LETTER: Supporting Phil Scott for governor
October 15, 2026 To the Community:
As a public servant in Vermont state government for more than 30 years, I feel it’s important to share a perspective on our upcoming gubernatorial election from the inside looking out.
I have worked under four different governors – two Democrats and two Republicans – during my career. I’ve seen and implemented policies under each of these administrations over the years. And I never endorsed any of them until Phil Scott. Why did he earn my endorsement? Because he has the best interests of Vermonters at the heart of his campaign, and after 10 years serving as our governor, that commitment hasn’t changed.
Gov. Scott has earned our trust. He has brought common sense and mutual respect back to the highest office. He’s not running to build a legacy. He’s not running to make a profit. He’s running because he truly cares about the future of this state. He is focused on solving the hard issues facing us as we continue to experience increasing costs across all major industries, including education, healthcare, and housing. We have exhausted our revenue surplus buying down our tax debt thanks to a Legislature that has been unwilling to make hard decisions about changing the fundamental issues causing the increases.
Gov. Scott’s opponent is advocating for universal healthcare with no real plan for how that would be paid for. “Janoo has proposed, for example, using new tax revenue to make sure everyone in the state can see a primary care doctor, free of charge.” Wake up, people. NOTHING is free.
The governor launched the first phase of his healthcare plan through Executive Order 05-26 and a push for market-based regulatory reforms. Phase one of future reforms relies on existing executive and regulatory authority. Scott has tasked state departments with preparing a broader statutory reform package for the 2027 legislative session to replace older government-run frameworks. But he can’t make this work unless the Legislature is willing to work with him.
Gov. Scott is also calling for real education reform, unlike his competitor, who wants the towns to figure it out… that model doesn’t work. We need education reform. That means changing how we provide better education for our students, leading to better outcomes. We need to continue the work our governor started, or we will continue to face rising costs and declining enrollment.
Taxes are not the answer to solving these issues. If we tax more, we will lose more. It’s that simple. Phil Scott is not afraid of doing the hard work to make things better for Vermonters. He’s proven that through a pandemic and two major floods. He supports us when we need him the most – and we need him now more than ever.
That’s why I’m voting for Gov. Phil Scott.
Stacy Gibson-Grandfield
Duxbury