There is a lot of change in the legislative space, and even the most knowledgeable citizens may not know who will be representing you in Montpelier next year for two important reasons. First, the Vermont Legislature experiences its own unprecedented “great resignation” from the Vermont legislature and higher elected offices, the Vermont State House will have at least a third of its seats filled with newly elected officials come January. Second, also coinciding with this seachange is reapportionment (a.k.a. redistricting), which takes place every 10 years after the census. Due to this, you might be in a new district, and the familiar faces you know and trust might not be who you’ll vote for in the rapidly approaching August 9th primary or the November 8th election.
About the survey: LCC’s advocacy team reached out to candidates for seats within Chittenden County with an online questionnaire. Candidates who did not complete the questionnaire are listed here for the purposes of showing all participants in the contests. Their responses are shared here with minimal editing only in instances where it was necessary for clarity. This page will be updated as some candidates participate late and to include material such as other surveys and questionnaires, forums, and other outside resources.
If you have questions, comments, or concerns, please email [email protected].
Senate Candidates
Chittenden Central
The new Chittenden Central District (CHIT CT 1) is comprised of Burlington, Winooski, part of Colchester, and much of Essex. This district has three seats. There is one incumbent running in this new district.
Candidate Biography
I teach at UVM, in the English Department, and I live in the NNE of Burlington. First elected in 2010, I’ve served 12 years in the Legislature, on a range of committees. Appropriations and Judiciary are my current assignments. I also served as the Senate Majority Leader from 2013-16.
Why are you running?
The work on housing, climate, childcare, mental health, homelessness, health care, justice reform and other pressing issues is not finished. I continue to feel that I’m more effective each year I go back to Montpelier, working to find solutions to those problems.
Why Should Business Owners Support You?
Most businesses, large and small, saw a series of lifelines during the pandemic, lifelines that usually began as concepts in Washington and then were put into practice by state legislatures and administrations. I spent the last three years talking about how to keep restaurants afloat, farms up and running, theaters and brewers and hotels in the black. And not just talking, but acting to bring funds to bear in an equitable and efficient and effective way.
Is Vermont Business Friendly?
Absolutely.
What could the Legislature do to support the creation of more well-paying jobs in Vermont?
We put hundreds of millions of dollars into housing over the course of the pandemic — that strikes me as the most direct way to pump life into the economy. The key is not allowing the investment in the housing sector to end when the Federal stimulus ends, but rather to build on that progress. That will take reining in spending elsewhere, but I think that’d be a wise course to pursue. And along with that push, we should be making a parallel push to house all Vermonters, as we did during the pandemic, permanently. People sleeping in the streets is beneath us as a state.
How does regulation affect the availability and affordability of housing in Vermont? What should be done to ensure more availability and affordability at a legislative and regulatory level?
There’s always the tension between environmental protection and building housing at a clip that matches the scale of the problem we face. There was some movement this past cycle on easing Act 250 regulation in designated downtowns, and locations where local zoning and permitting already produce sufficient protection. I think there’s still a lot of compromise to be reached in allowing a maximum flexibility in those properly designated downtown areas.
Do you think we should be marketing our state to outsiders for the purposes of building a brand people relate to as the right place to visit, invest, or live?
Yes, but honestly I’ve found several of the state’s marketing campaigns to be expensive and overly simplistic in terms of what they produced ultimately. So I am skeptical. One example of that sort of money used right? A handful of years ago, the Commerce Dept. put a chunk of money into targeted advertising in the DC market, promoting weekend trips to Vermont. They they tracked all of the major travel sites (Travelocity, Kayak, etc) and came up with almost real-time result metrics . . . I much prefer that sort of effort to handing an agency 500k and telling them to noodle in a general way over Vermont’s brand . . .
Would you support Vermont enacting the State and Local Tax (SALT) workaround that 24 other states have enacted? (Learn more here). Please explain your reasoning.
Yes. Senator Sirotkin put forward a proposal to do that, which I was prepared for, but I believe that a study was ultimately called for instead. I thought it made sense to make that change immediately
This candidate participated in the VTDigger Candidate Survey and their responses can be found here.
