VOTE411 Voter Guide

I have held this position for the last 4 years. My background as a paralegal, community board member and Justice of the Peace have given me valuable experience in public service, problem-solving and understanding; skills I use as an Assistant Judge on a regular basis. I am also certified to hear uncontested divorce cases and Judicial Bureau matters, allowing me to contribute effectively to the work of the Judiciary.

The role of the Assistant Judge as a finder of fact during complex civil and family court hearings is critical. We are assessing evidence and credibility and working directly with presiding judges to issue decisions timely.

I see opportunities for cost savings in careful planning, preventive maintenance, energy efficiency, competitive bidding and reviewing contracts and services to ensure the county is receiving the best value for its money. I believe we can save money by addressing small maintenance issues before they become expensive repairs, looking for opportunities to reduce energy and operating costs, and planning larger capital projects rather than waiting until something becomes an emergency. I also sought grant opportunities to offset county expenses. As Assistant Judge, I would work with my fellow judge, county officials, and the community to establish clear priorities and maintain responsible reserves to ensure county funds are spent carefully.

Coming from a working-class New England background, I have lived in Vermont for more than 40 years. I love this community and have a longstanding and successful record of service to the community. I believe that my life experiences enable me to look fairly and critically at each of the cases that come before me in court and to responsibly manage the resources of our County. I have significant experience in creating and managing budgets and resources for municipal governments and in the private sector. This experience is particularly valuable in my role as County Administrator.

I have a proven commitment of service to our community. I have held senior management and finance positions with municipal, for-profit and non-profit organizations

I approach each case that comes before the court with active listening and empathy for the many challenges that members of our community face to reach fair and thoughtful decisions.

Assistant judges sit in family and civil court on hearings to protect the most vulnerable members of our county. We hear cases for relief from abuse, divorce, property division and parental rights as well as stalking and a variety of cases in civil court. We serve members of our community during some of the most difficult times of their lives. Our decisions shape people’s lives for years. It is extremely important for our assistant judges to possess knowledge of and commitment to our community as well as demonstrated judgement and decision making skills.

I have had a very successful career in budget development and management with strong skill of reviewing invoices and balance sheets and understand what every dollar of our County budget is funding. I describe myself as fiscally conservative and understand that I am steward of our County resources, and ensure that our facilities are maintained in an appropriate manner.

I enter our facilities with the same eye that an individual entering for the first time may have. I am very aware of the conditions of our buildings and sensitive to safety and maintenance issues. I work with County staff to prepare our budget and review every expense paid and to make sure that the expense is both reasonable and necessary for the benefit of our County.