By Stephen Seitz
posted
Oct 31, 2012
The Mountain Times sent a brief questionnaire to the candidates,
but Hurricane Sandy pushed deadlines to the limit; the full answers
of those who responded will be included online. Below is the
information available as of press time.
Senate
Rutland County state senators Bill Carris (D) of Rutland, Peg Flory
(R) of Pittsford, and Rutland resident Kevin J. Mullin (R) are
running unopposed.
In Windsor County, Senate president pro tem John Campbell, (D),
of Quechee, and incumbents Dick McCormack and Alice Nitka (both
Democrats from Bethel and Ludlow, respectively) face opposition
from Republicans Paul E. Gibbs of Springfield, Dick Tracy of
Sharon, and Jeff Whittemore of Perkinsville.
Gibbs has run for the House twice, once in 2008 and again in
2010. He is a native Vermonter, and considers himself conservative.
In his past campaigns, he has said he wants to restore Vermont's
original values.
Tracy, according to his campaign's Facebook page, is running
because he dislikes the course current leadership: "I am concerned
about the future of Vermont and the future we are leaving our
children and grandchildren… If elected, I hope to bring more
balance to the state Senate."
No information is available about the Whittemore
campaign.
Campbell made news recently when he heard about the plight of
Karen Sheehan, a nurse who lives in New Hampshire. Her brother,
Kevin Sheehan of Milton, Vt. died in Iraq in 2004, and she asked
the state of New Hampshire for a Gold Star license plate to honor
his memory. She was refused; the state told her Gold Star plates
were reserved only for mothers.
Campbell arranged for a Vermont Gold Star plate bearing to be
awarded to Sheehan. MacCormack has served since 1988. According to
his legislative biography, he became a resident of Bethel in 1970
and he received a degree from the Vermont Law School, Master's
Degree (cum laude - 2002). He has served on a number of boards and
on the District III Environmental Commission.
Nitka's legislative biography states, "She is employed by Eckerd
Youth Alternatives, Inc., an agency providing services to children.
She was formerly employed as a social worker for more than thirty
years specializing in adoptions. Calvin Coolidge Memorial
Foundation, Board of Trustees; Ludlow Board of Civil Authority;
Senate Chair, Vermont Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus; Vermont
Foster and Adoptive Families Association; Black River Valley Rod
and Gun Club and serves as a Justice of the Peace."
Rutland 2 (2 reps): Clarendon, Proctor, Wallingford,
West Rutland, part of Tinmouth
Republican incumbent Tom Burditt, of West Rutland and incumbent
Democrat Dave Potter of Clarendon are joined in the race by
Wallingford residents Glenn Eno (R) and Dave Potter (D).
According to Burditt's Facebook page, "The issue I have heard
most from concerned Vermonters is health care. When I am asked if I
support or oppose 'Shumlin Care' I answer with these questions: Who
is going to pay for it? How much is going to cost? Who is covered?
What are the coverages? Are services going to be rationed? What is
covered? With these important questions unanswered it is a program
I cannot support at this time."
There is little on the Eno campaign page except two stories
concerning wind power.
According to Fredette's Facebook page, he has a long record of
public service and says he understands Vermont values. He is
president of the Vermont School Boards Association.
Potter is an Air Force veteran, teacher, and tree farmer. He is
running for his second term.
Rutland 3 (2 reps): Castleton, Fair Haven, Hubbardton
and West Haven
Republican incumbents Bill Canfield and Bob Helmof Fair Haven are
unopposed.
Rutland 4 (1 rep): Rutland Town
Incumbent Jim McNeil's district was eliminated in redistricting.
Thomas P. Terenzini is running unopposed.
Rutland 5-1 (1 rep): Rutland City
Incumbent Republican Peter J. Fagan is running unopposed.
Rutland 5-2 (1 rep): Rutland City
Incumbent Democrat Peg Andrews will face Republican challenger
Larry "Cooper" Cupoli.
Rutland 5-3 (1 rep): Rutland City
Incumbent Democrat Herb Russell did answer the MT questionnaire. As
his chief accomplishment last year, he listed sponsoring and
passing copper theft legislation, which he said, "strengthens tools
for police in the war on cash for drugs."
For the next session he said his priority is getting the Western
Rail Corridor funded and built, and an Amtrak run from Rutland to
Burlington. Russell also supports "affordable health care access
and our carefully constructed and well thought out legislation thus
far. I will make final decision once I see final cost
analysis."
On energy, Russell said he supports wind projects that don't
dominate the "scenic panoramas," and his belief that such renewable
resources as solar and geothermal power "could be vital to
Rutland's economic future."
Russell's challenger, John E. Mattison, says on his campaign
page on Facebook that he wants to fix roads and bring business to
Rutland. It states in part:
"By making Rutland a business friendly city, while concentrating
on fixing roads, bridges, sidewalks, and water/sewer lines, our
city would have a better chance of attracting new and bigger
businesses. These businesses would employ more people, who could
fill our vacant housing, thus creating a bigger and broader tax
base, leading to a decrease in taxes. A decrease in taxes would
make it more affordable to live within the city limits, both for
the home owner and the renter alike. Businesses would also see a
decrease in taxes, lowering their overhead cost thus creating the
opportunity for them to hire more employees."
Rutland 5-4 (1 rep): Rutland City
Democratic incumbent Gale Courcelle is not running. Sherri
Durgin-Campbell is running as a Democrat, and is being challenged
by Douglas Gage.
