Washington-Chittenden House candidate survey
October 30, 2022 | Compiled by Waterbury Roundabout
The Vermont State House in October. Photo by Lisa Scagliotti
The Washington-Chittenden House district has two seats representing the towns of Waterbury, Bolton and Huntington and Buel’s Gore. Four candidates are running for these spots: Incumbent Waterbury Democrats Tom Stevens and Theresa Wood; Waterbury Republican Kathi Tarrant, and Bolton Independent William McGorry.
Waterbury Roundabout asked them why they are seeking a seat in the state Legislature, what issues are of high importance to them, and their opinions on topics they are likely to deal with if elected.
Here are their responses.
William McGorry - I Bolton
Tom Stevens - D (incumbent), Waterbury
Kathi Tarrant - R Waterbury
Theresa Wood - D (incumbent), Waterbury
Name, age, occupation (your day job or jobs)
Thomas Stevens, 61, farm laborer
Kathi Tarrant, pro musician
Theresa Wood, 64, disability consultant
William McGorry, 60s, business owner
Have you run for elected office before? If so, what elected offices have you held?
Yes - Village Trustee, Selectboard, State Representative
No - This is my first time as a candidate.
State Legislator (7 years); school board (12 years, including chair)
Town Council Member (4 years) in Westport, Connecticut
List other qualifications you have that you believe are relevant such as education, boards you have served on, organizations you have volunteered with, etc.
I have served on the boards of The Children’s Room, Revitalizing Waterbury, and Downstreet Housing and Community Development.
I have lived in Vermont approximately 30 years; homeschool mom and then completed a degree program at Goddard College along with various other certifications as a single mom while operating a small business as a pro musician (educator, performer, musical director for arts organizations and churches). I am hard-working, have common sense, am an astute critical thinker, and see through the propaganda; believing and trusting above the dictates of big government.
Revitalizing Waterbury (Board Member and President); Waterbury Rotary Club (Board Member and President); Director of Developmental Disability Services and Deputy Commissioner, Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living; Chair of ReBuild Waterbury after Tropical Storm Irene; Finance Committee, St. Andrew’s Church; Municipal Offices Building Committee. I was the Community Liaison for the Waterbury transportation projects with the Agency of Transportation. I hold an Associates Degree from Champlain College and Bachelor’s Degree in Business from Johnson State College. I have been appointed by the Speaker of the House to the Child Poverty Council and the Joint Justice Oversight Committee. I’ve served on the House Corrections and Institutions Committee and the House Human Services Committee (currently Vice-Chair)
Clerk of Insurance and Real Estate Committee State Capitol, Hartford, Connecticut (2 years), Budgeting Committee (Town Council, Westport, Connecticut)
Why are you running for a seat in the Vermont State Legislature? What issues are high priorities for you that you would sponsor legislation to advance them?
I have served as a State Representative since 2009. The highest priority in my committee remains housing, followed closely by economic fairness issues like wages and paid family leave, along with the need for child care.
I want to win this election so I can stand up to those in the legislature; that they honor their oath to the Constitution and in protecting the individual rights of free Vermonters. I want Vermonters to be able to speak their mind without censorship.
I have been a champion for people with disabilities and older Vermonters’ issues. As a member of the Human Services Committee, we deal with issues impacting the social safety net and social determinants of health for children through adults; access to affordable, high quality child care has been a key issue. One of the more recent pieces of legislation where I was the lead sponsor is requiring insurance companies to cover the cost of hearing aids and exams for people with hearing loss. I am also working on legislation to update Vermont statutes with regard to the use of restraints in school settings. During the pandemic, I worked to insure that my constituents had access to the available supports and financial assistance that the state and federal government provided. I have also supported legislation to reduce the reliance on property taxes to fund education.
Both Republicans and Democrats at each others throats and not focusing on the peoples agenda which they were elected to do, I will be nonpartisan and focus on serving the people. Priorities include more community involvement in police and other state agencies which ignore the populace for which they are working. Support, promote legislation to combat opiate problem as well as affordable housing crisis.
At the top of the Nov. 8 General Election ballot are two state Constitutional amendments. Here is a link to a sample ballot. Do you support Proposal 2 that adds to Article I of the Constitution language to clearly prohibit slavery and indentured servitude?
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Do you support Proposal 5 that adds Article 22 on personal reproductive liberty to the state Constitution?
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Use this space to elaborate on either/both of your answers to the constitutional amendment questions.
Prop 2 turns the long accepted myth that we completely banned slavery in our earliest days into reality. Prop 5 enshrined into our constitution the notion that the government should leave a person’s reproductive health decisions up to themselves.
