In the upcoming primary on August 11, I would like to voice my enthusiastic support for John Stroup and his campaign for the Addison-3 seat in the Vermont House.

I’ve known John for many years as an active community member, and o​ur children are of similar ages. John is smart​, a good listener​ and deeply committed to supporting what is working well ​while helping ​to change what is not. He ​cares about others and has made a positive difference ​to many. Even before this vacancy arose, I ​knew he would be an excellent representative, and I told him so! John is ​a keeper of many people’s stories; he has taken his candidacy very seriously, and I know that those stories have shaped his vision for what he would like to do​ in the legislature.

I ​directly observed John’s​ skills as a public servant during his years as the chair of the school board. ​In those meetings, he​ calmly balanced​ several competing points of view, ​guided speakers to help them express their perspectives and ​facilitated respectful​ discussions, even when emotions ​ran high. ​John takes a genuine interest in​ others, regardless of their perspective, and listens ​both to the words ​and the intent behind them.

If you do not know John yet, I encourage you to visit his website. His positions reflect my priorities and hopes for the legislature​’s upcoming work. He will represent Addison-3 with the highest ethical standards, and we will be proud to have him as our Representative in Montpelier.

Christopher Diehl-Noble
Vergennes