Voters in the Vermont House district Windsor-Orange-2 will fill two seats on Tuesday, Nov. 3. Dee Gish of Sharon and Lauren Morando Rhim of Norwich are running unopposed.
The Valley News sent a survey to both candidates about their experience, why they are running and what they see as the biggest issue facing the state.
Gish’s answers, edited lightly for style, appear below. Gish, a first-time candidate with a background in budgets and grants for regional planning commissions and nonprofits, focuses on affordability. She calls for changes in property tax categories that favor year-round homes over vacation homes, and for shared services among towns and schools, and a higher income tax on the state’s top earners.
Morando Rhim did not return the questionnaire.
DEE GISH
VT House, Windsor-Orange-2
Age 59, Democrat/Progressive, lives in Sharon
Political experience: Never held elected office before.
Professional experience: Budgets, audits, grants management and administration at regional planning commissions and area nonprofits.
Community service: Planning Commission, Energy Committee, Sharon Community Trust, library, food shelf, WindowDressers.
Why are you running? To help Vermonters access affordable housing, universal primary health care, child care and elder care; incubate small businesses; support working lands; protect our environment; and ensure civil rights.
Biggest issue: I will address affordability by updating property tax categories to incentivize year-round occupancy and disincentivize luxury vacation homes. I will look for efficiencies and shared services in government and school districts while raising revenue with a marginal income tax on Vermont’s top 1%.
Online: deegishforvt.com
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