WEATHERSFIELD — Three candidates are on the ballot for the open seat representing Cavendish and Weathersfield in the Vermont House, but one isn’t running anymore.
Democrat John Arrison, 69, a self-employed electrical contractor from Weathersfield, is running against Republican Michael Kell, 66, a retired Windsor School principal and part-time mail carrier from Cavendish in the Windsor 2 district.
The third candidate on the ballot, Independent Sean Whalen, initially threw his hat in the ring, but said in an email Tuesday that he wishes he could take back the decision, and urged people to vote for either Arrison or Kell.
“We want every vote to count — and a vote for me would only take away from someone who is worthy to serve,” he said via email.
The seat is currently held by state Rep. Annmarie Christensen, a Perkinsville Democrat who has represented the district since 2017 but is not seeking another term, saying she initially only intended to run for two terms, and that it’s time for another person to step up to the plate. For Arrison, a lifelong Vermonter and former Weathersfield Selectboard member for 16 years, the decision to run was a natural one.
“I’ve always felt that everyone has an obligation to their community,” he said. He joined the race after Democratic primary winner Daniel Boyer dropped out. He also has support from Christensen, who said that, as a small business owner, Arrison understands the struggles facing other small businesses.
Kell, who moved to Vermont from Pennsylvania 10 years ago, and ran for the House seat as a write-in in 2018, said this election is his first “real endeavor to represent our two communities.”
“I’m not a politician, I’m a common-sense guy and that’s the way I like to frame things out,” he said, adding that the current House has a supermajority of Democrats, and he wants to bring in representation from Republican Vermonters. “Where are the voices of people not in the major party? Are they represented fairly?”
The candidates share differing views on some issues such as global warming, though they both described it as a pressing concern.
Arrison said the state has to focus on reducing its carbon footprint, cutting down on driving and bolstering its public transportation system, adding that Vermont has a “reasonable rail line system that is woefully underused.”
“We don’t have any choice but to address global warming. We can’t afford not to address it,” Arrison said.
Kell said Vermont, compared to the rest of the country, has a relatively low carbon footprint, and he worries about the financial burden that the Global Warming Solutions Act, which became law in September over Republican Gov. Phil Scott’s veto, would place on taxpayers.
However, he said he would listen to what residents in Cavendish and Weathersfield have to say.
“If it’s a concern for constituents of District 2, it’s a focus of mine. Let’s look at affordability of electric cars, of solar panels,” he said.
Both men also addressed the issue of paid family and medical leave and how to cover the cost of a statewide policy. A bill the House passed in January would have instituted a statewide paid family and medical leave program, but it was vetoed by Scott.
Arrison, who called himself “socially liberal and fiscally conservative,” said he would be in favor of paid family and medical leave throughout Vermont but worried about the cost to business owners.
“Anything that puts a burden on small businesses gets passed on to the customer,” he said, adding, “I fully support paid family leave, but I’m not sure how it gets paid for.”
Kell came down on a similar side, saying he believes family leave is a “plus” but said he was concerned about the financial burden it would put on taxpayers.
“I would like to be fiscally responsible,” he said. “That’s not to say I’m not supportive of it at all, but how would it be funded?”
Both men also addressed a pressing social issue: national conversations over racial injustice that have led to calls for defunding the police, both around the country and in the Upper Valley over the past few months.
Arrison said he supports providing more training for Vermont police officers on how to handle situations that include mental health issues, rather than defunding police.
“That’s a catchy buzzword,” he said of “defund,” adding, “I don’t think our police are overstaffed, I think they’re under-trained.”
Kell addressed another end of the recent discussions, saying the protests led him to think there should be more education on racial inequality at an earlier age. Kell, a former school administrator in Pennsylvania, said a diverse group of speakers should be brought into schools to teach students about issues of racial injustice.
“We need to be able to work together to have a dialogue,” he said.
Anna Merriman can be reached at amerriman@vnews.com or 603-727-3216.