Why Gov. Scott has my vote
When Gov. Phil Scott was elected in 2016, Vermont needed a leader willing to challenge unsustainable spending and policies. Today, that need is even greater.
As deputy commissioner of Forests, Parks, and Recreation during his first four years, I witnessed his leadership firsthand. Never once did I hear him make a decision based on partisan politics or the next election. His priorities were clear: grow the economy, improve affordability, and protect the vulnerable. We achieved meaningful bipartisan progress despite political disagreements.
I understand the frustration of those who believe conditions should be better after ten years. The governor’s record deserves scrutiny. So does the legislature’s.
I have sat in committee rooms where legislative leaders dismissed balanced testimony and competing ideas because they conflicted with party ideology or special interests. The consequences of those decisions affect everyday Vermonters.
A governor cannot enact an agenda alone. As a longtime member of the legislative majority once firmly reminded me, “We set the policies, and the executive branch administers them.”
Gov. Scott’s record vetoes reflect principled disagreements over Vermont’s direction, not an unwillingness to govern. He cannot circumvent the legislative process, nor should he.
Democrats have controlled both legislative chambers since 2005. Their 22-year record deserves as much scrutiny as Scott’s ten years. Are their policies delivering results that justify their soaring costs and ever-expanding regulations?
Gov. Scott has earned my vote. Vermont cannot afford leaders who treat our economy, land use, and society as a laboratory for untested experiments. We need stable leadership.
If you are looking for meaningful change, look closely at your votes for state representatives and senators. If you believe 10 years of Phil Scott is too long, ask yourself why 22 years of single-party legislative control gets a free pass.