Cristina ShayOnye is running for a one year seat on the Brattleboro Selectboard.
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Tell us a bit about yourself. Who are you and why are you running for a one year seat?
I live right outside of Downtown Brattleboro with my two young children and Partner. We both work and struggle to make ends meet but are dedicated to providing affordable essential services to our community. My partner is an auto mechanic and I provide childcare, work as an assistant slate roof repairman, and mason’s helper. I also co-run The Vermont Village School which is a multi-generational village of families and individuals that come together to meet one another’s needs and learn together. On March 17th we will be starting a Civics Class at Brooks Memorial Library every Monday morning from 10-11am for the Spring season. All ages are welcome to come and learn how to “citizen”.
Most importantly, I am a Town Government nerd. I see how important the decisions made by our Selectboard are to all those who live, work, or visit Brattleboro. I was raised in a big city and am inspired by how accessible our local government is here in this small town. I chose to run for a 1 year seat because I support Oscar Heller and did not run against him.. AND because I do not feel represented by the two incumbents running to extend their term on the board.
Is there any particular issue that is motivating you to run? Why did you gather signatures?
I was encouraged to run for Selectboard by quite a few folks in Town Government. I have been attending Selectboard Meetings regularly this last year in an attempt to bring a voice I do not otherwise hear represented. I strongly believe the Selectboard should be as diverse as our Town and it is time for new voices.
How would you quickly describe Brattleboro to someone who has never been here?
That river life. It’s so dreamy. I can drive a few minutes away from my house and have many beautiful choices for where to put my canoe into a river.
What problems do see at the top of Brattleboro’s list in 2025?
I see the polarization in our town as the issue that is hindering progress on all other issues. We must find a way to come together to address the massive systemic issues our town faces like the childcare crisis, the opioid crisis, and the housing crisis.
What are your priorities? Have any new ideas for solving any of our problems?
I see neighbors arguing over what is true and not true about Brattleboro. How can we grow together and respect one another’s vastly diverse experiences of being a resident here? One person may feel safe while another does not. Arguing about that is now its own crisis. I have read pieces in the local papers of residents saying they are going to fight back – and I’m left wondering what war they are showing up for… Fighting your neighbor who wants to protect constitutional rights equally under the law? It’s simply not true that if your neighbor is against chipping away at constitutional rights they are also against violent crimes being prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. We agree on a lot more than the current discourse would have you believe. Let’s focus on what we agree on and create nuanced solutions that truly fit our communities diverse needs.
What impresses you about Brattleboro – why be here? What are our strengths and how can we tap into them?
I am so impressed with the bulk section at the Brattleboro Food Co-op and bring jars to fill up everything our family consumes that is available in bulk. I am impressed with The Village Closet located at Winston Prouty where I swap out my children’s clothes for bigger ones as they grow like weeds. It’s run by volunteers and the clothes are always free. I am impressed by all the knowledgeable residents who volunteer their time in so many ways around town – growing free food for neighbors, stocking shelves at Foodworks, running our ski slope at Memorial Park, diving deep into the Town’s budget and asking questions at Selectboard meetings, keep the list going..what would you add?
When you think of the future, how do you see Brattleboro?
When I moved here in 2019 I immediately noticed differing opinions on economic growth from folks who have been here for generations and those who moved here recently. I, myself, being one of the newer residents, think it’s important to spend more time listening to those who have called this town home for generations than to promote my ideas of what Brattleboro could be. When I go back to my hometown it is nearly unrecognizable because of all the economic growth. Brattleboro is a special place and I think the most important thing I can do on the Selectboard is keep it affordable to those that have always called it home.
How do climate issues figure into your vision?
Every single decision made by the Selectboard should be sustainable – financially and environmentally.
I have a degree in Environmental Science from Antioch College and raise my children to be mindful of limited resources. You have not seen any lawn signs from my campaign because I am strongly against single-use plastic. We cannot afford to continue to center our human needs without regard to our impact on all other living things. This is never an after-thought for me.
12.1% seems like an enormous property tax increase for taxpayers. Thoughts?
Tax increases should never be in the double digits. I am a current member of the RTM Finance Committee and our 30 page report will be published in March. It is written for Town Meeting Reps but available for all residents. There are many suggestions in those pages for more fiduciary responsibility. I know we can keep our taxes affordable. We may have to make sacrifices but not forever – new programs and expenses can be rolled out over the course of multiple years by bringing back long term planning.
Could we get better budgets if we reversed our current system and instead had Representative Town Meeting create the town budget and let the Selectboard approve it?
I have been on RTM for three years and I have heard this suggestion before. However, I have a hard time picturing how this process would work on the floor of Representative Town Meeting. I would be open to the idea of amending RTM’s power so that line items in the budget could be changed on the floor. As of now, RTM cannot change specific line items, they can only vote to change the entire budget amount. They can include a non-binding line-item amount in their amendment to the total budget amount, but the Selectboard still has the final say on the actual line item amounts.
Do you expect the advisory vote on human services funding to give you good feedback? Was it smart to limit the question to human services funding and not other parts of the budget, say staffing or program cuts?
Our March 4th ballot is effectively a survey. I take great issue with the Selectboards decision to fill the voters ballot with non-binding survey questions. Our March 4th ballot is the one place residents are a decision-making body. Instead of the Selectboard granting residents a vote on important matters they are just asking residents how they think the actual decision-making bodies should vote. Considering voter turnout is so low in local elections, I don’t find this the appropriate method for gathering input from residents. The Selectboard could survey us anytime – and should! But do not take decision-making powers away from residents by using our ballots as a survey.
In your view, would it be better to have a central indoor location for people to use needles for drug injections, or should we keep things as they are currently (ie, any locations around town, out in the open)?
I will be watching the progress of the Overdose Prevention Center (OPC) in Burlington closely. Other candidates have stated they are firmly against an OPC in Brattleboro. I am firmly against doing nothing. So, I hope we will hear alternatives to OPCs rather than just opposition to OPCs.
Are you satisfied with Brattleboro’s support of its farming community? What’s working and what can we do better?
I would love to learn more about what support our farming community needs to keep feeding us so well. I am much more qualified to discuss Brattleboro’s childcare crisis but do not see that on these questions – or coming up at all in our local government. This is one of the reasons I know we need a voice on the Board that can keep this crisis front and center as it effects all of us – particularly our workforce – which also effects our farming community.
Are you satisfied with public engagement in town matters? Is local democracy strong?
This is an area of great interest for me. My mother raised me to participate in this fairly new experiment called Democracy because without participation it doesn’t work. I see ways we can strengthen participation in our local democracy and I am passionate about increasing public engagement. Democracy is not a spectator sport!
The Community Safety Review Committee recommended, generally, that we should aim to reduce policing and increase human services in Brattleboro. Do we respect the work of committees?
Committee work is an area that I will hone in on as a Selectboard member. What committees directly advise the Selectboard? How are decisions made if there are no advisory committees? Just based on the personality of each Selectboard member? I find this reality concerning and want to strengthen committee work in relation to our Selectboard.
Recommend some books, movies, and/or music for us…. what is interesting you lately?
I recently checked out a great DVD from our beloved library – America Outdoors with Baratunde Thurston.
Is there anything you’d like to mention that hasn’t been asked?
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What’s the best way for voters to reach you?
