“I’ll get back to you on that” should not be an acceptable political platform in our complex times. Like every political jurisdiction at every level, our wonderful state must address serious challenges regarding the education of our children, the affordability of daily life, the health and safety of our environment, and the sanctity of our freedoms and elections. Here in Addison County, we might just thank our lucky stars that we are represented in Montpelier by experienced senators and representatives who study the issues thoroughly, advocate detailed sensible approaches, and have earned senior positions in the legislature to advance the interests we voters support.

Steven Heffernan, the Republican candidate for the state senate, may well be an amiable neighbor and patriotic citizen, but his campaign doesn’t evidence the kind of thorough preparation and detailed proposals we voters deserve.

Not on education. Not on affordability. Not on environmental issues.

Mr. Heffernan’s promise to “study” ways to contain the costs of our education system is an uncomfortable echo of Donald Trump’s assurance that he is working on “concepts” for providing affordable health care. Just as the head of Mr. Heffernan’s Republican ticket promises to eliminate the federal department of education, so Mr. Heffernan’s specific proposals, to the extent he has articulated them, are grounded in a deceptively simple principle: e.g. teach “students only reading and ‘rithmetic and skip all the rest.”

Really? Cut STEM education? Cut arts and music education? Cut health and sex education classes? Cut sports teams and gym? Cut vocational training? Cut guidance counseling? Cut mental health and special needs help?

The funding challenge is real, but it really needs a more thoughtful proposal than a catchy “3 R’s” slogan and a promise to study the issue in the future. Even school kids know they have to “do their homework” and “show their work.”

Similarly, Mr. Heffernan’s proposals regarding the Affordable Heat Act are simple — and simply wrong. Mr. Heffernan attacks the legislature for passing a bill without knowing the costs that future implementation legislation might entail. He seems not to know — or chooses to mischaracterize — that the Affordable Heat Act authorizes precisely the study he seems to want — and defers any enabling legislation until legislators have had an opportunity to review the study and the prospective costs of further action.

Who is opposed to studying the issue: the fossil fuel industry. Voters have asked legitimate questions whether Mr. Heffernan’s perspective has been influenced by the eye watering $43,000 he has already raised from fossil fuel industry magnates and other Burlington business interests. (The Vermont Political Observer, October 24, 2024.)

Senators Bray and Hardy are hard-working public servants who have earned our trust and appreciation. They have detailed records to examine and have offered detailed policy positions on the issues Vermonters care about most.

They deserve our votes. And as this, like most local elections, will be decided by turnout, I urge you to call your friends and neighbors and encourage their participation as well.

Skip Masback

Panton