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Vermont State House District Bennington-5 {_getChooseLabel(this.selections.length)}

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    Thomas "Tom" Blakely
    (Dem)

  • Candidate picture

    Mary A. Morrissey
    (Rep)

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    Michael Nigro
    (Dem)

Biographical Information

What experiences and skills uniquely qualify you for this position?

What reforms would you propose to control education costs while protecting public school quality?

How would you propose updating land-use rules and state zoning laws to spur affordable housing development while preserving Vermont’s landscapes and environment?

Campaign Phone 802-733-4240
Campaign Website http://www.tomblakely.com
Candidate For Office Vermont State House Bennington-5 District
I've had a long career as a consultant and educator, a business owner and IT professional, with a history of success solving difficult problems. My research background enables me to evaluate information and synthesize unique and effective solutions. For the past three years I have served on the Town of Bennington Historic Preservation Commission and served on the board of a Community Solar Power project.
15% of our education budget pays for health care and health insurance for teachers and staff, and it is expected to increase to 20% by the end of the decade. We need universal, single payer health care in Vermont to reduce that part of the education budger -- and to help with overall cost of living in Vermont. Additionally, I believe there are economies of scale to be acheived in purchasing equipment, supplies and services for school if those efforts can be consolidated statewide or regionally. But I believe that local communities should be free to determine the best path for their schools, and forced consolidation should be avoided.
ACT 181 got it half right: we need to ease the regulatory requirements for further development in built up areas of cities, towns and villages in Vermont. But rural landowners should have more flexibility to add, for example, structures to their farms for family housing or agricultural business diversification. We still need to preserve wild lands, particularly for high altitude forests, headwaters and migration routes. But again, the State should work with local governments and landowners rather that dictating from afar, including locals in the process.
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