Candidates answers to the Vermont Daily Chronicle's Questionnaire are posted here in the order they are received in the County their campaign is in. We hope this helps voters be informed about the Constitutional stances of the candidates.
Williams: able-bodied homeless should be required to work -
Vermont Daily Chronicle - Sept. 21, 2024 - click for more
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by Sen. Terry Williams
Editor’s note: Senator Terry Williams (R-Rutland) is an incumbent state senator. More than a month ago, inspired by a candidate questionnaire cancelled by Windham County resident Abigail Crosby, I sent him and every other legislative candidate a detailed questionnaire (NOT the Clean Heat Standard survey also sent to every candidate.)
Sen. Terry WilliamsVery few candidates of either party submitted detailed answers to this first, lengthy questionnaire. An exception is Sen. Williams, whose response was received this week. A U.S. Army officer and one of the most thoughtful legislators in Montpelier, Sen. Williams’ responses are informative and thought-provoking. I’ve highlighted some of the (IMHO) most interesting thoughts.
Housing
This problem is most prevalent in my district, Rutland County and I have been involved in meetings at three different levels as we attempt to confront the problem and deal with the people who are most affected by it.
1. Appoint an agency and a person by name to deal with the problem. That organization/person will be the “Tip of the Spear” and needs to be charged with the responsibility and given the authority and resources they need to positively eliminate the problem. Whether it is a government agency or a non-profit that is selected to deal with this, they need to have a clear vision and a strategic plan to systematically take down the situation.
2. Over the past several years, our government has thrown billions of tax-payer dollars at this problem to no-avail. Yes, there have been successes, but overall the system of homelessness and prevention has not changed. Government intervention and oversight needs to happen to ensure that waste, fraud and abuse is eliminated and that every dollar spent contributes to the take down of the problem.
3 The Department of Buildings and Grounds (BGS) has produced a list of all vacant (unused) state owned and leased buildings in the state of Vermont and the administration should look to eliminate those leases or ownership of those buildings or consider using them to help temporarily alleviate the shortage of housing for the unhoused population of Vermont.
I do support the current ‘Housing First’ policy of housing homeless persons with medical and mental disabilities and single parents with children without requiring them to work on the causes. All able-bodied homeless, if a resident, should be required to work to help offset the conditions of their homelessness and get invested in the local workforce to help compliment our labor force. The government needs to be involved in working with these people to ensure that they become active participants in our society.
I do believe that non-Vermont citizens who move here should have a mandatory waiting period required before they can apply for state government assistance. Some states require a one year waiting period. I believe that there should always be exceptions for extenuating circumstances, but it should not be a system where you can arrive here today and be on government assistance tomorrow as it is now in Vermont.
Climate Change & Environment
I do not support implementing the Clean Heat Standard now.
I must confess that I do not know how the carbon credit system created by the Clean Heat Standard works, but I do know how it will affect Vermonters. Even the PUC and experts, including most legislators who voted for this act admit that they do not know how it will work. I guess we will need to wait until January 2025 to find out. But, I know that it will have an adverse financial impact upon most Vermonters, especially the ones most vulnerable and who are supported by a fixed income. We can and must do better than Act 18.
I do not support banning the sale of all non-electric vehicles by 2035 and don’t know why we always thrive to be in compliance with California standards when Vermont has one of the cleanest environments in the country and probably the world. Until we fix the antiquated electrical infrastructure of this country so that it can support total electrification systems, we are attempting a fool’s errand.
Vermont should come up with a plan to relocate their population centers and businesses out of the flood plains but, until we do this, debris (trees and gravel) should be removed from the bends and pools which fill up with sediment. The strategy of ‘let the rivers and streams go where they want to go’ might work after another century, but it is not helping in the interim.
Education
I support “the money follows the child.” I believe that the problems with Vermont education began with the advent of Act 60/68 and that “the equity in education act” should be repealed and we should start over again. We have moved so far from the intent of Act 60/68 that it is no longer relevant.
I believe that competition enhances a quality education and that the state should get out of the state education funding business, that property taxes should not be used to fund education and that we need to get back to local control of our children’s education in Vermont.