Candidate Biography
Martine is grateful for her Vermont upbringing, where she attended South Burlington public schools. Martine earned two degrees from the University of Vermont and went on to spend 30 years teaching and coaching in Vermont and overseas. She and her husband settled in Burlington’s New North End where they raised their family. Martine is currently a 3-term school commissioner on the Burlington School Board, a regional representative for the VT School Board Association and serves on the Advisory Council on Literacy.
Why are you running?
I’m running to find sensible solutions to our most pressing issues, be a voice for our most vulnerable and lead with hope.
Why should a business owner support you?
A business owner should support me, because I’ve lived in Vermont since 1972 and I have a deep understanding of the strengths and the challenges facing our state. Vermont has been able to change and grow while maintaining its core values and continues to draw people and businesses, because of its strong sense of community, natural beauty, commitment to the environment and sense of creativity and entrepreneurship.
I believe we can continue to encourage and support our business community while remaining true to our values and while taking care of our most vulnerable. We must work together to make tough decisions that prioritize the most pressing and urgent issues at hand and lead with hope.
Is Vermont business-friendly? (Yes or No) If no, explain what can be done about that. If yes, explain why you feel this way.
My answer to this question is somewhat nuanced. Vermont is business friendly in that it has a very strong sense of self and a brand that is clear and visible. Vermont communities foster creativity and ingenuity, however, some of our most pressing issues make owning a business a challenge. The lack of available housing and rental costs make living in Vermont prohibitive for some. Taking on the risk of starting and maintaining a business in our current housing environment is a huge challenge. Restrictive land use laws and taxes also make owning a business difficult for some.
What could the Legislature do to support the creation of more well-paying jobs in Vermont?
The legislature could prioritize incentives and tax breaks for small business owners and provide affordable housing to young workers. Our leaders could support technical education programs that grow a work force right here in our own state. They could focus on growing, supporting and maintaining a workforce from within. Helping our high school graduates earn degrees in Vermont’s higher education institutions would allow the workforce to grow and would encourage young people to stay in the state.
How does regulation affect the availability and affordability of housing in Vermont? What should be done to ensure more availability and affordability at a legislative and regulatory level?
We need to have a discussion about our priorities. Vermont needs more housing and some new development, but regulations like Act 250 limit where growth can occur. As a state, do we want to develop our countryside or build more densely around urban areas? Maintaining a high quality of life is central to the Vermont ethos, and as we consider growth, we must take into consideration what makes us special and unique.
Do you think we should be marketing our state to outsiders for the purposes of building a brand people relate to as the right place to visit, invest, or live?
I feel we already do this, and yes, I do think we should market our brand. Our brand is strong, inclusive, unique and people all over the world are drawn to it.
Would you support Vermont enacting the State and Local Tax (SALT) workaround that 24 other states have enacted? (Learn more here). Please explain your reasoning.
I am sorry, but I would need to do more research on this.
This candidate participated in the VTDigger Candidate Survey and their responses can be found here.
At this time, this candidate has not provided a response to LCC’s candidate questionnaire.
This candidate participated in the VTDigger Candidate Survey and their responses can be found here.
Chittenden Southeast
The new Chittenden Southeast District (CHI SE 1) encompasses part of Burlington, South Burlington, Charlotte, Hinesburg, St. George, Williston, Richmond, Jericho, Bolton, and Underhill. This district has three Senate seats. There are three incumbents running in this new district.
Candidate Biography
My full time work is at the University of Vermont Grossman School of Business as a Senior Lecturer. Relevant experience: State Senator (incumbent), City Councilor, Faculty Senate President, GMT Chair, Rotarian, father, husband
Why are you running?
I want more opportunities for current and future Vermonters to be able stay here, live here, work here and thrive here.
Why should a business owner support you?
Business and commerce is a tremendously powerful force in our society that improves our quality of life through quality products, convenient services, competitive pay and advancement opportunities. I hope to be a voice in the legislature showing appreciation for and support for our small, medium and large businesses in Vermont.
