Newport City
What does Vermont mean to you?:
Rugged, independent, beautiful, progressive, democratic,creative, innovative, resourceful, but politically dysfunctional
What common values do Vermonters share?:
Years ago I would have said "community" but I think interest in "community" has weakened significantly. We have become much more polarized and and partisan, with the result that we don't get the best and brightest to enage in community and politics.
What challenges and opportunities do we see for our communities and state?:
We have a huge problem with the separation between the haves and the have nots, even in Vermont. Similarly, we have not figured out how to build community among native Vermonters and newcomers, with both groups largely suspicious of each other.
What should our priorities be as we work together to prepare Vermont for the future?:
One of the most divisive issues in Vermont and nationally is the whole pro choice vs pro life debate. We need leadership that works to bring the two sides together by working on the underlying issue - preventing unwanted pregnancies in the first place.
How do your thoughts about Vermont's values, future challenges and priority issues apply to YOUR community?:
Our community has lacked good leadership for years, in both the municipal arena and education. For some reason we have been unable to attract the strong leaders in the community into public service and other forms of civic engagement. I attribute most of the problem to rampant partisanship, a lack of civil discourse, over regulation and undue public scrutiny
