hotel and restaurant companies. I currently serve as Windsor County assistant judge. Past experience includes serving as justice of the peace, chairperson of the Woodstock Board of Trustees, President of the Woodstock Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.
In each of my professional and volunteer positions I have been responsible for budget creation and management and have a reputation for doing so in an accurate and prudent manner.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
High Bailiff — Addison County
Dave Silberman*
- Age
- 50
- Occupation
- Attorney, Drug Policy Reform Advocate, Member of Middlebury Downtown Improvement District Commission
- The position is often seen as ceremonial. Why are you seeking the office, and if elected, do you anticipate serving an active function in your county’s government?
I have served as High Bailiff since 2021, and in June 2022 was briefly pressed into service as Acting Sheriff when Sheriff Peter Newton was arrested. I believe that electing a High Bailiff who is independent of the sheriff sends a message that no elected official is above the law.
- Do you believe high bailiffs should have law enforcement experience? Why or why not?
Law enforcement experience is unnecessary in the role of High Bailiff, but being a deputy who is personally and professionally beholden to the Sheriff ought to be disqualifying.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Steve Willson
Did not respond to our survey.
High Bailiff — Bennington County
Susan Haner
Did not respond to our survey.
Roscoe Harrington
- Age
- 56
- Occupation
- 20 years VT law enforcement currently the Captain with Bennington County Sheriff’s Department
- The position is often seen as ceremonial. Why are you seeking the office, and if elected, do you anticipate serving an active function in your county’s government?
I feel I’m the best choice to take over the Sheriff’s Department operations if the Sheriff is incapacitated and cannot perform his elected position. I do not anticipate this occurring but will be prepared if I have to step in.
- Do you believe high bailiffs should have law enforcement experience? Why or why not?
Yes High Bailiff and Sheriffs should have law enforcement experience. The person who holds the position should know the rules and regulations to be a VT law enforcement officer. It should be know that regulations with VT law enforcement reporting require a person to comply with NCIC regulations.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Andrew "Andy" Shaw
- Age
- 68
- Occupation
- Retired
- The position is often seen as ceremonial. Why are you seeking the office, and if elected, do you anticipate serving an active function in your county’s government?
I put my name forward after I learned that there were no candidates on the ballots for the Primary Election. I was inspired by President John F. Kennedy who said something like "Ask not what your County can do for you, ask what you can do for your County."
If elected, I do not anticipate serving an active function, barring something unforeseen happening to the Sheriff.- Do you believe high bailiffs should have law enforcement experience? Why or why not?
Perhaps.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
High Bailiff — Caledonia County
Bobbie J. Roy
Did not respond to our survey.
High Bailiff — Chittenden County
Paul McManus
Did not respond to our survey.
Sean Miller
Did not respond to our survey.
Amy Payne
- Age
- 62
- Occupation
- Writer, educator, former business professional, local community builder, and Inspector of Elections.
- The position is often seen as ceremonial. Why are you seeking the office, and if elected, do you anticipate serving an active function in your county’s government?
In recorded history, Chittenden County’s High Bailiff has done nothing. I believe no position serving the public should be wasted. Today, trust between the public and law enforcement is at a low. Supporting Democracy, I will serve the position as an objective ambassador (whose boss isn’t the Sheriff) and expand it to build bridges - from the Sheriff’s department to the public and back - through community outreach, real dialogue, shared information (financial, department investigations, etc), and when appropriate, restorative justice. The work to bridge this trust gap is critical to public well-being, safety, and the future of our community. I’m committed.
- Do you believe high bailiffs should have law enforcement experience? Why or why not?
No. The High Bailiff has one official responsibility. If the Sheriff is arrested or suddenly incapacitated, she oversees the department while the Governor appoints a new Sheriff. This short-term role is crisis management and requires specific skills: the ability to 1) delegate responsibilities to trusted members of the department, 2) communicate with the governor, journalists, prosecutors, and public, 3) guide the department while deputies compete for the role of Sheriff, and 4) hold space for an organization that has unexpectedly lost its leader. These skills require relevant management and speaking experience, not a law enforcement background.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
High Bailiff — Essex County
Eric R. Engel
Did not respond to our survey.
High Bailiff — Franklin County
Nicholas A. Brosseau*
Did not respond to our survey.
High Bailiff — Grand Isle County
Kevin Winch
Did not respond to our survey.
High Bailiff — Lamoille County
Kevin Lehoe*
Did not respond to our survey.
High Bailiff — Orange County
Jt Dodge
Did not respond to our survey.
High Bailiff — Orleans County
Richard Wells Jr
Did not respond to our survey.
High Bailiff — Rutland County
Johnathan "J.J." Bixby
Did not respond to our survey.
High Bailiff — Washington County
Shawn McManis*
Did not respond to our survey.
High Bailiff — Windham County
Angela Lawrence
Did not respond to our survey.
High Bailiff — Windsor County
Anthony W. Leonard
- Age
- 63
- Occupation
- Lieutenant with the Windsor County Sheriff’s Department. 44 years in law enforcement.
- The position is often seen as ceremonial. Why are you seeking the office, and if elected, do you anticipate serving an active function in your county’s government?
My experience over the years, working for municipal police, as a deputy sheriff and as a deputy game warden, has given me a wealth of knowledge in various aspects of law enforcement. The High Bailiff position only real function is to step in and run the Sheriffs Department should the sitting Sheriff become incapacitated or incarcerated and unable to perform the duties of Sheriff. Currently serving as a Lieutenant in the Windsor County Sheriff’s Department, I can provide continuity and consistency in leading the department should I be called upon to do so.
- Do you believe high bailiffs should have law enforcement experience? Why or why not?
The vast majority of what a Sheriff’s department does is rooted in law enforcement and requires deputies to be law enforcement certified. To effectively lead and supervise the department, a law enforcement background is most helpful. In addition a non law enforcement person would not be able to supervise or make decisions regarding law enforcement functions. So yes a law enforcement background and certification is most helpful. It is not, however required by law.
We asked all candidates to disclose whether they used AI to write responses to these questions. This candidate said “No.”
Hudson Ranney
Did not respond to our survey.