The Warren Fourth of July parade kicked off my reelection campaign to return to the Vermont State House. The POURING rain did not deter the enthusiasm of my team as we marched, waving slouching signs with dripping paint while handing out candy and native wildflower seeds to the crowd. Upon reflection, it felt as if Mother Nature were shedding some tears on the 250th birthday of our country. We are fortunate to live in the United States, yet there is much work to do to repair our suffering planet and to unite our polarized citizenry. We are even more fortunate to live in the state of Vermont, where there is still civility in political discourse (not always, and perhaps not as much in an election year), and where legislation reflects input from many differing voices.
I spoke with a constituent recently (I’ll refer to him as Duke) who shared that his son had requested to visit the Vermont State House for his birthday this year. Duke brought his son to Montpelier, where they spent time observing the House Floor, and sitting in on committee testimony. Duke shared how impressed he was to see legislators of all political persuasions working tirelessly and collaboratively to make life better for Vermonters. He said he was kind of blown away by what he witnessed—a commitment not to political parties, but to Vermonters. I so appreciated Duke’s observation. The Vermont State House is the People’s House, and a visit there during the legislative session is an excellent antidote to political apathy or frustration.
Rep. Dara Torre and I are the only House candidates from Washington-2 district running in the Democratic Primary on August 11th; no Republican candidates are running, and no Independents have yet entered the race. In 2024, two Independent candidates entered the race in August, which led to a four-way race in November.
I will be dropping in on community meetings this summer and fall to get up-to-speed on local issues. I am also beginning to plan an early-September fundraising event, likely the week of September 7th. Door-knocking will soon follow, and I hope to have a high school intern or two accompanying me. (I am so proud of my former Harwood interns, Cashel Higgins and Claire Pomer, who are both heading off to university this fall—Cashel to Columbia and Claire to Northwestern.) If you are interested in being involved in my campaign—helping host an event, accompanying me on door-knocking, or giving a direct donation—please reach out!
I look forward to a productive, and fun, campaign season.
Thank you for your support.
Sincerely,
Candice
P.S. above photo shows Owen, Jordan, Abby, and Katie leading the charge in the Warren Fourth of July parade (courtesy of John Williams)
