I am writing this letter to urge Addison-4 residents to vote for Mari Cordes in the Aug. 9 primary. Mari is endorsed and nominated by both the Progressive and Democratic parties. She is a longtime resident of Lincoln and for years she has fought to build a healthy, equitable and sustainable community in Addison-4 and throughout Vermont.
Mari is not a career politician. She continues to work as a nurse (both at home in Vermont and overseas in disaster-stricken areas), and she has been an advocate for her patients and coworkers throughout her nursing career. In addition to caring for her patients, she is a mom, grandmother and wife to a creative and loving family. As a nurse, mother, active community member, leader in her workplace and consistent grassroots voice on policies and legislation at the state house, Mari will bring compassion, thoughtfulness, great listening skills, accountability and public policy experience to her role as state representative.
She has been a tireless champion of universal healthcare, the working poor, Vermont’s unions, climate justice, the LGBTQ community and environmental stewardship (she is the treasurer of 350Vermont and the only Addison-4 candidate endorsed by Bill McKibben, the VT NEA and VSEA, Dave Zuckerman and Matt Dunne). She is a longtime supporter of Bernie Sanders and was even featured in one of his national presidential campaign ads.
As a working parent, a grassroots activist and a proud member of the vibrant Addison-4 community, I am excited to have such a strong, progressive female candidate to vote for. I hope you join me by voting Mari Cordes for state representative, Addison-4: Lincoln, Bristol, Starksboro and Monkton.
Donna Bailey