Legislative Report: Our community faces many education issues in Montpelier

“A high-quality education for our children should be the top priority of any decent and hopeful society; yet we are in danger of losing the public’s confidence in our ability to achieve that goal at a reasonable cost.”

The Green Mountain Care Board is reviewing hospital budget increases, which reflect hospital costs that already are some of the highest in the nation. Add your opinion.

Last summer and fall I asked voters whether Montpelier was listening to our community. The consensus was that folks were frustrated by the relationship.

Democrats held on to the two House seats representing the Addison-2 district towns of Bristol, Lincoln, Monkton and Starksboro, with the Republican challengers putting forth a respectable showing.

I encourage you to vote for Herb Olson to represent “us” in the Vermont House of Representatives.

The Bristol Democratic Committee has invited the four candidates for the Vermont House in the Addison-4 District to discuss their positions in a forum in Bristol this coming Tuesday.

Those filling out the Democratic ballot in Tuesday’s Addison-4 primary picked incumbent Rep. Mari Cordes of Bristol and Herb Olson of Starksboro to move on to the Nov. 5 general election, when residents of Bristol, Lincoln, Monkton and Starksboro will mak … (read more)

I hope you’ll consider voting for Herb Olson to serve in the Vermont House, representing Bristol, Lincoln, Monkton and Starksboro. I have known Herb as a neighbor, a friend and a partner on a variety of community development projects for past 40+ years.

We need legislators who will listen to, and advocate for rural, small-town voters. Herb is ready to bring a fresh perspective to the work that needs to happen in Montpelier, and will be a strong voice for Bristol, Monkton Starksboro and Lincoln.

Herb will keep the rural perspective front and foremost in the minds of legislators so that our towns will not be an afterthought when housing, education, health care, and the environment are being considered.

When we moved to the community 50 years ago, we were told we would be fine — as long as we pitched in. Community service creates our moral center, binding the individual and the community with each other.

I’m asking you to join me in voting for Herb Olsen for State Representative in The Democratic Primary. You can vote now or any day until Primary Election Day on August 13th.

Please support education for our children in Bristol, Monkton, New Haven and Starksboro by voting on June 11 for the new, proposed budget of the Mt. Abraham Unified School District.

Longtime lawyer Herb Olson spent a very memorable 15 years of his career (1987-2003) as a member of the Vermont Legislative Counsel, helping state lawmakers draft bills targeting healthcare, economic development, taxation and other weighty policy issues.

It was encouraging to hear board members at a recent meeting of the Mt. Abraham Unified School District express skepticism of the proposal to move 6th grade students to the Mt. Abe Middle School/High School.