The Mountain Times

Anne Gallivan to run for State Rep for Bridgewater, Chittenden, Killington, Mendon

Vermont's libraries and schools are a source of pride to Anne Gallivan who is announcing her candidacy for Rutland-Windsor 1 seat in the Vermont House of Representatives. Gallivan believes "an education that empowers individuals to continue to learn and have access to broad sources of information is essential to a working democracy."

Gallivan and her husband, Tom, have lived in Chittenden for 36 years and raised three sons who attended local schools. She has been continually involved in the community, including co-founding a cooperative pre-school, restarting a scout troop, being elected to the Barstow Memorial School Board, and establishing a school-based mentoring program. She has also been a field hockey and tennis coach for Barstow's middle school teams.

Many in Chittenden and Mendon may know her as the former school library media specialist at Barstow Memorial School. During her 21 years there, from 1988-2010, she also served with and led the Friends of the Rutland Free Library, and later was an active board member with the Vermont School Librarians Association, including a year as its president. During that term, she travelled to Washington, D.C. to represent Vermont librarians for Library Legislative Day.  She returned with a new sense of connection to the political process and was inspired to become more involved locally.

Successful health care reform, renewable energy initiatives, and efforts to attract clean businesses are issues that rise to the top for her. For budget relief, Gallivan sees job training programs as a model for trimming the costs of a burdened prison system. She believes in a straight forward political process, and will be committed to full participation in Vermont's House of Representatives.

"In moving beyond involvement with Chittenden and Rutland organizations,
Anne Gallivan will give strong attention to building  economic strength throughout her district.  She wants to embolden the already strong tourist economy, and assure that businesses feel supported in the process," says  Rutland senator Bill Carris. "She'll make a great representative."

Gallivan currently serves on the board of Rutland County's Mentor Connector, volunteers as a mentor to a local student, and helps out at the Community Cupboard Food Shelf. "I am excited to visit with members of the Bridgewater, Killington, Mendon, and Chittenden communities during the campaign and to hear what is on their minds - both their dreams and their frustrations," says Gallivan. 

Follow the campaign at www.gallivan-for-rep.com

Tagged: campaign, Anne Gallivan, State Representative