NRA endorses House candidates – but there’s more to the story

Many pro-Second Amendment candidates not given endorsement, usually due to apparent lack of information

by Guy Page

October 21, 2020 – The following candidates for the Vermont House of Representatives have received the endorsement of the National Rifle Association. As with the state senator endorsements published Monday, most but not all of the endorsements went to Republicans. For example, Democrats Dan Noyes of Wolcott and Dave Potter of Clarendon received endorsements.

NOTE: many outspoken pro-Second Amendment candidates are not explicitly endorsed by the NRA. Most of these have a “?” next to their names – denoting neither endorsement or disapproval, merely lack of information. One such would-be lawmaker is Essex Junction House candidate Maryse Dunbar:

“I actually filled out the NRA’s survey way back in the beginning,” Dunbar emailed to Vermont Daily. “I fully support the organization. I believe that it’s everyone right to defend and protect themselves. It’s not the gun that’s the problem, it’s the mental health of the individual using it. For the record, I also don’t believe in defunding the police.”

Senate candidate Mike Hall (R-Bennington) told Vermont Daily that despite not receiving an NRA endorsement, he’s strongly pro-gun rights. “I am not sure as to where the NRA got their information on my position on firearms but they are wrong,” he told Vermont Daily Monday. “I have never supported and gun control measures and in fact have always defended the right to possess and own guns. Our Constitution is clear on the intentions of our found fathers. As a police Chief and officer for nearly 40 years and as the Executive Director of the Vermont Police Coalition I can assure you I am pro-gun.”

Also, among statewide candidates the only candidate to receive an NRA endorsement was Miriam Berry of Essex Junction, the GOP nominee for Vermont House.

So it’s safe to say that while all NRA endorsees are pro-gun rights candidates, not all gun rights candidates are NRA endorsees. Vermonters who have any doubts after reviewing the full information online should contact their legislative candidates, most of whom have contact information available online. As with Dunbar and Hall, Vermont Daily will gladly publish candidate positions on the Second Amendment as received.

The candidates below received NRA endorsements.

Name On Ballot	District Name	Town	Party
THOMAS A. HUGHES	ADD-1	MIDDLEBURY	REPUBLICAN
STEVE THURSTON	ADD-3	FERRISBURGH	REPUBLICAN
LYNN DIKE	ADD-4	BRISTOL	REPUBLICAN
HARVEY T. SMITH	ADD-5	NEW HAVEN	REPUBLICAN
TERRY NORRIS	ADD-RUT	SHOREHAM	INDEPENDENT
MARY A. MORRISSEY	BEN-2-2	BENNINGTON	REPUBLICAN
MARCIA ROBINSON MARTEL	CAL-1	WATERFORD	REPUBLICAN
SCOTT BECK	CAL-3	SAINT JOHNSBURY	REPUBLICAN
MARTHA “MARTY” FELTUS	CAL-4	LYNDON	REPUBLICAN
PATRICK SEYMOUR	CAL-4	SUTTON	REPUBLICAN
THOMAS M. NELSON	CHI-8-1	ESSEX	REPUBLICAN
ROBERT L. BANCROFT	CHI-8-3	WESTFORD	REPUBLICAN
DOUG WOOD	CHI-9-1	COLCHESTER	REPUBLICAN
PATRICK BRENNAN	CHI-9-2	COLCHESTER	REPUBLICAN
JON LYNCH	CHI-9-2	COLCHESTER	REPUBLICAN
CHRIS MATTOS	CHI-10	MILTON	REPUBLICAN
JOHN PALASIK	CHI-10	MILTON	REPUBLICAN
CARL ROSENQUIST	FRA-1	GEORGIA	REPUBLICAN
CASEY TOOF	FRA-3-1	SAINT ALBANS TOWN	REPUBLICAN
EILEEN “LYNN” DICKINSON	FRA-3-2	SAINT ALBANS TOWN	REP/DEM
BRIAN K. SAVAGE	FRA-4	SWANTON	REP/DEM
JAMES GREGOIRE	FRA-6	FAIRFIELD	REP/DEM
LELAND J. MORGAN	GI-CHI	MILTON	REPUBLICAN
MICHAEL R. MORGAN	GI-CHI	MILTON	REPUBLICAN
DANIEL NOYES	LAM-2	WOLCOTT	DEMOCRATIC
SHANNARA JOHNSON	LAM-WAS	MORRISTOWN	REPUBLICAN
RODNEY GRAHAM	ORA-1	WILLIAMSTOWN	REPUBLICAN
ZACHARY MICHAEL LANG	ORA-2	BRADFORD	REPUBLICAN
LYNN D. BATCHELOR	ORL-1	DERBY	REPUBLICAN
BRIAN SMITH	ORL-1	DERBY	REP/DEM
MICHAEL J. MARCOTTE	ORL-2	COVENTRY	REP/DEM
WOODMAN “WOODY” H. PAGE	ORL-2	NEWPORT CITY	REP/DEM
VICKI STRONG	ORL-CAL	ALBANY	REPUBLICAN
JEANNINE A. YOUNG	ORL-CAL	CRAFTSBURY	REPUBLICAN
MARK A. HIGLEY	ORL-LAM	LOWELL	REP/DEM
PATRICIA A. MCCOY	RUT-1	POULTNEY	REPUBLICAN
TOM BURDITT	RUT-2	WEST RUTLAND	REPUBLICAN
DAVE POTTER	RUT-2	CLARENDON	DEMOCRATIC
WILLIAM “BILL” CANFIELD	RUT-3	FAIR HAVEN	REPUBLICAN
ROBERT “BOB” HELM	RUT-3	FAIR HAVEN	REPUBLICAN
THOMAS TERENZINI	RUT-4	RUTLAND TOWN	REPUBLICAN
LARRY “COOPER” CUPOLI	RUT-5-2	RUTLAND CITY	REPUBLICAN
CHARLES “BUTCH” SHAW	RUT-6	PITTSFORD	REP/DEM
DAVID SOULIA	RUT-6	PITTSFORD	REPUBLICAN
JIM HARRISON	RUT-WDR-1	CHITTENDEN	REP/DEM
SALLY ACHEY	RUT-BEN	MIDDLETOWN SPRINGS	REPUBLICAN
ANNE B. DONAHUE	WAS-1	NORTHFIELD	REPUBLICAN
KENNETH W. GOSLANT	WAS-1	NORTHFIELD	REPUBLICAN
ROB LACLAIR	WAS-2	BARRE TOWN	REP/DEM
FRANCIS “TOPPER” MCFAUN	WAS-2	BARRE TOWN	REP/DEM
JOHN STEINMAN	WAS-3	BARRE CITY	REPUBLICAN
JACOB HOLMES	WDR-1	HARTLAND	REPUBLICAN
WESLEY RANEY	WDR-1	HARTLAND	REPUBLICAN
MARK DONKA	WDR-4-1	HARTFORD	REPUBLICAN
WAYNE D. TOWNSEND	WDR-RUT	BETHEL	REPUBLICAN

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