Monday night at the Champlain Valley Farmer Coalition candidate forum, a Democrat State Senate candidate said something that I agree should be true: “It’s not an R vs. D issue. It’s a rural vs. urban issue.”
I’d believe that more readily if I saw the Democrats representing rural Addison County actually vote that way. We have eleven legislators from this county—currently eight Democrats and three Republicans (myself, Jim Casey, and Steve Heffernan). I’ve watched those eight Democrats vote in lockstep with their colleagues from Chittenden County. Their party leadership expects it. The result is policies that raise costs, tighten land-use rules, and make it harder for ordinary people and working lands to stay viable here.
Returning that same majority, or removing the one real backstop we have in Governor Phil Scott, only strengthens their grip. The way to protect the values of rural Vermont is to elect people who are free to vote for them. Not members of a party whose primary allegiance runs to leadership in the state’s most urban county.
Most Democrats I meet are good people who care about Vermont. The problem is policy outcomes, not personal character. This is an allegiance problem. Are our legislators allegiant to the people who live and work in rural Addison County, or to the party leaders who set the agenda in Chittenden County?
I work across the aisle—I’ve reached out to freshman Democrats to look for common ground. My alliance is with Governor Phil Scott’s agenda for affordability and working lands. I weigh every bill on its merits, consider the unintended consequences, and try to protect the Vermont lifestyle: rural communities, working lands, an independent spirit, and the ability of ordinary people to stay and raise families here.
We don’t need more ideology. We need balance in Montpelier so common-sense solutions can move. 90 Dem/Prog - 5 Ind - 55 Rep is not balance. Rural Addison County has a voice. It’s time that rural voice is heard.
“Rob North has been a strong voice for affordability and protecting rural Vermonters from the negative impacts of Act 181. He works hard to find common sense solutions and bring balance to Montpelier, which we desperately need. Rob has been an effective legislator, and I hope you’ll join me in supporting him this fall.”
— Governor Phil Scott
Vote for ROB NORTH for State Representative.
I remain honored to be your Representative,
Rob North
Addison, Ferrisburgh, New Haven, Panton, Vergennes, and Waltham