Is Vermont business-friendly? (Yes or No) If no, explain what can be done about that. If yes, explain why you feel this way.
No, we are not. I hear from too many politicians that resent business and frame our businesses as apart from society. We need to better connect the impact of our regulations to our affordability crisis. Regulations often have honorable intent but we need to better consider the financial impact of these regulations not on business but on the cost of goods & services that unavoidably absorb these burdens.
What could the Legislature do to support the creation of more well-paying jobs in Vermont?
Permit reform at the local and state level to invite more investment to the state. Adopt the SALT deduction for pass through entities to keep more money in the state. Enable through regulatory support broadband service to every home in the state. Expand and improve our transportation infrastructure to support the free flow of goods and services.
How does regulation affect the availability and affordability of housing in Vermont? What should be done to ensure more availability and affordability at a legislative and regulatory level?
Exempt downtown development from Act 250 reform. Empower county planning commissions to have more direct impact on local zoning regulations to ensure the regional priorities are met to reduce insular town decision making. Enhance fiscal notes to includes economic estimations of market impacts on consumers from proposed regulations.
Do you think we should be marketing our state to outsiders for the purposes of building a brand people relate to as the right place to visit, invest, or live?
Yes. Vermont is a brand in and of itself. It is a way of life, a quality standard, and a way of doing things in a sustainable way. We need to foster this brand throughout the country and world to attract global investment and opportunity.
Would you support Vermont enacting the State and Local Tax (SALT) workaround that 24 other states have enacted? (Learn more here). Please explain your reasoning.
Yes, and I am disappointed we didn’t pass this last session. There is no reason to not do everything we can to give our businesses (small and large) the same advantages our neighbors offer to keep Vermont competitive and to keep as much money as we can in this state.
This candidate participated in the VTDigger Candidate Survey and their responses can be found here.
Candidate Biography
Senator Lyons – I am a Biology Professor former Williston school Board member and Selectboard Chair. I Chaired Natural Resources and Energy Committee, and now Chairs Senate Health and Welfare. Sen. Lyons legislation supports renewable energy policies that build VT’s economy. I lead efforts to stabilize health care access for patients, hospitals and providers during covid. Ginny works for prevention, primary care, equitable access, quality, and cost improvements within a system of care. Lyons lead health care reform and workforce development during the ‘22 session.
Why are you running?
To maintain continuity in the Senate when many are leaving. We have challenges of hospital sustainability, workforce needs, child care, energy costs, mental health care access, economic development, housing, inflation, and others.
Why should a business owner support you?
This is a volatile time affecting Vermont’s economy. As a scientist, I understand the unpredictability that Covid and now inflationary pressures bring to business and workforce concerns. During Covid, I lead work to help stabilize health care businesses – hospitals, clinics, individual providers- in VT. It is important to use data informed decision making and provide predictability during unstable times. Continued oversight of and investments in workforce development, affordable housing, land use, business development programs, broadband, child care, paid family leave programs, health care cost control can provide a stable, predictable environment for business growth. My family members and friends who have started or own businesses help me understand the benefits and risks associated with changing regulations or taxes. Recently their concerns focus on retail theft and public safety issues. Their concerns about holding people accountable for crimes, and or providing mental health supports are critical to maintaining community. Working with business folks is key to building any legislation. I look forward to that interaction and work in the next session.
Is Vermont business-friendly? (Yes or No) If no, explain what can be done about that. If yes, explain why you feel this way.
Yes. Vermont has a strong entrepreneurial development history with small business growth. This has resulted in growth of some small Vermont businesses to larger size, taking on national prominence. The legislature is proactive in working with business to develop the energy economy, broadband expansion, health care business stability, investments in affordable housing, workforce development. State programs including VEDA provide ongoing investments in startup and longer term organizations moving in new directions. Vermont B corp organizations exemplify the Vermont’s standard of social, environmental, and business success. Environmental laws and local zoning are sometimes seen as barriers to business development. These continue to be modified, providing balance between what some perceive as extremes between too much or too little environmental protection / development. We continue to value the relationship between environmental protection and economic development. Recreational, agricultural, housing, and other businesses rely on this balance.
