By Guy Page
Dozens of Franklin County legislators of both parties and other community leaders have publicly pledged to a peaceful, fair transition of power – regardless of who wins the general election in November.
The letter below, issued this week, is an outcome of a series of meetings held by Braver Angels, a citizens’ organization committed to depolarizing America. The headline reads ‘We Stand Together for Democracy” and the letter reads:
We recognize that there are differences of opinion in Franklin County regarding the desirable outcome of the national election on November 5. As Franklin County citizens, we are Americans first. We all have the power to be heard by voting for the candidate of our choice.
We are confident that Vermont’s elections are competently administered by towns in Franklin County. To have a healthy democracy we need people to help out. We encourage you to be informed and involved. As Americans, it is our duty to protect our democracy and our constitutional republic by ensuring a peaceful and fair election and a peaceful transition of power regardless of who wins.
In our communities we strive to take care of each other and see the best in each other regardless of our political views. We invite you to believe in our best selves. Let’s build a stronger, healthier and more resilient community together!
The letters is signed by John Bouchard (Braver Angels- BA), Kaki Hutchinson, David Hutchinson, Dan Pipes (BA), Nancy Shaw, Tyrone Shaw, Bruce Fischer, Sen. Randy Brock, Pam McCarthy (BA), Janet Bailey, Leon Berthiaume, Andy Crossman (BA), Karyn Rocheleau, Annette Hannah, Nancy Volatile-Wood, Tom Hungerford, Rep. Mike McCarthy (BA), Eli Chevalier (BA), Rep. Carolyn Branagan, Joan Grundhauser, Jack McCarthy (BA), Carol Ann Ostrander, Tara Webster (BA), Heidi Crossman (BA), Jan Johnson, Kimberly A. Watkin, Tammy Flanders Hetrick (BA), , Shanna Ratner (BA), Albin Voegele (BA), Melissa Manson, Karin Berno, John Newton, Saint Albans Messenger, Craig Volatile-Wood, Michael Grundhauser, Sue Knightes, Melanie Steeneck, Zach Scheffler, Marie Brodeur Cohen, Rick Holcomb, Wendy J. Maquera, Rev. Preston Fuller, Rev. Michael Oldham, Rev. Jason McConnell, Rev. Tyler Smith, Rep. Tom Oliver, Rep. Lisa Hango, Rep. James Gregoire, Rep. Wayne Laroche, Rep. Allen Penny Demar, Rep. Casey Toof, Rep. Ashley Bartley, Rep. Lynn Dickinson, Sen. Robert W. Norris, Laura Bellstrom, MD, John Patrick Hartnett, Jennifer Bright, Pamela Lavee, Louanne Collins, and Leslie Britch.
Braver Angels (www.braverangels.org) is a citizen’s organization uniting red, blue, and purple Americans in a working alliance to depolarize America. The statewide Braver Angels organization, modeled after Abraham Lincoln’s “the better angels of our nature” reference in his first inaugural speech, has held several workshops around Vermont.
For more information on Braver Angels Franklin County please email braverangelsFC@gmail.org.