Barre, Lamoille county men are write-in candidates for the August 13 primary

By Guy Page

Popular ‘Behind the Lines’ columnist Rob Roper may end up on the front lines of Vermont government policy and legislation: a seat in the Vermont Senate.

Roper and Michael Deering of Barre reportedly will be ‘write-ins’ in the Republican primary on August 13. Roper, a Stowe resident and author of the Behind the Lines Substack column, would be making his first run for the Legislature. He’s been an activist for free market causes and organizations and media commentator for decades.

Deering is a Barre City Councilor. Although not actively soliciting signatures, Deering will consider a draft by the county GOP committee if he receives enough signatures, committee sources say.

Together, Roper, a Stowe resident and Deering would join Donald Koch of Barre as the Republican slate for the three-seat Washington County/Stowe senate district. 

Also, Michael Boutin of Barre has announced he is a write-in candidate for a Barre City House seat, both of which are now held by two Democrats. “I am running a write-in campaign for Barre City as the Republican State Representative. I have the endorsement of the Barre City Republicans,” he told VDC yesterday.

A successful write-in campaign entitles a candidate to a position on the November general election ballot. 

Also, two Lamoille County men are asking Republicans to write in their names for the Lamoille-Washington District for the Vermont House of Representatives. The two-seat district is now held by Democrats: incumbent Saudia Lamont and Avram Patt, who is retiring. Former Democrat lawmaker Dave Yacavone is running for election. 

Vermonters are getting their tax bills and are more than ready to “throw the bums out!” in November,” one of the write-in candidates, Charlie Burnham of Morrisville, told VDC yesterday. “But to do that, we need to put two Republican candidates on the ballot in the August 13 primary election. We need your help to get them on the November general election ballot.”

Nick Lopez is in the construction/fabricating business and Burnham is a long time local land planner, zoning professional and a Morristown Lister.  Both have had children that were products of Lamoille schools. 

Burnham said neither his nor Lopez’ names will appear on the primary ballot. Where the ballot says “For State Representative (Write-in)”, voters wishing to write in their names should darken each oval and hand write the names Nick Lopez and Charlie Burnham next to each. 

Write-ins of all parties are encouraged to notify VDC of their write-in status for the August 13 primary.