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By Guy Page
The two challengers for the Chittenden North State Senate seat espressed different views on the siting and ongoing presence of the F-35 fighter squadron stationed at the Vermont Air National Guard (VTANG) base located adjacent to Leahy International Airport in South Burlington.
In the Town Meeting TV candidate forum aired September 21, a caller asked whether either candidate had signed a petition opposing the F-35 squadron siting. In 2016, the United States Air Force selected the 158th Fighter Wing to receive the first F-35A’s in the Air National Guard after an extensive review. The initial two F-35A’s arrived in Vermont in the fall of 2019 and the 158th FW reached their full inventory of 20 fighter jets a year later, the VTANG said.
Former Sen. Irene Wrenner, a Democrat, said she ‘probably did sign’ a petition opposing the siting of the fighters when the controversy arose. She cited the noise and the threat of a crash in densely populated Chittenden County. Most fighter squadrons are located in remote areas, in part due to safety concerns, nevertheless then-Sen. Patrick Leahy influenced the federal government to site the fighters in their current location.
“I absolutely support our men and women in uniform, including the Air National Guard,” Wrenner said. “I believe I probably did sign a petition years ago when this was an issue in Vermont. Since the F-35s have come here, we have seen the damage this is doing for people under the flight path, we have discovered [sen. Patrick Leahy’s involvement] such that these plans are taking off over densely populations of people, and that is unheard of.”
Rep. Ashley Bartley (R-Fairfax) said she supports the siting of the squadron: “I fundamentally support the mission of the Air National Guard and find it abhorrent that there would be a petition.”
The two candidates are seeking election to a district representing the Chittenden County towns of Essex, Milton and Westford, and the Franklin County town of Fairfax. The seat is currently held by Republican Chris Mattos, who defeated then-Sen. Wrenner in 2024. Mattos is not seeking re-election.
The entire exchange can be heard on Facebook on a post published by Milton Republicans.
If you think the F-35’s are bad, if you win in stopping them, wait until you see how bad our adversaries weapon systems are, over populated areas, if you had your way.
These women are completely clueless.
They do not think and reason… they emote and whine, and our adversaries count on that.
Don’t let them anywhere near elected office in todays world.
They are as big a national security threat… as our adversaries.
If you don’t like the noise near an airport, I would suggest you not buy or build a house near one. DHH