I currently live on a historic farm in Proctorsville with my wife and two elementary aged children.
I grew up in Springfield and attended public schools that prepared and encouraged me to do the following: Earn a degree in International Affairs from the University of Colorado at Boulder; study and speak multiple languages; live in seven states and France and Belgium; become a wilderness leader through Outward Bound; be a Big Brother mentor for over 13 years; serve on boards in environmental conservation and waste management, outdoor recreation, healthcare and community volunteerism; be active in my local community around ACT 46, school governance, broadband internet and economic development; volunteer for children's sports and ski programs in our school district and ski racing for a local mountain on weekends.
I have worked in the startup business and technology community for almost 20 years. My executive leadership accomplishments include founding an enterprise software company that built cutting edge telecommunications products for the federal government, Fortune 500, national associations and public universities.
I want to bring back proven, common-sense approaches to rebuilding our local economies and schools. Let's trust our neighbors to take responsibility for themselves and their families, respect diverse lifestyles, while also caring for those in need. These Vermont values give me faith that educational and economic control should return to our towns to build a modern, collaborative and sustainable economies. State government should enable and support our communities in rebuilding themselves.
I believe my Vermont roots, diverse experience in public and private industries, love of my neighbors and our local communities, as well as, my commitment to empowering people to live dignified and productive lives qualifies me for the job. As Governor, I will lead us to a brighter future.
Economic development
Let's boost our local economies. I propose we implement Community Innovation Funds that will distribute $1 million annually to each of our 12 Regional Development Corporations over a period of five years. These funds will be used to invest in creative ideas and businesses that will employ people, solve our local social challenges and diversify our population. We need to fast track successful ideas and remove administrative barriers to success. Vermont will be open for business! We need to pass a taxed and regulated market of cannabis. These initiatives will encourage the creative communities and growth that is proven to attract younger, entrepreneurial populations.
Education
Our schools are the community hubs of our local and rural communities. We need to shift our focus from a state mandated consolidation toward a locally managed system that values the unique needs and culture of our communities while encouraging collaboration. Closing schools removes a community's access to opportunity and self-determination. Restored local control over education will help to stabilize our communities, balance our budgets, respect our independent culture and promote equitable collaboration between neighboring towns to improve the outcomes for all our children.
Wellness
We need to focus on preventative care and wellness as a first step toward lowering our costs and improving our outcomes. Research supports the financial benefits of wellness care models toward lowering overall healthcare costs. If we keep our bodies tuned up, the chances of them breaking down are reduced. We can put the first steps in action by converting our in-school nursing and health programs to wellness clinics that can offer services to our children for general care, dental, vision and mental wellness services.
If our children are more aware of their own physical and emotional well-being, they will more effectively manage their health in the future and lower overall healthcare costs in the long run.
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Trevor was one of the young people who left, but he came home! We need more of this....
ReplyDeleteI wish Trevor well. He was a classmate of mine. I came home. I had to leave again. My husband and I (both from Springfield) are financially better off in our new location.
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