I was asked by the St. Albans Messenger a series of questions that will continue each week until the election on November 6th. This is the third question: Possession of a small amount of marijuana in Vermont is now legal. In your view, should the state move forward with a regulated market for marijuana or leave things as they are now?

The legislature moved too quickly towards the full legalization of marijuana this past biennium.  The biggest issue I am hearing while I’m talking to my neighbors going door to door is that they are concerned about the safety issues we will face now that marijuana is legalized, especially safety issues on the road. We don’t have an effective roadside testing method because our law enforcement officers will have a more difficult time keeping our roads safe.  As the father of two young sons - public safety is a top priority for me. 

Now that legalization is here, I believe we need to monitor the impact it has and see if we can further develop our testing and enforcement methods before I would support moving to a full blown retail and tax market. 

I was asked by the St. Albans Messenger a series of questions that will continue each week until the election on November 6th. This is the second question: State officials have put the cost for cleaning up Lake Champlain at $1.2 billion over 20 years. There is still no agreed upon funding source for this work. How do you think the state should fund its clean water efforts?

Clean water is essential to our state, especially to our local economy. I think we need to act immediately to clean up our lakes but that doesn’t mean the first thing we do is look for a new tax or fee.  Vermonters are frustrated with the legislature currently because they don’t address our affordability crisis. We just watched our legislature raise property taxes in a year in which we have a significant surplus and they continue debate the carbon tax.

We need legislators who will take the time to prioritize how we spend your money.  Water quality should be one of those top priorities.  Addressing our affordability crisis, growing our economy, combating our opiate epidemic and cleaning our water are top priorities of mine and I will work hard to address those and in doing so do everything I can not to make Vermont less affordable for you and your family.

I was asked by the St. Albans Messenger a series of questions that will continue each week until the election on November 6th. This is the first question: Why are you running for the legislature and what qualifications do you have for the seat you are seeking?

I am running because as a lifelong St. Albans resident I see too many Vermonters struggle to live, work, and raise a family here in Vermont. Going door to door I hear far too many people tell me that their son or daughter has left the state to find a better job and a cheaper way of life. As a father of two young children, I am worried to think about what their future here brings.

This community has taught me a lot – including the need to give back.  I am offering my voice because I can fight for and prioritize St. Albans values - not Burlington wishes. I will fight the opiate epidemic, I will fight for a more affordable Vermont – by opposing tax and fee increases  and I will work to bring better jobs and better access for Vermonters to go to college.