The Vermont Primary is on Tuesday, August 13th. You can vote beforehand by absentee ballot or at your town’s voting location; or in-person on Tuesday.
When I first came of age as a voter, I was not politically astute enough to vote in the primaries. I had just moved to Boston, so I registered to vote there. I cast my first vote in the 1988 Presidential Election between Michael Dukakis and George H.W. Bush, after waiting in line in the pouring rain. Though my candidate lost, my voice was heard.
I remember being a little confused about voting. Where could I find information on the candidates? What was important to me? The Boston Globe was my source for local political news then, whereas now, I tend to look at VTDigger or Vermont Public. Women’s reproductive rights were one of my top issues then. Ironically, women’s reproductive rights are again a subject of intense debate—while they were enshrined into Vermont’s Constitution in 2023, women’s reproductive rights have been severely limited in other parts of our country. Voting is one way to make your voice heard.
I continue to meet with folks in our community to educate myself about the pressing issues of our county. School funding reform is critical to me, and to everyone I speak with. I joined an Indivisible Mad River Valley meeting in July, along with current legislators, where the discussion centered on this issue. I sat with Kaiya Korb, principal of Waitsfield Elementary School, to better understand the challenges she faces with regards to teacher hirings and budget cuts. The affordable housing deficit has many ramifications, including our school administrators’ abilities to hire teachers. I had coffee with Mike Leichliter, our HUUSD superintendent, who is one of thirteen people serving on the Commission on the Future of Public Education in Vermont.Senator Anne Cummings is also on the Commission. I am enthused that we have local representation, and will be following the Commission’s work closely.
I attended a MRV Chamber of Commerce mixer at the invitation of my friend Eric Friedman outdoors at The Bundy Modern, where I chatted with business owners about current challenges like this summer’s soft wedding season. This was my second visit to The Bundy this summer, whose indoor and outdoor art exhibits offer a delightful cultural experience for all of us. The Green Mountain Water Color Exhibition at The Red Barn Galleries at Lareau Farm is another noteworthy art exhibit I visited last month, with beautiful paintings from local and national artists. I also took advantage of visiting the Von Trapp Open Gardens, which are spectacular and benefit a local charity. And speaking of a local charity,I joined a MRV Rotary breakfast meeting at Toast & Eggs at the invitation of my friend Rob Perry, where I was impressed with the many ways this organization joyfully gives back to our community. That morning, student recipients of the Rotary scholarship awards were honored; the following week, Rotarians mobilized quickly to help with flood recovery. Thank you to the many businesses, organizations, and local folks who assisted with home clean-up and road and bridge repair. Remember to vote on Tuesday.
P.S. Go Kamala!