What could the Legislature do to support the creation of more well-paying jobs in Vermont?
Vermont should continue to provide low interest loans and grants to businesses providing new jobs for Vermont. This coupled with working capital from the private sector will ultimately stimulate livable wages and affordability for Vermonters. Additionally, energy conservation and efficiency programs reduces energy costs for families, schools and businesses. At the same time the work of mitigating climate change or reducing energy costs can bring new job opportunities for Vermonters. All these initiatives are key to keeping Vermont affordable for future generations. A fair predictable system of taxation is critical to business risk management. This includes predictable benefits such as tax credits available from federal and state government. Coupled with capital from private lending institutions or public funds, businesses should have the ability to offset risks associated with business start up, expansion, and in and out of state competition. Increased employment should result. The way taxes are paid is important to small businesses. Vermont’s small businesses should not have to eliminate health care benefits for employees due to high costs. Health care coverage should not be dependent on where someone works. We can continue oversight for and investment in broadband, child care, access to affordable/ workforce housing, regulatory flexibility, and responsiveness to our creative economy. Much of the work for the creation of more jobs is happening now. Attention to a system of child care, large investments in affordable housing, and broadband continue to be supported. Vermont has an opportunity to expand tax credits that could open up more jobs or at least attract workforce. Providing tax credits for student loans might be considered. Currently employees, who study to improve their job performance, are eligible to write off expenses associated with that study. Exploring how students who stay in VT and work in their field might write off some or all of their student debt may help build well paying jobs. We should also consider tax credits for film or other creative enterprises in VT. Evaluating the risks and benefits associated with tax credits will help determine how we might proceed.
How does regulation affect the availability and affordability of housing in Vermont? What should be done to ensure more availability and affordability at a legislative and regulatory level?
Continued assessment and evaluation of legislation and regulation can improve development of affordable housing. Ensuring there are guidelines for the use of funds set aside for affordable housing is important. Guidelines that ensure affordability is long term can help beyond one generation of need. Funds can also be designated for specific types of housing such as mental health support, specific type of workforce needs, students or others. Local zoning can be developed consistent with land or environmental criteria. When municipalities understand where wetlands, or other criteria might affect development of housing, planning and zoning decisions can be improved. Allowing for mixed use housing development can offset affordable housing development costs. Many point to ACT 250 as an impediment to the development of affordable housing. By allowing for growth centers, downtowns and village centers to rely solely on Agency stormwater and related permits, the costs associated with 250 permits for affordable housing can be mitigated. Improvement in the Natural Resources Board process may also help. The Board can standardize unequal decision making for all District Commissions through rule making. The 250 Environmental Court system is effective. Nevertheless fine tuning the appeals process through the legislature may help. When ACT 250 was passed there was no And use map. Today regional development maps from RPCs could be analyzed as a way to ensure that affordable housing is planned across the state.
Do you think we should be marketing our state to outsiders for the purposes of building a brand people relate to as the right place to visit, invest, or live?
Yes. Vermont can use outside investment to help support our agricultural, recreational, and creative economy. It is important that businesses invited into the state contribute to local workforce/economies. Having new jobs shouldn’t mean only new people benefit from those jobs. Nevertheless attracting more people to the state is important if we are to have economic expansion. Vermont’s brand is well known. It is the result of hard work by regulators, legislators,municipalities, and businesses working together. Investing in people who bring new jobs to Vermont is a good thing. Their stated needs are for broadband, child care, quality education, public safety, housing, environmental quality. The remote worker program can attract new enterprise for a relatively low investment of up to $10,000. More affluent visitors who come to the state for recreation or to enjoy the environment can be encouraged to invest in their local Vermont communities, farms, trails.
Would you support Vermont enacting the State and Local Tax (SALT) workaround that 24 other states have enacted? (Learn more here). Please explain your reasoning.
Yes. As SALT workaround is presented- This is a tax benefit to businesses/ employees with no reduction in revenue to the state. Not enacting SALT is revenue / economic loss to the state. Legislation for this should be considered and enacted.
