An editorial by Representative Ashley Bartley (Fairfax, Georgia)
This past legislative session was frustrating for a lot of Vermonters, myself included.
Every legislator heard from constituents that the affordability crisis is front-and-center on their minds, and yet every step of the way, the supermajority only made it worse. From double-digit property tax hikes to an anti-housing Act 250 bill, Vermonters know that the status quo is not working for them,
It’s unfair, unaffordable, and unacceptable.
That’s why I was proud to have helped lead tri-partisan efforts to lower housing costs and improve maternal health. These bills had buy-in from legislators of all parties –including over 30 percent of the entire House of Representatives—but the supermajority blocked them from moving forward.
Unfortunately, some of our local lawmakers seem to think this is a good thing. For example, Senator Irene Wrenner recently suggested that only she can fight for voters because she is a member of the majority party.
Imagine telling a single mom struggling to pay her property tax bill—or a retired couple dipping into their nest egg just to make ends meet—that they should elect legislators not on the basis of their voting record, but instead because they belong to the party that wields more partisan influence.
Frankly, that type of dismissive attitude in Montpelier is exactly what we need to challenge—not accept. We shouldn’t elect people simply because they have connections with the supermajority’s leadership, but because they will fight for each one of their constituents, no matter the uphill battle.
As legislators, we represent constituents from all parties, and their voices deserve to be heard.
Chris Mattos knows this. As a State Representative for Milton, for the last seven years, he’s helped challenge the status quo and been willing to work across party lines to get things done. As a member of the Ways and Means committee, he worked to address the Education Spending Crisis in a manner that would ease the burden of taxes for all Vermonters. Unfortunately, his ideas and that of Governor Scott were thrown to the waste side and we ended up with the final product. The yield bill provided untenable increases to our property taxes: and property tax increases of 8.2% in Fairfax, 9.1% in Westford, 11.1% in Milton, and 11.8% in Essex.
A bill that our current Senator voted in favor of not once but twice; voting to override the Governor’s veto.
Since I’ve served with him in the Legislature, Chris has put his constituents front and center, no matter their party affiliation.
I know that as a State Senator for Fairfax, Milton, Westford, and Essex, Chris will do everything in his power to work with Governor Scott, myself, and lawmakers of all backgrounds to make Vermont a more affordable place to live, work, raise a family, and retire.
I hope you’ll join me in electing Chris Mattos as our next State Senator.
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