I do not support D/E/I or CRT in public school instruction. We need to place more emphasis upon teaching civics and civil discourse and how to respect others opinions and accept their constitutionally guaranteed rights to be the way that they are without exception as long as it is within societal norms.
Student test scores will improve when our school system moves back to an identifiable standard for student achievement and when they are held to those standards scores will improve. If a student does not achieve those standards they should remain in that grade until they do. Each student should be periodically evaluated to ensure that they are capable of achieving the standards and if they are not, they should be moved to a different course of instruction or remedial instructional methods should be employed.
I do not support Vermont continuing as a sanctuary state and I believe that Vermont should work with federal authorities to apprehend and remove immigrants who entered the country illegally out of fairness to the ones who did come here legally, met the standard of citizenship and assimilated into our society.
Elections
I do not support non-citizen voting and I do support apprehending and removing immigrants who entered illegally.
Drug Crimes
We should enforce the laws on the books to enforce the drug crimes in this state and the country. We need to secure the borders and prosecute the criminals to the fullest extent of the laws on the books already. Being told that we don’t want the “low level violators” and we are after the “big drug dealers” is not acceptable.
Land Conservation
I do not support Act 59 as it is currently written and do not believe that any legislation should pass into law until there is a clearly defined explanation of how that act will work. This act does not pass muster. I also think that every piece of legislation should include the taxpayers of Vermont as stakeholders before the bill should even be considered by a legislative committee.
Firearms Restrictions
I support and defend the constitutions of Vermont and the United States and especially article 16 and the 2nd amendment of those documents. “Shall not be infringed” means exactly what it says!
When I am elected to another term as a Rutland County senator, I want to be on the Natural Resources and Energy and Judiciary committees.
Editor’s note: Senator Terry Williams (R-Rutland) is an incumbent state senator. More than a month ago, inspired by a candidate questionnaire cancelled by Windham County resident Abigail Crosby, I sent him and every other legislative candidate a detailed questionnaire (NOT the Clean Heat Standard survey also sent to every candidate.)
Sen. Terry WilliamsVery few candidates of either party submitted detailed answers to this first, lengthy questionnaire. An exception is Sen. Williams, whose response was received this week. A U.S. Army officer and one of the most thoughtful legislators in Montpelier, Sen. Williams’ responses are informative and thought-provoking. I’ve highlighted some of the (IMHO) most interesting thoughts.
Housing
This problem is most prevalent in my district, Rutland County and I have been involved in meetings at three different levels as we attempt to confront the problem and deal with the people who are most affected by it.
1. Appoint an agency and a person by name to deal with the problem. That organization/person will be the “Tip of the Spear” and needs to be charged with the responsibility and given the authority and resources they need to positively eliminate the problem. Whether it is a government agency or a non-profit that is selected to deal with this, they need to have a clear vision and a strategic plan to systematically take down the situation.
2. Over the past several years, our government has thrown billions of tax-payer dollars at this problem to no-avail. Yes, there have been successes, but overall the system of homelessness and prevention has not changed. Government intervention and oversight needs to happen to ensure that waste, fraud and abuse is eliminated and that every dollar spent contributes to the take down of the problem.
3 The Department of Buildings and Grounds (BGS) has produced a list of all vacant (unused) state owned and leased buildings in the state of Vermont and the administration should look to eliminate those leases or ownership of those buildings or consider using them to help temporarily alleviate the shortage of housing for the unhoused population of Vermont.
I do support the current ‘Housing First’ policy of housing homeless persons with medical and mental disabilities and single parents with children without requiring them to work on the causes. All able-bodied homeless, if a resident, should be required to work to help offset the conditions of their homelessness and get invested in the local workforce to help compliment our labor force. The government needs to be involved in working with these people to ensure that they become active participants in our society.
I do believe that non-Vermont citizens who move here should have a mandatory waiting period required before they can apply for state government assistance. Some states require a one year waiting period. I believe that there should always be exceptions for extenuating circumstances, but it should not be a system where you can arrive here today and be on government assistance tomorrow as it is now in Vermont.
Climate Change & Environment
I do not support implementing the Clean Heat Standard now.
