By Guy Page

Republican leaders from across Vermont will gather in Ludlow next week for a public legislative forum, giving residents the opportunity to ask questions and hear about the party’s priorities in Montpelier. The event will take place Thursday, Sept. 4, at 6 p.m. in the Ludlow Town Hall Auditorium, 37 Depot Street.

The forum follows the Republican Party’s significant gains in the 2024 elections, when voters sent 25 additional Republicans to the Statehouse. GOP leaders credit those gains with helping them hold the line on property taxes, block the Clean Heat Standard from taking effect, and push back against what they describe as overspending and overregulation in Montpelier.

Lt. Gov. John Rodgers will headline the panel, joined by Senate Minority Leader Scott Beck, House Minority Leader Pattie McCoy, Sen. Brian Collamore, Sen. Terry Williams, Rep. Jim Harrison, and Vermont GOP Chairman Paul Dame. Several local legislators — Reps. Kevin Winter, V.L. Coffin, and Tom Charlton — will also take part.

Organizers say the forum is an opportunity for Vermonters to hear directly from party leaders about how Republicans plan to address affordability and other challenges facing families across the state.

The event is sponsored by the Ludlow and Chester Republican committees. For more information, contact ludlowrepublicans@proton.me or chester.vtgop@gmail.com.

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Two other off-session, non-partisan public information legislator events will be held this month, both sponsored by Americans for Prosperity.

Legislators at the Lake will gather at the Lake Bomoseen Lodge 6-8 PM Tuesday, September 16 at the Lake Bomoseen Lodge at 2551 Rte. 30N in Bomoseen. Speakers will include Rep. Zachary Harvey (R-Castleton), Rep. Jim Casey (R-Addison/Rutland) and Sen. Terry Williams (R-Rutland). 

Attendance is free and free refreshments will be provided, registration is required, see link Facebook ad or contact Rachel Burgin at rburgin@afphq.org or call her at 703-244-9315.

Reps. Michael Boutin, Josh Dobrovich, Mike Tagliavia, and Topper McFaun will hold an AFP-sponsored legislative listening session, also sponsored by AFP, at 6-8 pm at the Barre Elks Lodge Thursday, September 18.

And finally, yours truly will be one of the speakers (including elected officials) at a Waterville Town GOP event the afternoon of Saturday, September 6. Looking forward to returning to my ‘second home’ in Lamoille County, where my family has had a summer home for generations and where I lived while working for the News & Citizen in the 1980’s.