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By Michael Bielawski
The House primary races are already shaping up for this August in Vermont. The current legislature is polling at just 49% approval meaning there could be some changing seats this November election. The primaries are on Aug. 13 for Vermont.
The whole list of candidates for House and Senate so far as of May 21 can be seen here. Highlights include some newcomers to Statehouse politics, and some appear to be disgruntled citizens ready for tangible changes in public policy. There are also more candidates running for the majority party who are further advancing the green agenda and more social justice.
Caledonia-3 has two conservatives running
There will be two Republicans running for two seats in the Caledonia-3 district with John Simons of Sheffield and former Representative Martha Feltus from Lyndon will run again after last serving in 2022.
Simons wrote in a letter to the Caledonia Record about how the state is moving in the wrong direction.
“Many times over different discussions we heard ‘if it ain’t broke don’t fix it.’ I own 40 acres that look into every sunset and I thought I’d live out my days here but now? I think we broke it, we must use logic when we make our next decisions because we aren’t going to get many chances to do this right,” he wrote.
Feltus’ voting record is posted at the Ethan Allen Institute, she seems to support GOP efforts to protect the economy, Second Amendment rights, and other conservative causes.
Chittenden-22 liberal candidate pushing climate/social justice
Incumbent Democrat Lori Houghton of Essex Junction City is runningagain for the Chittenden-22 district seat, a two-member district. Houghton says she is serious about tackling systemic racism and promoting equity.
Her website states, “Now is the time to address the institutional and systematic racism that harms and traumatizes Black and Brown Vermonters, Indigenous, People of Color, as well as undermines the free, full expression of all of us. To dismantle systematic racism and centuries of oppression, we must work both individually to educate ourselves and collectively to transform institutions – every Vermonter has an important role in this.”
She is running with incumbent Rep. Karen Dolan, D-Essex Junction. Her website states, “Karen’s 20+ year career in Vermont’s non-profit sector, provides a broad understanding of services from food security expansion and work readiness programming to criminal justice reform and restorative conflict resolution.”
Bennington-4 District conservative candidate says “citizens losing trust”
Joe Gervais of East Arlington is running as a Republican for the Bennington-4 District, s a one-seat district. Gervais has a comprehensive campaign page up already. He says that change is urgent.
“The past few years have amplified the crisis our republic is facing,” he wrote. “With citizens losing trust in government, schools, healthcare and media. I took an oath to protect and defend the constitution and I bring a servant’s heart along with honesty, transparency and the leadership skills necessary to make Vermont and America great again.”
Caledonia-4 District incumbent GOP touts economic development
Rep. John Kascenska of Burke is running as a Republican for re-election in the Caledonia-4 district, which is for two seats.The former lawmaker is running for the seat now held by Republican Terri Williams, who is not seeking re-election. The career college educator’s website recalls his work during the 2022 session. “This included historic economic development legislation to address healthcare shortages, training experiences to create career changes and upskilling for workers, and the provision of forgivable loans for businesses to get them back on their feet,” the site states.
Chittenden 20 conservative candidate says no to carbon taxes
Doug Wood of Colchester is running as a Republican for the Chittenden 20 District. Wood had some unkind words for the Global Warming Solutions Act that requires mandates for carbon-free energy in heating, transportation, and electric production.
He wrote on his campaign website, “Today, 71 percent of Vermonters oppose any carbon tax/fee/surcharge on gasoline and diesel, 59 percent strongly oppose it. So, current lawmakers, why didn’t you listen to your constituents for a change?”
He also wrote, “Save the taxpayers several hundred thousand dollars and forget about paying extra to study a policy nobody wants, save several million dollars by scrapping the Vermont Climate Council that doesn’t do anything, and save us hundreds of millions by abandoning any thoughts of putting a carbon tax on our motor fuels that we can’t afford.”
Rutland-3 has a “Ronald Reagan” candidate
Chris Brown, who has five and a half years’ employment with the Vermont Agency of Transportation, will run as a Republican for the Rutland 3 district.
He writes on his webpage, “My strong Republican principles align closely with those of Ronald Reagan, emphasizing that less government leads to better governance, and that capitalism and free enterprise can lift everyone if given the opportunity to thrive. I firmly believe that reducing burdensome tax policies can stimulate economic activity and boost revenues.”
Lamoille-Washington has two Democrat incumbents coming back
Two familiar Democrats are running for two seats in the Lamoille-Washington district.
“David Yacovone, a Morristown Democrat, has decided to run for his old seat after sitting out one biennium. He will join incumbent Rep. Saudia LaMont, also a Democrat from Morristown, on the campaign trail,” the News & Citizen reports.
Washington-Orange has two returning GOP candidates
Rep. Gina Galfetti, R-Barre Town, and Rep. Francis “Topper” McFaun, R-Barre Town are each running for reelection in the Washington-Orange district which has two seats.
Windsor seat has GOP challenger
V.L. Coffin, a U.S. Army retiree and Bronze Star winner, will seek the Republican nomination for the Cavendish/Weathersfield House seat now held by Democrat John Arrison, who is not seeking another term.
