I happily support Chris Bray for re-election as Senator for Addison County, Huntington and Buel’s Gore.
Here’s what I like about Chris Bray.
He knows a lot about all the subjects we could ever wish our Senator to know and always wants to learn more. He takes classes and studies. He asks questions and listens. He pays attention to new ideas and ways of thinking. He’s fair and respectful, making him a good leader. As Sen. Campion, a member of Chris’s committee, said in VT Digger, “He’s a listener. He wants to hear from everybody.” “He doesn’t bully people. He looks for agreement and understanding.” He strives for consensus and unanimity in legislation.
Chris has learned a lot through his lifetime of working. He’s a small business owner, a horse farmer and a teacher. He’s worked in corporations and technology, on the Vermont Milk Commission and Biomass Energy Development, the Agriculture and Energy Committee, VT Forestry Study Group, and the Rural Economic Development Program. He’s won recognition and awards from the VT Natural Resources Council and the Council of State Government and was appointed to the VT Supreme Court Professional Responsibility Program. He’s been active in Rotary Club, Middlebury Land Trust, and United Way. He’s been an EMT and coach for kids’ sports and is active in his Town of New Haven.
He’s modest and doesn’t advertise himself. His focus is his work — and for Chris that means what’s good for Vermonters — not just for some but for all of us. Like he does with other legislators, Chris takes citizens’ concerns seriously, with respect and attention. He’s honest and caring, thoughtful and patient. State government has the responsibility to help with Vermonters’ basic needs and he keeps this in mind about all of us: working people and the under- and unemployed; families; big and small businesses owners and farmers — all of us who need good childcare and good schools, affordable housing, jobs, livable wages and benefits, primary healthcare, clean land and water. He has crafted state laws about and worked on all of these issues.
This year he worked on bills promoting primary health care, economic development, equal pay for equal work, and equal rights. He is chair of the Natural Resources and Energy Committee, promoting smart economics and energy research; both renewable energy — wind, water, solar — and non-renewable — gasoline, oil and fracked gas. He’s working on a healthy soils program for farmers; safety from toxins; cleanup and prevention of water pollution now and in the future. In his mind, economic growth and transition to clean energy go together. For example, The Farm to Plate and renewable energy programs Chris sponsored created thousands of jobs and hundreds of small businesses.
Every year Chris Bray proves himself to be a serious, hardworking, and strong leader in the Senate. We need him and we are fortunate to have him. He deserves our support and our votes.
Anna Rose Benson
Weybridge