By Michael Bielawski

Three Republican candidates are vying for two seats for the Caledonia-3 district. The only incumbent was appointed and has never been elected. Another previously held the office until 2022.

Beth Quimby

Beth Quimby of Lyndon was appointed to her seat by Gov. Phil Scott when the term of Rep. Charles Wilson, R-Lyndon, ended short due to health-related reasons. Her mother, Connie Quimby, is a former Republican House member from the Northeast Kingdom. 

Quimby’s background includes being a middle school math teacher at Barton Graded School for more than three decades and she worked with the Agency of Education on their proficiency-based financial literacy standards. Proficiency-based learning is a movement away from traditional ranking letter grades in education towards “flexible and personalized pathways for progressing through grade levels,” according to the state.

She received a B.S. in Mathematics – cum laude – while studying at the University of Vermont. She eventually obtained her Master’s Degree.

When VDC ran a story on her appointment, the commenters – some not thrilled with her status as a Scott appointee – debated whether she could be trusted to uphold conservative values. One commenter, ‘Mothergoose’ wrote, “Give the girl a chance…..she’s from the Northeast Kingdom… not the Burlington area.”

Another commenter, Frank Bammo, was unconvinced, at least not yet. He wrote, “Never would I expect [Phil Scott] to appoint a conservative, however Ms. Quimby may take her oath seriously and surprise us- after all she is not from any of the seven corrupted counties in Vermont.”

Martha Feltus

Martha “Marty” Feltus of Lyndon served in the Vermont House of Representatives, first elected in 2012, she served until 2022. From 1980 to 1997 her experiences spanned the Lyndonville Planning Commission, Zoning Board of Appeals, and village trustees. She was also on their Select Board from 1997 to 2018.

Her previous bio for the Legislature states notes more work experience. It states, “Martha retired from Weidmann Electrical Technology after 27 years of working in management positions in international sales, customer management and strategic improvement initiatives.”

In response to a VTDigger questionnaire, Feltus she wrote that rural Vermonters need better representation. She wrote, “Rural interests and those that prefer a smaller government footprint are not often heard. In recent years the Legislature has spent millions of dollars on issues that do not address core problems. Recent tax increases are making it much more difficult for average families to manage with no corresponding benefit.”

Legislative dealing with climate requires more consideration for the economy. She wrote, “We need to concentrate changes on what practices are reasonable for our demographics and weather patterns. Transition needs to be planned at a pace that the population can absorb without disrupting our economy.”

John Simons

John Simons of Sheffield posted his campaign announcement with the Caledonia Record in June. It states, “As a 37-year resident of Sheffield, I have observed what I perceive as a ‘go along/get along’ attitude practiced by our representatives that has under-performed in bringing the NEK (actually all of rural Vermont) a thriving economy and a lifestyle beyond mere survival.”

He wrote about education, suggesting that in some scenarios remote learning should still be embraced. He wrote, “Remote learning, started during the Covid epidemic, should be expanded and improve the situation. I wonder what an atmosphere without physical education including sports teams would do for those who suffer bullying?”

Simons would also like to see Vermont’s zoning law Act 250 retooled to become more developer-friendly. He wrote, “Development, stifled by the Legislature’s unwarranted march for land conservation and Act 250’s limits on developers and its bent to force housing into town centers are ill-advised and fraught with unintended consequences. What other state works actively to impede growth and expansion?”

What comes next?

The two Democrat candidates are Dennis LaBounty and Eileen Boland from Lyndon and Wheelock respectively. They will face off with the two Republican winners from this primary.

The author is a writer for the Vermont Daily Chronicle