Where I stand
This year, almost everything in Montpelier came back to affordability. The cost of schools and property taxes, of housing, of health care, and of simply getting by. I will carry our towns' perspective into every one of those debates, because what works for Pittsford and Proctor should count just as much as what works for Burlington or Montpelier.
Vermont just passed a major education law that changes how schools are governed and paid for, and how it gets carried out will shape tax bills and small schools for years. I will push for a funding system that is fair to rural districts and does not force good local schools to close just to balance the state's math.
Property taxes are rising faster than what most families earn, and the system ties your bill to a home's market value whether or not your income has moved. I will fight to expand income sensitivity and to put real limits on how much of a family's income a property tax bill can take, so people are not taxed out of their homes.
Vermont has not built enough homes in decades, and the shortage drives up prices and holds back our towns and our employers. I will support practical reforms to our land use rules so we can build the starter homes, rentals, and senior housing we need, while respecting the character of our communities.
Vermont has the most expensive insurance market in the country, and our rural hospitals and primary care are under real strain. I will work to bring premiums back within reach and to protect the local care our families depend on, from a doctor's visit to our community hospital.
When parents cannot find or afford child care, they cannot work, and our whole local economy feels it. I will protect and build on Vermont's child care investments and push to close the gaps that still leave too many families, especially those with infants, without a spot.
Electric bills have been climbing, and rising demand on the regional grid threatens to push them higher. I will work to keep energy affordable for the households and small businesses that already drive and heat more than most, and to make sure ordinary ratepayers are not stuck paying for everyone else's growth.
Vermont has been hit hard by flooding, and our towns are left holding the cost of cleaning up and rebuilding. I will fight for the resilience funding our communities need to protect roads, homes, and water systems before the next storm, not just after it.
The state transportation fund is shrinking even as our roads and bridges keep aging. I will push for stable, reliable funding so rural towns like ours are not left choosing between safe roads and higher local taxes.
Our farms and working lands are a big part of what makes Vermont feel like Vermont, and they are under pressure from rising costs and a changing economy. I will stand up for the farmers, foresters, and small producers who care for our land and feed our communities.
Too many young people and working families are leaving because they cannot find a home, a connection, or a career here. I will work on the things that let people stay and build a life, from affordable housing to reliable internet in every corner of our towns to good local jobs.