For opinion pieces on any topic.
After noting that there are only TEN candidates to fill 16 seats for District 1 three-year Town Meeting Members, I have decided to declare myself a write-in candidate.
If elected, I will represent West Brattleboro residents and interests to the best of my knowledge and ability.
My personal hopes and interests for West Brattleboro’s future include:
When I went to vote early on Friday, I was disturbed that, for the fifteen 3-year seats for District 3 there were only 10-11 printed candidates. I wrote myself in, and am now appealing to the community to write me in (don’t forget to fill in the oval to the right of the write-in slot).
I’ve lived on Elliot Street right above Harmony Lot since September 2007, and have experienced many disturbing scenarios (2008-2009 was especially bad; it’s better but there are continuing challenges). District 3 is the smallest in town, but it covers downtown and cannot afford to be underrepresented.
BURLINGTON, Vt., March 4 – Sen. Bernie Sanders, a member of the Senate Budget Committee, said today he is working with the committee on a 10-year budget which would create jobs, lower the deficit and protect working families and the most vulnerable people in our society.
A bill from the committee should move to the Senate floor later this month.
“Thank you for this meeting. It’s a rare opportunity to confer with someone who specializes in contagions. The conversation we are about to have must remain confidential. My concern is that within the next few years Brattleboro may be on the verge of experiencing an STD pandemic that is rapidly dispersing itself throughout the United States and is headed straight for our town.”
“What is it about this particular strain of STD that in your observations makes it so virulent?”
“Three things are troublesome; the complacency of residents regarding the emotional and personal impact of this STD; the unimaginable intrusiveness of this STD into their physical life; and the motivation of some malcontents to promote the STD as good for the community.”
I am posting in support of Cindy Cuthbertson (Write in candidate) for Town Rep 3 year term in District 3.
Cindy and I have lived in Brattleboro since 2002 and on Western Ave in District 3 since 2003. In full disclosure Cindy and I are married, so as they say I have a dog in the fight (and that’s not meant to be a bad English joke). I thnk she would be an excellent rep, she is thoughtful, pays attention to Town matters, (some of it just having to listen to me) she will stand up and talk when she needs to and is concerned about the future of Brattleboro.
There’s nothing disgraceful about politics – I chose to live in Brattleboro in part because I knew that here, my ideas would be heard. Other place where I have lived and been involved in politics, things haven’t been anywhere near as open or fair.
I wrote an endorsement of Kate O’Connor which appeared in the Brattleboro Reformer on Thursday. I would like to add more here about why I have made this choice. At the bottom of this new commentary, I will append my letter in the Reformer in case you haven’t read it. I’m also going to add a brief public apology to Spoon Agave at the end.
March 5; Tuesday is Brattleboro’s citizens chance to take action and vote for the directions each feels best for our town. Brattleboro is a nice place to live. It has many challenges needing to be addressed. I am in hopes that the many people of this town take the time to vote. So many of us have so many opinions of what is good for the town and what is not good for our town.
Continuing our series of interviews with candidates for Selectboard, we now present an interview with Donna Macomber.
Why do you want to be on the Selectboard this year?
Although I was routinely asked, “Are you out of your mind?” when I decided to run for Selectboard, I am excited about the opportunity to serve this community. I realize it is a big commitment, and there will be a learning curve. I am level headed and open minded. There has been a fair amount of discussion, online and otherwise, about the need for emotional intelligence in making some thoughtful, and potentially difficult decisions. I believe I have this capacity. I appreciate challenge, and the inevitable learning curve of taking on this fresh responsibility.
Next in our series of iBrattleboro interviews with Selectboard candidates is out interview with Ian Kiehle. Mr. Kiehle is running for one of the one year seats on the board.
Why do you want to be on the Selectboard this year?
I’m able to make the time that the commitment requires, and I feel confident that I can serve the community well as a selectboard member.
Why run for the 1 year seat?
As a result of recent Town Charter changes, counting votes for write-in candidates on Tuesday’s ballot has changed. If a Brattleboro citizen wishes to be considered a write-in candidate for any town office (including town meeting member) that candidate must now declare his/her candidacy to the town clerk no later than 7:00 PM on election day.
Only write-in votes for declared candidates will be counted after the polls close. Providing they have garnered the most votes in the race, write-in candidates for town officers need a minimum of 30 votes to win, town meeting members need a minimum of 10 votes.
Phil Kramer is running for a 1 year seat on the Brattleboro Selectboard. Here are his responses to our questions.
Why do you want to be on the Selectboard this year?
I am running for selectboard at this time because I want to make a difference. These are trying times for our community, our country and our world. The decisions we make today will have a lasting impact on the future. I have a vision of what direction Brattleboro should be moving. Over the years I have gained a great deal of insight into the spirit of this town and the way things work.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 26 – Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) told the American Legion today that he is “deeply troubled” by unacceptable backlogs in processing veterans’ disability claims.
“I refuse to accept the status quo,” Sanders told the Legion’s annual conference at the Washington Hilton hotel.
While the Department of Veterans Affairs has processed more than 1 million claims a year for each of the past three years, the number of new claims has outpaced the department’s ability to process the paperwork.
Watch the full Selectboard Candidate forum, which was held Friday, February 22, 2013.
This forum was sponsored by The League of Women Voters, and moderated by Francine Vallario.
Because, I’m White
I will not be stopped
for driving while black.
I will not be shot dead
for wearing my dreads.
I will not be rejected
subjected or ejected
Bent over & inspected.
$12 trillion in banker bailouts, billions more in quantitative easing that now will continue monthly. Constant war and military interventions, yet people keep voting Republican or Democrat as if this is the answer. Our sons and daughters are being sacrificed. FOR WHAT? For freedom and democracy? Do you really think so?
The film below is well-researched and less than 45 minutes long. If you review it on its factual merits versus the propaganda that has been drilled into your head since birth, perhaps an awakening will occur.
(Nice new Spring colors on iBrattleboro while it is snowing outside!)
Pittsburgh, PA Political Corruption Trial – When Will We Do That In Vermont?
If it is illegal for the State of Vermont to give taxpayer money to Vermont Public Radio, UVM, VLCT, VTdigger,
and Vermont Law School knowing that they will hold debates that include some candidates and not others,
or write articles that specifically disparage voters from voting for some candidates, (acting as illegal and unregistered political action committees funded by taxpayer dollars) then that means that state taxpayer dollars are being used to promote the political campaign of Governor Peter Shumlin, while not equally promoting some of the other candidates.
I’m running for the three year seat because it takes that long to learn how to do the job with at least moderate effectiveness. I’ve lived long enough to know the value of experience, practice and training. If I do a good job and the voters want me back I will remain on the board for additional terms. My experience is especially valuable at this point because with three new people coming on there is a possibility that among the five member Selectboard we could have an aggregate experience of only 4 years, or less than one year per person.
Brattleboro Citizens Breakfast – Video
February 15, 2013
Next year’s Town School budget does not include a position for someone to help elementary teachers, students, and staff with the various tasks and challenges involved with technology.
Things like learning and running programs, exploring the web, taking and editing pictures, making slide shows, playlists, videos, virtual spaces, interactive stories, comic books, digital posters, blogs, navigating the cloud, connecting devices, and platforms etc..etc. These essentials of a well-rounded education are vanishing.
Brattleboro Citizens’ Breakfast
February 15, 2013
Gibson-Aiken Center – Brattleboro VT
Moderator: Daryl Pillsbury