Prop 5/Article 22 codifies infanticide. Also, the vague wording is deeply concerning which can be misleading, easily misunderstood or simply lacking conviction; namely giving rights to men in mentioning “individual” instead of a “woman” in regards to rights, for example.
In school, we learned that Vermont was the first state to ban slavery. Well, the truth is that the Vermont constitution still allows indentured servitude in certain situations. We need to be unequivocal when it comes to banning slavery in the State’s constitution. In terms of Proposal 5, I supported the right for all Vermonters, those supporting and those who do not, to make their wishes known with regard to reproductive liberty.
Article 22, I would support reproductive liberty certainly to 3rd trimester unsure as to up to the minute of birth.
Affordable housing is in high demand across Vermont and poses a challenge for people to settle and remain in the state. What could the state Legislature do to help support more affordable housing opportunities?
By continuing to invest existing funds into affordable housing and redefining some of our zoning laws to make it easier to build where there is existing infrastructure like water and sewer.
Vermont has one of the highest tax burdens in the country. Earnings/income do not warrant the level of taxation. Vermont bureaucracy will NOT do better than private enterprise in solving most of our issues. Look across the river to New Hampshire - twice as many people, half the amount of taxes, and they have much more prosperity. Vermont is being impoverished due to the ever-increasing tax burden.
The Legislature has allocated over $350 million in the last two years towards housing, with more to come. Part of the issue is that, as a state, we have fallen behind in developing housing over the last 2 decades and it will take some time to catch up. The property transfer tax is supposed to fund housing, yet it has been diverted to other uses. We need to reaffirm our ongoing to commitment to housing and stop diverting those funds to other uses. There are a significant portion of the unhoused that require supportive services (e.g. mental health, substance use, disability services, etc.), in order to remain in housing once they acquire it. If a person doesn’t have a home, it’s difficult to work on those other issues that are impacting their lives, including the ability to work.
Usually a supply and demand situation exists (if rents get too high and huge profits exist then new housing will be built and spare space will be turned into rentable space, all things being equal, but with inflation energy costs etc. all things are not equal.) As a last resort (I am not for rent control), if the situation got so out of hand then possibly explore some type of rent containment, but focus first on stabilizing inflation, energy costs etc.
The state of Vermont in 2007 stopped helping fund school construction projects. A report from the Agency of Education earlier this year outlined approximately one-third of Vermont's school districts have facilities that have reached or exceeded their useful lifespan and predicted more than $500 million needed for upgrades and modernization including potential remediation of PCB contamination from old building materials. Without state aid, this work falls to school district taxpayers. Should the state Legislature make funding school construction a priority once again?
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
There has been growing attention in the Harwood Unified Union School District on the potentially dangerous practices of prone restraint and seclusion as strategies school staff use with students who present challenging behaviors. Reports of use of these measures in local schools in recent years have been among the highest in the state. There is draft federal legislation that would ban these practices nationwide. Should the Vermont Legislature look at this issue to revise Vermont guidelines to prohibit these measures from being used?
Yes
We have a compliance-based system in Vermont; where inclusion has only contributed to the problem(s). Schools should adopt more flexibility; where certain children with behavior issues can and should be removed from the classroom; for the safety and security of the other children who are deserving of a healthy learning environment. I feel strongly that athletic and/or art/music activities would be a successful invention/alternative to the current strategies applied today.
Yes, absolutely. I am the lead sponsor on state legislation that would mirror the bill introduced at the federal level.
Yes, certainly.
The Vermont Climate Action Plan aims for the state to have net zero emissions by 2050. Are you familiar with the plan?
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
What step or steps do you think could be the most beneficial for Vermont to take to address climate change?
We need to continue efforts to make homes more energy efficient and make greater strides in bettering our transportation needs, which remain the least efficient.
The federal government is suppressing advanced technologies that would free Vermonters from energy bills and pollutive forms of energy. BTW: Electric Vehicle cars are very pollutive.
Vermont’s housing stock is very old. We need to continue to weatherize homes. Additionally we need to make more progress on electrifying our vehicle fleet and converting our home heating to non-fossil based fuels. Right now, we send a majority of Vermonters’ hard-earned resources to out of state, and out of country fossil fuel companies. We can additionally impact climate change by reducing forest fragmentation and concentrating development in already developed areas.
I believe in climate change and would like to see electrical cars, lessened carbon pollution, etc. What I feel is many people are riding this green wave and ignoring the fact that we must responsibly pursue these ends. There were more business failure in Vermont the last two years (I read four times as many primarily due to covid, etc.) Business will be impacted by additional cost etc. to comply with new regulations at perhaps a pace where they can not digest these expenses and consequently go out of business themselves. We are faced with a housing shortage, opioid crisis etc. and by not following sane procedure to deal with climate change and ignoring the economic costs that it will incur is not responsible and would exacerbate our current crisis situation. I think climate change and focus on other state problems can be done responsibly and concurrently.