I must confess that I do not know how the carbon credit system created by the Clean Heat Standard works, but I do know how it will affect Vermonters. Even the PUC and experts, including most legislators who voted for this act admit that they do not know how it will work. I guess we will need to wait until January 2025 to find out. But, I know that it will have an adverse financial impact upon most Vermonters, especially the ones most vulnerable and who are supported by a fixed income. We can and must do better than Act 18.
I do not support banning the sale of all non-electric vehicles by 2035 and don’t know why we always thrive to be in compliance with California standards when Vermont has one of the cleanest environments in the country and probably the world. Until we fix the antiquated electrical infrastructure of this country so that it can support total electrification systems, we are attempting a fool’s errand.
Vermont should come up with a plan to relocate their population centers and businesses out of the flood plains but, until we do this, debris (trees and gravel) should be removed from the bends and pools which fill up with sediment. The strategy of ‘let the rivers and streams go where they want to go’ might work after another century, but it is not helping in the interim.
Education
I support “the money follows the child.” I believe that the problems with Vermont education began with the advent of Act 60/68 and that “the equity in education act” should be repealed and we should start over again. We have moved so far from the intent of Act 60/68 that it is no longer relevant.
I believe that competition enhances a quality education and that the state should get out of the state education funding business, that property taxes should not be used to fund education and that we need to get back to local control of our children’s education in Vermont.
I do not support D/E/I or CRT in public school instruction. We need to place more emphasis upon teaching civics and civil discourse and how to respect others opinions and accept their constitutionally guaranteed rights to be the way that they are without exception as long as it is within societal norms.
Student test scores will improve when our school system moves back to an identifiable standard for student achievement and when they are held to those standards scores will improve. If a student does not achieve those standards they should remain in that grade until they do. Each student should be periodically evaluated to ensure that they are capable of achieving the standards and if they are not, they should be moved to a different course of instruction or remedial instructional methods should be employed.
I do not support Vermont continuing as a sanctuary state and I believe that Vermont should work with federal authorities to apprehend and remove immigrants who entered the country illegally out of fairness to the ones who did come here legally, met the standard of citizenship and assimilated into our society.
Elections
I do not support non-citizen voting and I do support apprehending and removing immigrants who entered illegally.
Drug Crimes
We should enforce the laws on the books to enforce the drug crimes in this state and the country. We need to secure the borders and prosecute the criminals to the fullest extent of the laws on the books already. Being told that we don’t want the “low level violators” and we are after the “big drug dealers” is not acceptable.
Land Conservation
I do not support Act 59 as it is currently written and do not believe that any legislation should pass into law until there is a clearly defined explanation of how that act will work. This act does not pass muster. I also think that every piece of legislation should include the taxpayers of Vermont as stakeholders before the bill should even be considered by a legislative committee.
Firearms Restrictions
I support and defend the constitutions of Vermont and the United States and especially article 16 and the 2nd amendment of those documents. “Shall not be infringed” means exactly what it says!
When I am elected to another term as a Rutland County senator, I want to be on the Natural Resources and Energy and Judiciary committees.
Todd Nielsen
Brandon - House of Representatives
To the editor:
I am writing to ask you to vote for change in the Nov 5 election. As a Brandon citizen, taxpayer, and business owner for the past 36 years, I am deeply concerned about affordability in Vermont and my neighbors and friends who are seniors, parents raising their children, working people, fellow business owners, and fellow horseback riders/farm owners.
Long time Vermonters can see the health provider crisis, health insurance company crisis, housing crisis, childcare provider crisis, worker shortage crisis, education cost and outcomes crisis, drug crisis, and the affordability crisis as indicators that our current legislative majority is not solving problems by the spending they are forcing us to pay.
Following the Global Solutions Warming Act (GSWA) to mandate reduction of greenhouse gas emissions or be sued for non compliance, the Legislature will be tasked with instituting rules and plans for converting heat and transportation to reduce gashouse emissions in January. Every Vermonter should be concerned with the plans of the Legislature and the Public Utilities commission that affects our heat and transportation, both basic needs. Rep. Stephanie Jerome voted for GSWA and votes along party lines. Will she support any plan to comply, no matter the cost to you or your small fuel dealer business?