The entire list of candidates for House and Senate who have submitted petitions to the Vermont Secretary of State thus far as of May 21 can be seen here. The fiiling deadline is May 30.
In order for a major party candidate to appear on the primary ballot, consent of candidate and financial forms must be filed by Thursday, May 30, 2024. Major party candidates may also be nominated by party committee in order to be placed on the General Election ballot in November, in the event their party does not nominate a candidate through the Primary. The statements of nomination, financial disclosure and consent of candidate forms must be filed by the designated political party committee no later than 5 p.m. on Monday, August 19 (six days after the Primary), the Secretary of State’s office says.
News of announced House candidates not listed above may be sent to news@Vermontdailychronicle.com.
The author is a writer for the Vermont Daily Chronicle
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Categories: Elections, State Government
The lunacy comes from the top down, from Biden emptying out the emergency fuel supply and signing our national sovereignty over to the WHO, all the way to the state legislators ignorance about the essential role of coal in manufacturing solar panels, and just about everything else. Can anything other than a revolution stop this insanity?
Never underestimate the power of stupidity which appears to be the driving factor in the majority of Vermont voters. You can’t fix, legislate or outrun stupid but, you can fix ignorance. It just takes longer for some people to realize that just feeling good about themselves doesn’t pay the mortgage, put food on the table, heat their homes or pay for their transportation or anything else.
At some point the voters who claim to not like conservatives or republicans will have to realize that neither of them has been in control of the VT government or her institutions for decades. Can anyone demonstrate what good the progressives have done to improve life in Vermont? Can anyone understand that just because their daddy was a lifelong democrat that they don’t have to be. Do they even know the racist history of the democratic party? I bet they don’t, the KKK, Jim Crow laws, segregation, etc.
I would suggest that most people aren’t stupid but, they are stubborn and probably uninformed as to how their lives and freedoms are being taken away from them by not knowing what their rep. or senator is doing to them in Montpelier. Do we see just what our colleges are turning out? Are they graduates or are they activists? It seems like the people who know the least do the most talking.
Maybe it hasn’t gotten bad enough for some people yet. Liberals don’t take kindly to being proven wrong. In fact, I’ve never heard a liberal admit they were wrong, have you? I know all about democrats because I was one long ago. I grew up in a democratic household, but those days are gone. Our nation and our state are in deep trouble, and we need to be honest now more than ever. I’m too old to wait until people get it. I will not be able to stay in my birth state due to the unaffordability. Our government is controlled by carpetbaggers and climate change grifters. 2/3rds of our legislature is not from Vermont. They came with an agenda, and they have ruined the state. It is time to TAKE BACK VERMONT!
Unfortunately it isn’t stupidity that drives support. It’s the natural result of decades of subversion of state and local government by both the Federal government and from within.
Vermonts workforce today is dominated by protected industries (government, non-profits, health care and associated insurance, education and police/EMT, social services).
Most of these are good people but their income depends on ever higher taxes. They will fight anyone who tries to reduce spending and they are conditioned to always see more need for their services.
the govie, house members, and senators all sold out the vermont people with their failure to warn the public about the covid kill shot/// they could care less about the damage that was caused from taking the vax or the destruction of the vermont economy and the publics safety/// if you elect these people again you deserve what you get//////// now, any questions///
I have not voted for Phil Scott since he lied to the gun owners in the state of Vermont and signed gun laws into our beautiful state that were totally unnecessary to appease the people standing behind him smirking at the gun owners as he signed the gun bill on the State House lawn to make a big show of him spitting on the hardworking tax paying law-abiding gun owners in the state of Vermont.
Phil Scott them went on to vote for the Biden crime family and started a petition along with Patti McCoy… It was to remove Trump from office early and it was signed by many rinos in the GOP that supposedly represent Vermonters.
He then forced the vax on people knowing full well the damage that was being done to them.
We need to clean out the golden dome and put real representation for Vermonters in our state capital.
We don’t need any liars or false promises from our candidates we just need them to do the right thing.
I think there was a mistake-vtrans would never hire a conservative
All with the grandiose assumption our selection process is fair and free of corruption. Don’t see it that way currently. What say you Sarah Copeland Hanzas and co-conspirators? Are the mail in ballots (pre-filled and photocopied) stacked and ready to go? The drop-boxes all set to be strategically placed and left unattended? The machines programmed to glitch while open to the interwebs? Are the voter lists updated to remove the dead people or the ones who moved away 10 years ago? Are the illegal aliens prepared and schooled on who to vote for? If the selection process actually takes place, the same way, with the same people, don’t expect any different as the snouts planted firmly in the trough have it all planned in advance.
Caledonia 3 has three (not two) running in the primary: Marty Feltus (a former Representative), Beth Quimby (the current Representative) and newcomer John Simon.
Karen Dolan and Lori Houghton are both lost in the BS Biden agenda. They have forgotten about the majority. The engine for funding all their stupid ideas; comes from the people they have decided don’t matter.