I was dismayed by the recent political mailer from Michael Tagliavia, candidate for state representative in Orange-1, because of its misrepresentations and attack on the character of his opponent. I have been an active member of the community for more than 50 years and have both witnessed and been a part of controversies, impassioned debates and the process of making difficult decisions that our small towns experience. I have never seen tactics such as these used in a local election.
Tagliavia’s mailer has a shadowy figure of a man clasping a briefcase overflowing with cash next to his opponent Carl Demrow’s name, suggesting that Carl has been stealing or benefiting financially from his service. Carl Demrow has honorably served his community in a variety of capacities; as a member of the library board, the board of Northeast Slopes, the Corinth Selectboard, the Clara Martin board and more. He is currently the representative for the district. Carl’s integrity and decades of selfless service to the community are well known.
Tagliavia misrepresents Carl’s record. Contrary to the claims in his mailer; local property taxes did not double: the rates went down in Vershire, Corinth and Orange and up 1% in Washington; Carl did not vote for a home heating fuel tax; and Carl voted against the legislative pay raise bill. The Renewable Energy Standard is estimated to cost less than $450,000,000 over 10 years, not $1 billion as Tagliavia claims, and residents of the district served by Washington Electric Coop (most of the district), do not pay any costs imposed by the standard. This stream of falsehoods is not what Vermonters expect from candidates.
Tagliavia claims to value integrity, honesty and respect for others. A resident of the state for five years, Tagliavia claims to want to restore Vermont values. I do not know what values he thinks he needs to restore, but the values that he has displayed are not the values we need in a state representative. I urge you to vote for Carl Demrow.
Virginia Barlow
Corinth