Dear Editor, I am writing to express my support for John Rodgers as the next Lieutenant Governor of Vermont. Having previously served as Commissioner of Vermont’s Dept. of Forests, Parks, and Recreation for 12 years, appointed by two different governors with a significant legislative portfolio over six legislative biennia, I worked over an extended period…

Dear Editor, I urge my friends and neighbors to elect Joe Major and to re-elect Alison Clarkson and Becca White to the Vermont Senate. Major offers intelligence and extensive management experience. He listens with an open heart and an open mind. Clarkson and White have risen to the challenges of governing in a time of…

By John Vogel Editor’s note: John Vogel of Williston is a retired professor at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College. The shortage and cost of housing in Vermont is a problem we can solve. Other states are showing us how.  In Minneapolis, apartment rents have declined by 4% over the last five years,…

By Chief Don Stevens, Nulhegan Band of the Coosuk – Abenaki Nation As the holiday season approaches, it gives us time to reflect on how we celebrate the Holidays. Whether you celebrate Columbus or Indigenous Peoples Day is a personal choice. Some gather together to celebrate the original inhabitants of this land, Columbus, or simply…

By Don Tinney Editor’s note: Don Tinney, an English teacher who lives in South Hero, is the elected president of Vermont-NEA, the state’s largest union. He has also served as chair of the Vermont Standards Board for Professional Educators. Recently, I came across an extraordinary video produced by Gov. Phil Scott’s Agency of Education. It…

Dear Editor,  Unchecked trapping poses a serious and largely unnoticed threat to Vermont’s imperiled fisher population. It shouldn’t have to come to this. Why does it take Protect Our Wildlife (POW), an all-volunteer Vermont nonprofit, to petition Vermont Fish & Wildlife to get them to protect Vermont’s imperiled wildlife? Fish & Wildlife is well aware…

Dear Editor, Governor Phil Scott can solve the homeless crisis with two phone calls. Search “Unrestricted land sales” in Vermont. There is 150 acres for sale for $875,000 [in Alburgh] of which most of this land is fields and can accommodate 10 trailer campers per acre, for 1,500 homes for Vermont homeless adults and children. …

Dear Editor, I am writing in support of the Democratic ticket for the Windsor County Senate district: Sen. Alison Clarkson, Sen. Becca White, and Joe Major. Clarkson and White are seeking re-election, while Major hopes to bring his extensive town governance, housing, and racial justice experience to Montpelier as a new senator for our district.…

Dear Editor, My name is Justin Schoville, and I am running for U.S. Senate in the Green Mountain Peace and Justice Party (labelled “Peace and Justice” on your ballots). Peace and Justice candidates are running for most of the statewide offices this year. We believe in providing basic necessities for everyone free of charge — education,…

By Angelo Lynn Editor’s note: Angelo Lynn is the editor and publisher of the Addison Independent in Middlebury, a sister paper to the Mountain Times.  Vermont Republicans running for election to the House or Senate have two ready-made campaign issues — inflation and high property taxes — and many are using it to their full…

By Jeffrey Reel Editor’s note: Jeffrey Reel is a writer from Hartland. He serves as the general manager of the Rutland Food Co-Op. The debate on how to lower healthcare costs in Vermont is of paramount importance. Of equal importance is balancing that debate with discussions on the quality of life we can achieve right…

Dear Editor, Do you remember the days if a politician even mentioned raising taxes they were duly excluded from getting your vote?   Well, it’s time for Vermonters to wake up and pay attention. On top of Vermonters dealing with 30%-100% inflation and lingering hardships from Covid lockdowns, the Democrat supermajority in our Vermont Legislature has…

Dear Editor, Sen. Alison Clarkson, Sen. Becca White, and Joe Major deserve our vote here in Windsor County. This is a statement of my strong support for the Windsor County Senate district Democratic ticket: Sen. Alison Clarkson, Sen. Becca White, and Joe Major. Clarkson and White are seeking re-election, while Major hopes to bring his…

By Elizabeth Bridgewater and Chris Campany Editor’s note: Elizabeth Bridgewater is the executive director of the Windham & Windsor Housing Trust. Chris Campany is the executive director of the Windham Regional Commission. Housing remains at the top of the media cycle for good reason: there are still not enough homes for people. Recently, Vermont’s Department…

By Peter Sterling Editor’s note: Peter Sterling is the executive director of Renewable Energy Vermont, the nonprofit trade association representing Vermont businesses working towards a 100% renewable energy future.  Though the tragic and costly impacts of changing weather extremes on Vermont continue to (justifiably) make headlines, they shouldn’t totally overshadow recent accomplishments in the fight…