This candidate participated in the VTDigger Candidate Survey and their responses can be found here.
Candidate Biography
I have served for a decade in the Vermont Legislature, first as a Burlington State Representative and currently as the first woman of color in the State Senate. I sit on the Economic Development & Housing and Government Operations Committees, as well as the Government Accountability Committee.
Why are you running?
State government is where the most positive, impactful change can happen, and I can lead with a third of the House and Senate turning over.
Why should a business owner support you?
I grew up in my Indian immigrant father and Jewish American mother’s Irish pub waiting tables and watching them navigate access to capital and regulatory red tape. I am now a small business owner myself and my husband works hard in his family business. Much of my political career has been spent helping individual businesses open or navigate state government, and I have helped advance fairness, transparency, and efficiency in state contracts and the distribution of billions of recovery dollars. This year, I was the author and lead sponsor of the landmark housing and homeownership bill that included dollars for first-generation homebuyers, mobile home park residents, and investment in middle-income housing development. I plan to continue to lead on small business support and growth, workforce development, and child care access, and am here to listen and to lead when it comes to economic development.
Is Vermont business-friendly? (Yes or No) If no, explain what can be done about that. If yes, explain why you feel this way.
Vermont is family-friendly, fiscally prudent, and environmentally focused, and I believe that lends itself to the kind of business climate we want to advance as we attract new talent and development. We can improve in terms of permit issuance, government interaction, and helping businesses navigate as they grow to stay in the state. We may not grow as fast as other states, but we are also seeing limits to growth with the rising cost of climate change and unpredictable weather patterns, and I believe Vermont can lead in a climate economy.
What could the Legislature do to support the creation of more well-paying jobs in Vermont?
We need to advance universal early childhood education, paid family leave, affordable health care access, and a fair, sustainable minimum wage. We can also help to support the right to collectively bargain and protect state pensions. Government should lead by example and not ask the business community to do what we can and must do as an employer ourselves.
How does regulation affect the availability and affordability of housing in Vermont? What should be done to ensure more availability and affordability at a legislative and regulatory level?
Duplicative and complex permitting processes impact the cost and availability of housing in Vermont. I was proud to craft housing legislation that incentivized the creation of more transit-oriented, dense, inclusionary housing options in Neighborhood Development Areas by reducing permitting requirements. Right now, we have communities that have 300 job listings and 3 housing listings. Our current path is unsustainable and this must continue to be a top priority.
Do you think we should be marketing our state to outsiders for the purposes of building a brand people relate to as the right place to visit, invest, or live?
I think calling them “outsiders” already raises the concern about how we welcome people to make their home, raise their family, or start their business in Vermont. While BIPOC Vermonters make up about 7 percent of the population, they represent 90 percent of the population growth that we have experienced in the last decade or so. If we are going to grow, we need to not just recruit a diverse, talented workforce – we must retain them. And that takes work we must be willing to do to thrive into the future. Please see my op-ed in Digger: Vermont’s lack of racial diversity is a retention problem, not a recruitment problem.
Would you support Vermont enacting the State and Local Tax (SALT) workaround that 24 other states have enacted? (Learn more here). Please explain your reasoning.
Yes, and I voted for it as a member of the Senate Economic Development Committee.
This candidate participated in the VTDigger Candidate Survey and their responses can be found here.
Chittenden North
The Chittenden North (CHI N 1) District includes a portion of Essex, Westford, Milton, and Fairfax. This district has a single Senate seat.
At this time, this candidate has not provided a response to LCC’s candidate questionnaire.
This candidate has not participate in the VTDigger Candidate Survey at this time.
