LETTER: Supporting two new choices

August 11, 2024

To the Community: 

It was the property tax increase projected late last year that first caught my attention. While watching that school budget process play out I realized that only part of the local budget was actually in local control.

Much of the budget involved our legislature in Montpelier as they added mandated expenses, revamped the complicated formula to calculate the mysterious “equalized pupils,” and eventually approved a yield bill that increased statewide education property taxes by around 14% (more than four times the rate of inflation). 

This led me to examine the voting records our our two state representatives, Tom Stevens and Theresa Wood. This in turn made me realize that their demonstrated vision of where Vermont is headed did not align with my vision of where I thought we should be going. 

Our incumbent representatives voted for feeding all students two free meals a day at taxpayer expense, to infuse taxpayer money into private childcare businesses, and use taxpayer money to fund subsidies for middle-class families to help pay for their childcare; to support the creation of a safe injection site where medical resources are diverted to safeguard drug users while they engage in illegal activity; and to burden Vermonters with higher energy costs to lead the nation in a green agenda. I do not support these measures and/or their taxpayer burdens.

Gov. Phil Scott vetoed many of these measures as simply an undue financial burden to ordinary Vermonters. Did our representatives listen? No, they voted with the progressive super-majority to override nearly every veto.

Phil Scott was recently named the most popular governor in the country, with an approval rating of 81%. Yet, we continue to elect state representatives who ignore his thinking when it comes to affordability in one of the highest-taxed states in the nation.

So, are you happy with the direction that Vermont is currently heading? With our tax burden? With the results of our super-expensive education system? Requiring taxpayers to assume parental responsibility to feed and provide for childcare for the children of middle-class Vermonters? Providing supplies and medically monitoring drug addicts while they engage in illegal behavior? With the fees, regulations and requirements that drive up the cost of housing? With the increasing cost of energy due to unrealistic mandates? If you are, incumbents Tom Stevens and Theresa Wood are excellent choices.

If you are not happy with the direction that Vermont is heading;  if you are one of the 4 in 5 Vermonters who approve of Gov. Scott and wish he could accomplish more, then you have a choice this year. Two common-sense challengers have emerged to provide alternatives. Jonathan Griffin is running as the lone Republican and as such is assured a place on the November general election ballot. 

Elizabeth Brown is a moderate Democrat who brings private-sector financial experience to the table. She has the background and desire to consider financial reality with the wish lists in order to achieve a more realistic balance between taxes and unbounded desires. She will appear on the November general election ballot only if she defeats either Tom Stevens or Theresa Wood in the Aug. 13 Democratic primary.

If you are a moderate Democrat, an Independent, or a moderate Republican who feels taxes are out of hand and we have too many unaffordable and/or unnecessary programs, please vote for Elizabeth Brown in the Democratic primary.

If you are a strong Republican and can't take being represented by our current super-majority representatives and would like two very conservative replacements, you have a problem. From what I can see, both Brown and Griffin are moderates (one a moderate Democrat and the other a moderate Republican – in my opinion). But I believe both are solid moves toward a more centrist, balanced legislature that can influence the direction of policy in Montpelier. Even the willingness to sustain Gov.  Scott's vetoes in some cases would be a move in the right direction. So, your choice is to stick to your guns and never vote for a Democrat – ever. Or you could vote in the Democratic Primary for Elizabeth Brown and help ensure that she and Griffin are both options in November.

At the basic level, it is that simple. Yes, we like where we are headed, or no, we don't. Democracy in action. If you want two other choices available in November, you should help ensure that Elizabeth Brown is there to be considered by helping her make it through the Democratic primary.

Phil Scott is, in many cases, at the mercy of an unyielding super-majority. That will only change if we give him some help in the form of two new representatives.

Whatever your decision, please vote in the primary election going on now through Aug. 13.

Steven Martin

Waterbury