(Promoting up top. The forum begins at 6:30 and I will start live blogging around that time. – promoted by JulieWaters)
I will be live blogging tonight’s candidate forum in Brattleboro, VT, so I will update this piece then, but I want to list the candidates and provide details on the event first. The confirmed candidate list (10 candidates) is:
Jeanette White
Hillary Cooke
Richard Davis
Mollie Burke
Michael Obuchowski
Carolyn Partridge
David Deen
Mike Mrowicki
Richard Marek
John Moran
The forum will take place in the multipurpose room of Brattleboro Union High School at 6:30 pm.
The above represents a mix of incumbents and new candidates, and a mix of parties as well. I’m looking forward to seeing these candidates be challenged on issues crucial to Vermont’s future.
this is just me presenting my perspective. I do not intend or expect to be fair, and I’ve never live blogged an event with ten speakers before, so this could get tricky. Anyone who objects to the fashion in which I blog this or feels I am being unfair is welcome to comment contrary points of view or (even better) do your own live blog.
I am not presenting an objective opinion. These are issues of great import that I care about deeply. I refuse to pretend to be objective on matters of such weight.
Gabraith is now here, which could be interesting.
I think there may be another last minute addition. We’re not starting on schedule, which is common.
I am also attempting to audio record the event for future reference, but I haven’t tried this in awhile, so we’ll see how it goes.
Other addition is Varlerie Stuart, which makes for 12 candidates. Yikes.
Opening statement from the moderator is covering the importance of the three issues covered tonight.
From Health Care is a Human Right Campaign, Cleo a high school senior at BUHS.
She’s discussing the costs of health care and how we end up having people stay in bad jobs or relationships because of the health care.
“I don’t want to sacrifice my dream job to work in a place I don’t… want to work in just because I have health care.”
The system “treats health care as a commodity.”
Supports a system that costs no more than we can afford to pay and talks about the strategy to get it.
Reed Webster is now going to speak:
Current system is health care problem and economic problem. Act 128 demonstrates that our strategy is working. “Our work is far from over.”
In January we will need to work harder than ever.
Questions:
1. Will you commit to legislation to create a need-based access system?
2. Will you commit to working on a system that eliminates tiers of access to care.
Kay Curtis from Early Educators United. (disclosure: I’m a friend of Kay’s and have a professional relationship with her, so no objectivity at all here).
Early Educators must be supported in their role to ensure that children are afforded their highest chance for success.
Talking about how important early ed is, citing the value of high quality early education and the value of the union.
We are committed to be the voice of the children and families we serve. Talking about the importance of having equal say and participation in negotiation with the state.
Wants everyone to answer the question: please tell us what you know about early education and early educators. How will you support working families to receive the care they deserve?
Evelyn Trier from Early Educators United (both Kay and Evelyn are child care providers who are members of EEU), talking about the value of a union.
“We’re looking for a voice and looking for an opportunity to become unionized and organized.” It’s important for us to come together to have a voice. Representation at the state level. Health care asap. It all helps reduce costs.
But wants yes or no, do you support legislation?
This is easy to blog. Everyone is saying “yes.” Sarah Edwards said it in Spanish, which was cute.
She’s signing and the interpreters are speaking for her. I was answering another question so I missed a little bit of the beginning.
She’s talking about addiction services, mental health, housing issues. This group is oriented around people with disabilities. Lots about budget cuts.
Many believe that government robs from the rich and gives to the poor but the opposite is true.
Tax cuts and business subsidies do little to support economic growth.
Affordable housing and universal pre-k would give us a 15x return over what we’re getting.
Will you commit to supporting basic needs and how will you ensure adequate staffing and funding?
David Deen isn’t here. All the comments I’ve attributed to him are from Richard Marek.
John Moran: Wants to reiterate Obie’s comment. We need your courage to so support universal health care. I thought our society accepted health care as a human right at least in the emergency, but is referencing the fire that was not put out due to a $75 fee that wasn’t paid.
Richard Marek: Talks about lack of support throughout Vermont, and you need votes to move a bill. Expand your advocacy across the state.
Mike Mrowicki: Supports independent voices (sorry– missed part of it).
Carolyn Partridge: must work towards the vision that was put forward tonight. Talks about 3-year old boy choked to death because a rescue agency that was closed due to budget cuts. This is corporate welfare that needs to be stopped.
Jeanette White: These forums are critical. We need a new story and I do not want to continue with his protege who isn’t even as funny as Jim Douglas.
Question for Galbraith, Cooke and Edwards:
Question about unemployment rates being lower for minorities. What’s the cause of this gap and what would you do to change it? (I think it was 34% unemployment for minorities vs 20?% for whites)
Edwards: We need to have accurate data. I’m appalled at the discrepancies in the question but I need to research this and learn more and go to work on it.
Galbraith: the statistic doesn’t surprise me. This needs to be addressed in lots of ways.
Cooke: Everything we think is learned. Teaching our children about our values is essential. It’s distorted thinking that’s handed down (I assume he’s referring to racism). We’re not making a good enough result if this statistic is correct. We need to teach our children better values.
Everyone stands up in agreement.
Obie thinks no. We can save it through its own means
White: we need better distribution of the money.
What do you plan to do to support those of us on medicaid who can’t find even a short-term job and are treated as “those people?”
Mrowicki: Wants to bring these people to the statehouse and have them bear witness as people instead of numbers. Talking about the food stamp challenge.
Davis: Programs are good to a point, but put people in categories and lump them all into this certain place. Single payer would eliminate many of these categories in terms of lumping. Everyone would get the benefits.
(I’m going to probably end the live blog after this. The typing is getting painful and I’m still recovering from my shoulder injury.)
How can we restore funding for these agencies?
White: Was meant to help us redesign how we deliver services. Wasn’t mean to establish cuts and we need a new governor.
Cooke: Talking about the cuts in call centers and how we need to do better with it, but is not sure where else to go with it.
Galbraith: we need to reverse these cuts. Everyone says we want more efficiency. This is ducking the issue. You need better answers than just efficiencies.
It turns out I didn’t miss much by ending when I did– just two more quick questions for a few candidates.
It was really interesting. Cooke and Galbraith were chatting after; Galbraith said his goal was to get more Republican votes than Cooke.