Candidate Biography
I grew up in Essex with parents who were both IBMers. After graduating from EHS, I went off to Cornell and Ohio State to run Division I track and to get a Computer Science degree. In these times which call upon on each of us to do our part, I’ve decided to run for Vermont State Senate — not solely out of duty to my community — but because this is a vital opportunity to start a discussion about what we want for Vermont in the next few years. That is a discussion we need to have together openly, in collaboration and in good faith, free of divisiveness and ill will. I believe joining the state senate is where I can offer my own small contribution to this larger community effort. As the COVID-19 pandemic transitions to managing an endemic, many questions remain for how we will respond as a state. I am an engineer. I believe that our decision-making process ought to be governed by the best available science, data and the guidance of knowledgeable public health professionals because the safety and health of our community members is job number one. If you choose to elect me, I will draw upon my 20 years of expertise and professional experience to work hard to face each of the challenges we face as a state. Through my professionalism and non-ideological approach to problem-solving, I will be a calm, steady, experienced hand that can help guide us through dangerous waters. I look forward to connecting with you in person very soon to discuss what we can accomplish for Vermont when we work together. Let’s get to work!
Why are you running?
A software consultant like me doesn’t just write code: they listen to all stakeholders and work together with competing groups to solve problems. That’s the kind of experience we need in the statehouse.
Why should a business owner support you?
Because I’m a business owner myself. And I’ve been advocating for small business in Essex as the Chair of the Essex Economic Development Commission for the last 3 years.
Is Vermont business-friendly? (Yes or No) If no, explain what can be done about that. If yes, explain why you feel this way.
Yes! Because of the customers! We have lots of smart, well-paid, highly-educated folks who like to spend money on outdoor equipment and experiences. Or SOS [Secretary of State] office is top-notch; you can create an LLC or DBA by yourself completely automated and online. One place where we could do better is startup funding. Due to our small size, we’re not a hub of venture capital activity, so we should increase funding for programs like VEGI.
What could the Legislature do to support the creation of more well-paying jobs in Vermont?
More policy to build more housing, and to provide affordable childcare. There are lots of well-paying jobs in Vermont. But I talk to many Vermont employers. They are struggling to fill the jobs they have. The folks they talk to that turn down jobs most often cite housing costs and lack of childcare as reasons.
How does regulation affect the availability and affordability of housing in Vermont? What should be done to ensure more availability and affordability at a legislative and regulatory level?
Act 250 did a good job building Vermont the way we love, but it needs a few modernization / tweaks. We need to encourage denser, mixed-use development in our downtown areas. I’d also like to explore Rhode Island’s solution of creating a Housing Court to replace the Natural Resources Board and the Environmental Courts. Having a “one stop shop” would be less regulation, sure: but better it would create a court with a special expertise in just housing. However we do it, we need to create less roadblocks to development. We need more housing.
Do you think we should be marketing our state to outsiders for the purposes of building a brand people relate to as the right place to visit, invest, or live?
Yes. This is also one of the reasons I support the remote worker incentive. It’s cheaper than a marketing campaign, and we get new, high-income Vermonters.
Would you support Vermont enacting the State and Local Tax (SALT) workaround that 24 other states have enacted? (Learn more here). Please explain your reasoning.
I support the SALT workaround, yes. That said: the proposals I’ve read require you to work for a pass-thru entity. For those of us can set up their employment and/or business that way? It’s a good deal. The challenge is I don’t think it can pass without some property tax relief for Vermonters who get paid with W-4 income at the same time.
This candidate participated in the VTDigger Candidate Survey and their responses can be found here.
Candidate Biography
As an advocate for responsive government, I seek out voters’ opinions and incorporate their points of view into policy making and budgeting. Elected to the Essex Selectboard four times, I never missed a meeting in 12 years. I asked probing questions, called out inconsistencies and spoke up for marginalized populations.
Why are you running?
I’ve worked locally to devise creative, common-sense government policies and frugal budgets. Time to leverage my listening, legwork, and leadership skills at the state level.
Why should a business owner support you?
I have a fairly thorough understanding of the business world. I’ve worked in companies of all sizes. I’ve also started and run a couple of home-based businesses as a sole proprietor. My college degree is a B.S. in Industrial and Labor Relations, the study of the workplace, and included courses in economics, accounting, and finance. In one course, our team of students ran a business through an early computer simulation. In another course, we used Harvard Business School Case Studies to understand common pitfalls for business owners. I have read Vermont Business Magazine for more than a decade and have attended meetings of the Essex Economic Development Commission for five years. My favorite public radio show is Marketplace. I jump at the chance to see what’s made here in Vermont. Twincraft (Winooski and Essex), Revision, Autumn Harp, Lake Champlain Chocolates, and Green Mountain Animal are among the manufacturing facilities in Chittenden County that I’ve toured in recent years. My experience has given me a sense of the constraints faced by business owners. Listening to business owners vent has added to my knowledge of the regulations and red tape that make it so challenging to thrive as a Vermont business.