In 2019, the Vermont Legislature passed a bill requiring a waiting period for firearms purchases that Gov. Phil Scott vetoed. There are calls for a ban on assault-style firearms in the wake of continuing mass-shootings across the U.S. Vermont also has yet to close the Charleston loophole which allows a gun purchase to happen even if the background check is not complete. Do you support any of these or other reforms to Vermont's gun laws?
Yes. The changes proposed in recent years are common-sense proposals that would make a positive difference.
The 2nd Amendment is absolutely clear. The legislature can make no laws to abridge it.
I fully support the 2nd Amendment, and I fully support common-sense gun laws. We have already enacted some laws, and I did vote in favor of the bill that was vetoed. I support closing the Charleston loophole.
I believe in the 2nd amendment but would consider banning large capacity magazines etc
In more than 20 U.S. states, restrictions including bans on gender-affirming medical care for transgender children have been introduced. Should the Vermont Legislature take any steps on this issue to either protect or restrict such care?
We should never ban this kind of care.
Transgender ideology is psychologically harmful to children.
These are highly individualized decisions that are best made between an individual and their family/circle of support with proper medical advice.
Have not researched this subject yet can not give an informed opinion.
Do you believe that President Joe Biden was legitimately elected in 2020?
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Election security is under question in some states although Vermont's election procedures are held in high regard for their integrity and accessibility. What if any changes do you think are needed to Vermont's voting laws?
None. We need to enforce what we’ve accomplished and keep access safe and open.
Judicial Watch revealed that Vermont sent out more ballots than registered voters in 2020. Additionally, Vermont has recently invested in Dominion machines which are widely distrusted; for good reason.
I am in favor of Vermont’s current voting laws, which have been lauded as some of the best in the country. I am not in favor of restricting people’s right to vote.
I answered yes about legitimacy to the above question. I believe in paper ballots and would wait a couple of hours longer to make sure the vote is accurate and legitimacy was insured.
Currently 30% of cannabis excise tax revenue (up to $10 million) is to be spent on drug prevention and misuse programs with the rest put into the general fund. Should cannabis tax revenue be directed to other specific uses?
Yes - I think 30% put aside for prevention and misuse programs is a good idea. And, for the time being, having the balance go into the General Fund, much like our revenue from alcohol, is appropriate. It will take several years to determine what we can expect from the sales of cannabis, and we should revisit where the proceeds go when we know better and make adjustments if needed.
Yes - More resources are needed for educating the public, especially youth in relation to “substance” are needed as it impacts health/general welfare of the citizenry. Fentanyl is a major issue now as just a small amount can be deadly. In fact, it's considered to be something akin to a bioweapon these days.
Yes. Substance use prevention, education and treatment primarily, driver safety as well.
Yes. My recommendation is 10% to Mental Health, 10% to Education, 50% to General Fund.
Reader submitted question: What will you do to help with the shortage of licensed mental health therapists in our community? How will you help support community mental health?
We must develop the capacity through investing in the Human Resources needed, and find a way to relieve the professional burnout that is happening, driving folks away.
Expand the organic food supply in Vermont and employ local people to implement it. Connection to nature helps everyone exponentially.
The legislature recognizes this need and has allocated significant resources in the form of tuition reimbursement, scholarships and higher pay. However, these efforts need to continue.
I believe Vermont does well in this area compared to other states but there can always be room for improvement. Howard Center does a good job in this area and perhaps more funding would be beneficial.
Finally, fill in the blanks for the next two statements. The best thing about the Washington-Chittenden House district is ____________________.
Our different communities. Each town has its own personality and distinct needs, and it’s a privilege to serve them.
Small business
The people!!!
The beautiful location of the area and the diversity of peoples.
And, the Washington-Chittenden House district would be a better place if ______________.
We remember how lucky we are to live in such a beautiful place…
Vermont didn't hinder/shut them down; ever again
Everyone had a home and people who love them.
We come together as one people but aside partisanship and put the work of the people in our focus.
Please add anything else you'd like people to know about yourself and your ideas. Thank you for taking the survey!
I have a standard of integrity; in having faith in a free people in a free society.
Thank you for your support, and it is truly an honor and a responsibility I take seriously to represent you at the State House.
For the People
A separate post in News has a report to a candidate forum earlier this campaign season recorded by ORCA Media and a link to the recoding.
