In an effort to help area voters get to know the local candidates for the Legislature and their stands on some important issues, the Addison Independent asked those running for House and Senate to answer a short questionnaire. Last week we featured the responses from candidates in three districts (Middlebury, Vergennes area, Bristol area), and here we run answers from the rest of the Addison County candidates.
Incumbent Rep. Willem Jewett of Ripton is running unopposed for the one seat in the Addison-2 House district — which encompasses Cornwall, Goshen, Hancock, Leicester, Ripton and Salisbury.
The two candidates running for the one seat in the Addison-5 House district — which represents Bridport, New Haven and Weybridge — are incumbent Republican Harvey Smith of New Haven and challenger Susan Smiley, a New Haven Democrat.
In the Addison-Rutland district of Shoreham, Orwell, Whiting and Benson, independent Alyson Eastman of Orwell will be on the ballot.
Incumbent Democrats Claire Ayer of Addison and Christopher Bray of New Haven are running unopposed in the two-seat Addison County Senate district, which also represents Huntington and Buel’s Gore.
The following questions, along with a requested word limit, were asked of each local candidate. The questions are not repeated in the context of each candidate’s response, but are recalled by subject at the beginning of each answer.
Election Day is Nov. 4.
1)  HEALTH CARE: What role should government play in health care, and what should the Legislature do to further that objective? (100 words)
2)  SCHOOL FUNDING: Vermont has struggled with funding primary and secondary education for its children. What are your ideas for balancing the needs of the students and communities with the limits of the taxpayers? (100 words)
3)  TRANSPARENCY: What would you do as a lawmaker to ensure that government is more open and transparent? (100 words)
4)  OPIATE ADDICTION: How is Vermont doing in its response to a wave of opiate addiction in the state and what more could it do? (100 words)
5)  HIGHER EDUCATION: How will Vermont make higher education affordable to its young adults while still making that higher education applicable to jobs in the state post-graduation? (150 words)
6)  ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: What role does government play in economic development and what specific steps would you try to put into law? (150 words)
7)  CANDIDATE’S CHOICE: Provide comment on the topic of your choice. (100 words)
Click on the links below to view the candidates’ answers:
ADDISON-2
Willem Jewett
ADDISON-5
Harvey Smith
Susan Smiley
ADDISON-RUTLAND
Alyson Eastman
ADDISON COUNTY SENATE
Claire Ayer
Chris Bray