Is Vermont business-friendly? (Yes or No) If no, explain what can be done about that. If yes, explain why you feel this way.
Vermont isn’t friendly to business in general. We are relatively far from metropolitan areas. Businesses have been chronically challenged with finding workers and this has become more difficult in recent years, with housing costs escalating and a limited supply of housing growing even more scarce. Electricity is relatively expensive here. Taxes are relatively high, as are costs of health care and workers compensation insurance. Due to the cold climate, businesses spend a lot of money on heating costs. Many Vermont businesses have competitors in places with fewer of the above constraints, and that means the playing field isn’t level.
What could the Legislature do to support the creation of more well-paying jobs in Vermont?
We should incentivize students to train for and stick with jobs in health care and the building trades, for example, so that businesses have skilled labor to hire. We should encourage private-public partnerships to build congregate housing in densely populated areas and along bus routes, so that potential workers have places to live and the means to get to work. We need to reduce the unfunded mandates and red tape that only grow with each passing (pun intended) legislative session. People with business savvy need to run for office. Those in office need to spend more time listening to and believing business owners who complain that the regulatory environment is too onerous. Let’s streamline regulation and find other ways to minimize government interference. Let’s treat business owners with the respect they have earned for taking risks and losing sleep over how to make ends meet and keep their business (and their employees) afloat during these difficult economic times.
How does regulation affect the availability and affordability of housing in Vermont? What should be done to ensure more availability and affordability at a legislative and regulatory level?
At the local level, some towns are re-zoning to allow Accessory Dwelling Units to be created out of existing structures. Other towns are looking into expanding the amount of land allocated to multifamily, multi-dwelling units, in order to invite folks of varying wealth into their midst. Because of the dearth of housing, it’s easy to believe that building more houses would be the solution. But with investors buying up houses at a fast pace, more houses could mean merely more AirBnBs. Perhaps corporate buyers of real estate could be asked to pay higher taxes. ARPA funding is allowing a one-time large expenditure on both new construction and weatherization. Once that runs out, additional creative solutions will be needed.
Do you think we should be marketing our state to outsiders for the purposes of building a brand people relate to as the right place to visit, invest, or live?
We should continue to market our state to outsiders for the purposes of building our brand as a safe, spacious, beautiful place to visit, invest and live. Vermont has earned its reputation over the years as a great escape from the rat race in nearby metro areas. As the climate catastrophe unfolds, more and more people will be looking for a place like Vermont that has a temperate climate, plenty of water, and land on which to grow food. Therefore, we needn’t oversell our state. But we should ensure that when people visit or consider investing, our reality comes close to matching their expectations.
Would you support Vermont enacting the State and Local Tax (SALT) workaround that 24 other states have enacted? (Learn more here). Please explain your reasoning.
Twenty-four other states have seen the wisdom in not waiting for Congress to make this right. Vermonters are losing a lot of money because our legislators haven’t stepped up. Therefore, I support Vermont enacting the SALT cap workaround, despite the slight added complexity in filing. If the Pass-Through Equity (PTE) Tax passed, business owners / shareholders would pay less in federal income tax and a little more in Vermont income tax. But they would pay less in taxes overall. If Legislative economist Graham Campbell had been overly optimistic with his estimate that Vermont business owners / shareholders could save up to $20 million in federal taxes per year under that proposal, even a $10 million decrease would provide that much more fuel to our economic engine than we have now. It’s issues like this one where I see the approaching turnover in the legislature bearing fruit. New members open to new ideas could see how this bill would benefit taxpayers and tap federal dollars, just as we do in other situations.
This candidate participated in the VTDigger Candidate Survey and their responses can be found here.
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