We can promote energy conservation at every level.
On Government
My thoughts about serving in the government are simple: I want to help us achieve the goals that will help us move forward as a community, a state and a country.
To do that, we must have greater participation from the citizenry. I believe in a government that will help people get involved. I believe in a government that will reach out and serve the weakest among us, be they our elders, our children, our veterans or our neighbors. I believe in a government that will continue to seek out the simplest and most effective solutions, using the many effective tools we have to complete the work. And I believe that if we take care of the basic needs – a new bridge, a promised road, a modern infrastructure – our municipalities will get the push they need to revitalize, to grow and take care of themselves. My experience in municipal government has shown me the highs and lows of our relationship with the state government, and I know that Vermonters will benefit if state government better serves our towns and villages.
On Health Care
It is clear we will continue to grapple with the incredibly high costs of health insurance, as well as challenges to access. I believe we must try to simplify the system and allow it to offer real, effective health care to more people. For those of us who are paying extremely high premiums, we will be faced with a terrible choice – health insurance or heating oil.
On Energy Conservation
Skyrocketing energy prices threaten everyone in Vermont, from the weakest and poorest among us to the largest business. High oil prices affect everything from the pavement we lay down to the trucks that pour it. While the Vermont Legislature cannot change the prices of world-wide commodities, we must be prepared to deal with the potential impacts here across the state, and for us here in the towns of this district.
We can do better with what we have. We can promote energy conservation at every level, and make it easier for homeowners to reduce heating costs by improving our existing housing stock. It starts with changing a light bulb, but we must go forward from there – to building energy audits and high-quality insulation, to supporting and growing the use of public transportation and making tele-commuting a real option for workers and employers.
On Energy Sources
The time is now for dealing with our energy future. We need to secure our future energy sources within this biennium if we are to promote our state as a stable, affordable and worthwhile place to do business. We must acknowledge the incontrovertible truth of climate change and invest in alternative energies to supplement our conventional sources. And our conventional sources must be proven safe every single day.
Buying local food keeps our landscape open and our agricultural heritage alive and thriving.
Local Economy
I am passionate about putting our local economy first, from supporting downtown designation programs (already a source of visible progress in Waterbury), to emphasizing a Local First philosophy, where we look to buy our goods and services from local sources first. Vermont is home to some exceptionally talented people in every industry and it will benefit us if we use them before we look to out-of-state talent. Buying goods and services from local companies keeps more money in our state. Buying local food keeps our landscape open and our agricultural heritage alive and thriving. And I believe in cultivating a creative economy, where all the pieces are present for a successful local economy – such as jobs, schools, livability and culture – and businesses and communities are allowed to thrive.
Education
We must keep our well-regarded educational system strong in the face of declining enrollment and stretched budgets. Schools are often the heartbeat of the community, providing space for meetings and gatherings, for after-school programs and before-school breakfasts. The students and families served by our schools throughout the days and evenings rely on schools to provide a safe haven. We must work with our federal government to rebuild our schools, to continue providing quality education, literate students and good citizens to our society.
Teamwork and Collaboration
I believe that all of the competing interests in Vermont need to understand that we are here to make life for all Vermonters better every day and that it would be in our best interest to work together to that end.
All too often we are at loggerheads because we view the hard work – difficult change or difficult solutions – as something to fear. I will bring my enthusiasm for finding a way to say “yes” to the possibilities for solutions ahead of us. I believe that the way to tackle our problems and challenges lies in finding a way to use the talents and creativity of everyone. Vermonters are smart and strong, and when we work together we can – and will – do better.
Vermont is a beacon for hope in many different ways – in its fiscally sound and socially responsible business, in its green solutions, in its protection of the environment, and in its potential to lead the way in alternative energy and affordable health insurance – and we must keep that beacon bright. We must not allow it to go out simply because there is a strong wind blowing and it is hard to keep it lit.