On July 21, 2016

Lisman demonstrates thoughtful conservatism

Dear Editor,

Bruce Lisman’s candidacy in this year’s Republican primary for governor seems, to me, to be a rare chance for us as Vermonters to help ourselves.

I introduced myself to Lisman after hearing him speak at a candidate forum last October. I found his thoughtfulness and engagement to be head and shoulders above the others, all of whom spoke well, but the others showed ambition for the job, while Lisman demonstrated a passionate desire to help. This seemed to be the most notable difference to me.

Since then, I have listened to his thoughts about government and its role and abilities and I believe his insightful, but common sense, approach will do us well, as a people and as a state.

Lisman, who is characterized negatively by some for his success as a businessman, is also a compassionate, thoughtful, engaged person raised in modest circumstances in Vermont. Lisman is fighting an uphill battle against the establishment candidate, Phil Scott, and I am grateful to him for doing so as I believe he has a chance to be the best leader this state has seen for a number of years.

I think Lisman fits the model of successful homegrown former businessman, and the mold of Governor Deane Davis, in that he comes from a business background and is fresh into politics with a fiscally conservative and socially liberal ethos and a sense of caring and of practicality that remind me not only of Davis but also of Richard Snelling in his terms of office.

I am grateful to political parties and the role they play for us but have always been a person who thinks the person and the thought is more important than the party. I am a party-switcher, mostly voting for Democrats and sometimes thinking well of Republicans. In this case, though I am quite liberal myself, I feel that Bruce Lisman’s thoughtful conservatism is well founded and won’t strain my principles and I will be voting for him in the Republican primary and I encourage you to do the same.

Robert Bernstein, Bristol

Do you want to submit feedback to the editor?

Send Us An Email!

Related Posts

Closing schools doesn’t fix Vermont’s education affordibility problems

October 30, 2024
By Margaret MacLean Editor’s note: Margaret MacLean, of Peacham, is a retired Vermont teacher and award-winning principal. She is the founding executive director of the Vermont Rural Education Collaborative, a past employee of the Rural School and Community Trust, and served on the Vermont State Board of Education.  Roxbury parents can meet most of the…

Making Vermont a place working families want to call home

October 30, 2024
By Rebecca Holcombe Editor’s note: Rebecca Holcombe is a Vermont Representative from Windsor-Orange 2 who served as the Vermont Secretary of Education from 2014 to 2018. Vermonters suffer from unsustainable increases in the cost of everything from property taxes to healthcare. Too many people are working hard and stretching Social Security checks but still worry…

Don’t be fooled by false promises

October 30, 2024
Dear Editor,  There is no simple solution to the challenges that Vermonters face. There needs to be a delicate balance between what, on the surface, seems like appealing short-term solutions to the cost of living for all Vermonters versus the vision for long-term planning that creates financial stability and growth into the future.  Do not…

Context matters

October 30, 2024
Dear Editor, In an October 23 letter to the Mountain Times, Steve Berry wrote, “John Kerry stated at a World Economic Forum panel, ‘Our First Amendment stands as a major block (to getting things done).’”  You may wonder why Mr. Berry uses such odd syntax, placing part of the quote in parentheses. Maybe it’s because…