According to her website, Durgin-Campbell favors bail reform and
has served as a volunteer mediator in Rutland's small claims
court.
Gage is a member of the Rutland City school board, according to
his campaign Facebook pagewhich states: "We raised our family in
the same home that we live in today and have set down deep roots in
this community. I can relate to the struggles of working families
in Rutland Ward 5-4 and will advocate for what I believe will make
us a stronger community."
Rutland 6 (2 reps): Brandon, Pittsford and
Sudbury
There are three candidates for two seats in Rutland-6. Incumbent
Butch Shaw, running as both a Republican and Democrat from Florence
is racing against Democrat Stephen Carr and Republican Seth
Hopkins, both Brandon residents.
Carrr's campaign page has little about his campaign, and lists
this biographical information: "Fourth Generation Vermonter,
long time Brandon resident, business owner, husband, father, and
grandfather."
On Hopkins' campaign page he says, "there are questions about
where Vermont is going. Are we on a sustainable path with public
finances? Are we building a state where our children can reasonably
choose to live and earn a living? Are we honoring the enduring
values that make our corner of Vermont the place we want to call
home?
Shaw was appointed to the seat by Gov. Jim Douglas in 2010,
after Peg Flory moved to the state Senate.
Rutland-Windsor 1 (1 rep): Bridgewater, Chittenden,
Killington and Mendon
Both Republican incumbent Jim Eckhardt and Democratic challenger
answered the MT questionnaire. Both are Chittenden residents.
As his chief legislative accomplishments in the last session,
Eckhardt said that he saved about 100 jobs in Poultney by modifying
a mercury regulation bill that would otherwise have closed a
specialty light bulb plant. When the state closed a reservoir in
Chittenden, Eckhardt, working with other legislators on both sides
of the aisle as well as ANR made it possible for those affected to
get no-interest loans to drill their own wells.
"Both of these solutions required bipartisan support and I am
proud of my ability to cross the isle to gets things done for my
district," he wrote.
Eckhardt wrote that job growth should be the top priority of the
next legislative session.
"We need to attract business to Vermont," he wrote." When people
work they are less likely to commit crimes or get involved with
drugs. They do not need to rely on social services thus reducing
our tax burdens. We need to be proactive in attracting business
into Vermont. I don't know about you but I am getting sick of
hearing this same line over and over again. Vermonters need to
demand that we concentrate on this issue and stop raising so much
uncertainty for very businesses we wish to grow or move to
Vermont."
On health care, he wrote, "I am in favor of the Health Care
Exchanges but I am against (at this time) Single Payer Health Care.
I say "at this time" because I see single payer as an idea not a
fact driven bill. Once we answer the questions with facts I could
change my direction."
Eckhardt added that he does not favor wind energy.
"I am very concerned about our energy rates and the ideology
that is being used to push this forward," he wrote. The subsidies
we have promised are raising our electric rates to among the very
highest in the country. We say we want to reduce our dependence on
foreign oil as well clean up our air. Industrial wind does
neither."
Eckahrdt added that he researched solar panels for his home and
did not find them particularly helpful, but might consider heat
pumps. He intends to keep constituent service and communication as
a top priority for his district.
Gallivan said she would bring "positive energy" to the state
House.
"I enjoy looking at the big picture issues and working constituents
on solutions that work for our communities," she wrote. "I am a
listener and a researcher, and I will be dedicated to participating
fully in the legislative session."
Gallivan said she believes health care should be the
Legislature's chief concern.
"Health care reform is paramount," she
wrote. "As of 2010, Vermont health care costs had grown from
about 10 percent to 20 percent in eighteen years. In the same
period, education spending grew from just over 5 percent to about 6
percent. And health costs continue to spiral. By moving toward
single payer, the costs of health care delivery will cut out
high-profit administrative costs, and lead to improvement in health
care. Cost for individuals will shift, and its aim is to
provide a better balance for all."
Gallivan added, "Green Mountain Care is moving us in the right
direction."
Like Eckhardt, Gallivan is against wind power.
"Wind energy
sounds like a great concept, she wrote, "but as an attendee at
local meetings for the Grandpa's Knob proposal, I became aware of
the large scale consequences of ridge line proposals.
Destruction of landscape and habitat, negative health effects for
close neighbors, and aesthetic changes to the panoramas (precious
assets to Vermont) are all reasons to retreat from such
sites."
Gallivan said she would favor more solar development.
"Solar
energy is a great way to diversify our sources of energy," she
wrote. "New companies which lease or sell systems that
guarantee lower costs with low environmental impact offer new
options for homeowners and businesses. Though we have fewer days of
sunshine than many other parts of the country, this supplemental
energy will reduce our reliance on nuclear plants and coal.
Geothermal seems like an exceptional opportunity for new home
construction."
Gallivan said she wants to see the schools strengthened.
"The
top priority should be to work toward preserving our strong school
programs to ensure that they survive current low enrollments" she
wrote. "They should fill to capacity once again, contributing to
vibrant communities. Education is an investment that strengthens
the economy. Current costs statewide are under control, but
funding sources should be rebalanced. If this is done, Vermont can
reduce reliance on property taxes."
More information can be found on her Web site,
www.gallivan-for-rep.com
Rutland-Windsor 2 (1 rep) Ludlow, Mount Holly and
Shrewsbury
Redistricting has put two incumbents against one another in the
same district. Republican Dennis Devereux of Belmont and
Cutingsville Democrat Eldred French. Devereux is running for his
fourth term, while French is running for his third.
