by Guy Page
Following the enthusiastic and well-attended Celebrate Freedom & America event this weekend, many Vermonters are asking: okay, now what can we do to make freedom happen?
Activists of all political persuasions point to the need to win elections. It isn’t the only way to create change, but it’s one effective way. The Vermont GOP isn’t the only vehicle for positive change in Vermont, but many Vermonters consider it a worthwhile platform from which to lead positive change.
This month, beginning tonight, 75 town GOP caucuses across Vermont will reorganize. Later, every county committee will do likewise. It’s an opportunity for Vermonters to become involved and direct it according to their vision.
For a complete list of times, dates, locations and contact info, see the caucus page on the VT GOP website.
Town committees help shape the state policy platform, elect state and county leaders, and find and select candidates for the Legislature. All Republicans who live in the town are welcome to attend, participate, and seek election to leadership.
Tonight the Essex Republicans will meet for dinner at 5:30 pm at Cody’s Pub and caucus at 6:30.
Typical of the ‘vibe’ of many town committee meetings is the Pawlet Republican Caucus, to be held on Thursday, September 16, at 7 PM at the West Pawlet Fire House Meeting Room. “There is an aggressive push for a complete government takeover of everything and everybody. We need to be aware and help Republicans get elected. Critical action is needed to curb changes that are being implemented by the Democrat/Progressive Parties,” Town chair Dolores Luebke wrote to local Republicans.
“We hope you will join the caucus and bring your ideas and views. Legislative changes are being made to towns, schools, and our environment limiting individual rights and freedoms. Some have already impacted the lives of individual Vermonters, their families, property, and businesses; more have only been “proposed” and are ready for the next legislative session. We need a strong Republican voice to prevent this,” she said.
“Especially troubling is the planned redistricting for the Vermont House of Representatives. Some of you are too young to remember when the Vermont House was made up of “Town” Representatives. Each town had a rep who knew the needs of the town’s government, town’s people and spoke for them. Personally, the state house was fairer and less partisan.”
Rep. Sally Achey will explain what legislative redistricting might mean for Pawlet and the other towns in their district. Every 10 years the Legislature redraws voting districts according to new census information. Many Republicans fear the Dem-Progressive controlled legislature will ‘gerrymander’ the districts to help their own candidates.