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Candidate who knocked off powerful Senate chair was raised on Bristol farm, disposed of bombs in Afghanistan
by Guy Page
Out of the wild blue yonder, a Bristol-raised farm kid who served as an Air National Guard bomb disposal tech in Afghanistan finished second in the two-seat Addison Senate race, accomplishing what many pundits thought just couldn’t be done: put powerful, incumbent chair like Chris Bray into the electoral hurt locker.
Who is Steve Heffernan, and why did he run for office?
According to his campaign website, he was moved to run because of “issues like the rising education tax, Clean Heat Standard (aka S.5), Act 250 and other legislative challenges that are being forced upon our small, yet mighty state of Vermont.”
The following is an excerpt from his campaign statement:
“I was born in Burlington and raised by two remarkable parents on our family farm in Bristol. They bestowed upon me the importance of working hard, having integrity, and respecting my neighbors. I am blessed to say I married my high school sweetheart, Erin, who gave me three beautiful children. I now have the pleasure of spoiling my five (to-date) grandchildren.
“I actualized my dream of serving our state and country when I joined the Vermont Air National Guard, a short 30 years ago. During my tenure as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Tech (EOD), I have traveled across the world and served two tours in Afghanistan. Overlapping with my military service, I have owned/own local community businesses including 802 Excavating, GHR Metal Recycling and Heffernan Inspection and Repair.
“As a Vermont taxpayer, like you, I am concerned about the misdirection our General Assembly is leading us. From the many phone calls, petitions, editorials, and face-to-face conversations with Addison County’s legislators, our voices more often fall on deaf ears. Their responses to our concerns convey an, “I know better, you don’t,” attitude.
“As your Senator, I will listen to you using common sense, facts, and truth to protect our fiscal well being, the health and wellness of our people, and our environment. As a born and raised Vermonter, my ambitions are to make Vermont a more affordable state so that we and our children may live and raise families for generations to come.”
VDC will profile other relatively unknown winners of House and Senate elections in upcoming issues.
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Categories: Elections
Steve mentioned often that his running mate Landel Cochran was the better candidate, which shows Steve’s generous and humble nature. Landel is from Huntington, which was added to the Addison Senate district in the last biennium, and had no name recognition going into the race. His messaging and performance in the Bristol forum drew praise from Democrats and Republicans alike. I hope he hangs in to his yard signs. Steve will be a great Senator but he will need a good running mate to get re-elected.
Mr. Heffernan’s VDC October 4 commentary provides a logical next step when the CHS collapses with its multi-billion dollar credit costs and huge administrative costs. 70% of Vermonters will pay that credit cost on every gallon purchased until 2050; whether or not their home can be weatherized and a heat pump installed. Estimates have about 30% of Vermont’s dwellings cannot be weatherized because of structural deficiencies or vermiculite panels in the attic. They will pay the higher costs regardless for the next 25 years.
His intent to expand the State’s Weatherization Assistance Program is brilliant: use and expand what already works.
WAP weatherized 1,200 homes last year and projects another 1,500 this year. All those homes are receiving Low Income Heat Energy Assistance and owners are required to allow their homes retrofitted. And, he would allow WAP to expand into the low and median income homes providing the same free-of-cost retrofit provided to LIHEAP clients.
WAP could and should double the projected homes but workforce shortages now make that unlikely. However, Mr. Heffernan’s bill would increase their salaries to $30 over several years. That will attract new employees.
They provide a human benefit to energy burdened families. His “Healthy Homes Act” is the only recourse the legislature has to replace CHS when it is defeated by the Governor’s next veto.
The veto will not stop the Conservation Law Foundation from continuing to sue Vermont for not complying with the Global Warming Solutions Act. It must be repealed or modified as a “goal–not a mandate”.
Don’t let the senate door hit you on the way out, Mr. Bray. Sweet!
Oh my gosh! Good Riddance to Chris Bray – the worst of the worst! There are many other horribles like Phil Baruth – another worst of the worst – so glad Chris is out!
Congratulations! And THANK YOU STEVE. Don’t know this man but he sounds like a really great person. I’m sure he’d rather be doing anything else besides going to the state house next year. However, Steve is willing to take his turn and do what he can for Vermont. So thankful for Steve and his win. I pray that more Vermonters like Steve will step up to be a public servant in Montpelier.