Folks who have moved to Vermont from other places may believe the taxes aren't too bad as compared to where they came from. However, the stories I heard at the polls at the August primary and since then are heartbreaking that native Vermonters are having to sell out because they can't afford the legislation that is being forced upon them. Why would we elect representatives that force our native Vermonters to leave their homes? Why are the laws prioritizing policy over our people and not caring about all diverse members of our town?
Brandon's VT House Representative has been in office since 2019. When I have approached Rep. Stephanie Jerome to discuss concerns about health insurance, rising costs, and increased administrative burdens on businesses, good jobs for our children that aren't in government or hospitals, she has not been helpful in any way. Other Brandon business owners have shared the same feedback with me. They, as with me, were told that how Stephanie voted was what was best for me, even when we knew better, or she says she pays even more than we do. I am embarrassed to be a Vermonter now based on some of the ridiculous and harmful votes she has voted for in the past few years, and our taxes have continued to increase, and this year, it was significant increases. It is time for change!
Vermont needs change in the statehouse to have more careful votes to consider the effects on our people and our childrens' futures. We need people who will think twice about spending. We need a representative who will talk to their neighbors and listen and can relate to a working person's income, a business owner wanting to support their family, and who has the strength to vote against party lines for Brandon. It is time for a change!
Todd Nielsen listens, he cares, he wants Vermont to be more affordable, and he wants his children to have a future in Vermont! Please vote for change and affordability and vote Todd Nielsen in the Nov 5 election.
Sharon Stearns, Brandon
Brandon - House of Representatives
To the editor:
I am writing to ask you to vote for change in the Nov 5 election. As a Brandon citizen, taxpayer, and business owner for the past 36 years, I am deeply concerned about affordability in Vermont and my neighbors and friends who are seniors, parents raising their children, working people, fellow business owners, and fellow horseback riders/farm owners.
Long time Vermonters can see the health provider crisis, health insurance company crisis, housing crisis, childcare provider crisis, worker shortage crisis, education cost and outcomes crisis, drug crisis, and the affordability crisis as indicators that our current legislative majority is not solving problems by the spending they are forcing us to pay.
Following the Global Solutions Warming Act (GSWA) to mandate reduction of greenhouse gas emissions or be sued for non compliance, the Legislature will be tasked with instituting rules and plans for converting heat and transportation to reduce gashouse emissions in January. Every Vermonter should be concerned with the plans of the Legislature and the Public Utilities commission that affects our heat and transportation, both basic needs. Rep. Stephanie Jerome voted for GSWA and votes along party lines. Will she support any plan to comply, no matter the cost to you or your small fuel dealer business?
Folks who have moved to Vermont from other places may believe the taxes aren't too bad as compared to where they came from. However, the stories I heard at the polls at the August primary and since then are heartbreaking that native Vermonters are having to sell out because they can't afford the legislation that is being forced upon them. Why would we elect representatives that force our native Vermonters to leave their homes? Why are the laws prioritizing policy over our people and not caring about all diverse members of our town?
Brandon's VT House Representative has been in office since 2019. When I have approached Rep. Stephanie Jerome to discuss concerns about health insurance, rising costs, and increased administrative burdens on businesses, good jobs for our children that aren't in government or hospitals, she has not been helpful in any way. Other Brandon business owners have shared the same feedback with me. They, as with me, were told that how Stephanie voted was what was best for me, even when we knew better, or she says she pays even more than we do. I am embarrassed to be a Vermonter now based on some of the ridiculous and harmful votes she has voted for in the past few years, and our taxes have continued to increase, and this year, it was significant increases. It is time for change!
Vermont needs change in the statehouse to have more careful votes to consider the effects on our people and our childrens' futures. We need people who will think twice about spending. We need a representative who will talk to their neighbors and listen and can relate to a working person's income, a business owner wanting to support their family, and who has the strength to vote against party lines for Brandon. It is time for a change!
Todd Nielsen listens, he cares, he wants Vermont to be more affordable, and he wants his children to have a future in Vermont! Please vote for change and affordability and vote Todd Nielsen in the Nov 5 election.
Sharon Stearns, Brandon