Campaign Phone
8022331913
As a current State Senator, former South Burlington City Councilor, UVM Business Senior Lecturer, and former Chair of Green Mountain Transit, I bring a proven track record of pragmatic, results-driven leadership.
My background uniquely equips me to bridge local municipal concerns with statewide policy. In the Senate, I use my business background to advocate for sensible economic growth, education system reform, tax relief, and sustainable infrastructure investments. As a father of three in public schools and husband to a public school teacher, I live the daily reality of Vermont families.
I offer the balanced perspective, financial literacy, and collaborative approach needed to tackle Vermont’s affordability and housing crisis.
To control property taxes while protecting educational quality, we must reform our delivery system—not strip communities of local control. I support rational district consolidation and shared administrative services to reduce overhead, scale resources, and offer broader curricula for students. We need clearer spending controls—like the excess spending threshold—to curb unsustainable spending increases while maintaining local voter priorities. Third, we must focus on student outcomes by strengthening Agency of Education oversight to enforce consistent statewide quality standards. By streamlining administration and prioritizing classroom resources, we can keep Vermont affordable while delivering the high-quality educ
To solve Vermont’s housing crisis while protecting our environment, we must embrace a pro-growth strategy for Vermont.
First, we need to modernize Act 250 by exempting housing projects in designated downtowns, village centers, and growth corridors that already have public water and sewer infrastructure. Streamlining state review in areas planned for growth prevents costly duplication with local zoning. Second, we should delegate state review to qualified municipalities that enforce equivalent standards.
We need to spur more multi-family and affordable housing development. We can't neglect to foster opportunities throughout Vermont to also grow and must empower our towns & villages to steer that growth.
Campaign Phone
8028814433
Candidate For Office
Senate, Chittenden Southeast
Three-term Senate incumbent, Senate Majority Leader, first woman of color to serve in the Vermont Senate.
An equitable, generous Foundation Formula; elevating Career Technical Education; and measuring success for the 21st century.
Have led on Vermont's landmark housing bills, such as the HOME Act and major Act 250 reform.
My work as a former member of Williston’s School Board, chair of the Selectboard for 10 years, regional planning commission member, and other community service informs my perspective on issues in my District. As a Senator I have served as Chair of Health and Welfare and Natural Resources and Energy Committees. I am a member of the Appropriations Committee and was elected by the full Senate to serve, along with the Senate Pro Tem and Lt Gov., on the Committee that appoints other Senators to their Committee work. As a Professor of Biology at Trinity College I promoted workforce development in nursing, pre med., education, social work and mental health counseling. I work collaboratively with others to build positive outcomes for Vermonters.
Collaboration by CESAs to find efficiencies between school districts is a first step to reduce costs and improve outcomes for kids. School district consolidation and regional tax assessments may result. The Gov. vetoed a bill with strong legislative votes. The bill reduced education health ins. premiums and lowered education property taxes across the state. Unfortunately $100 million was used in the budget to lower taxes. Now there is $100 million less for the coming budget year. A review of recommendations for a new equitable education funding formula is to be reported for the next legislature to consider. Creative educational pathways for kids to reach goals in CTE or traditional academic routes could attract more families to our state.
Review the growth center law to ensure that municipalities have up front environmental assessments to encourage affordable housing or other desired development including links to transportation and local services. Ensure that flood zone mapping is in place to discourage or replace development in harms way, Focus Act 250, ANR, and regional land use planning on common desired growth outcomes for affordable housing and others. This may reduce timelines for needed development. Continue to incentivize downtowns, villages, and growth centers with tax credits. Maximize benefits from CHIP, VEGI, VEDI. Fully fund VHCB to maintain a balance of conserved land, agriculture, and housing development. Add renewable energy for new development or upgrades.
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