Happy New Year. I thought you might find this article from this week's Manchester Journal interesting.
Bongartz: Freshman orientation very different for lawmakers 40 years later - Manchester Journal
manchesterjournal-vt.newsmemory.com
MANCHESTER — One day 40 years ago, then state Rep.-elect Seth Bongartz turned the ignition key of his used Volkswagen Squareback station wagon and pointed it north toward Montpelier, where his orien...We Won!
With the polls closed and votes counted in Arlington, Manchester, Sandgate and Sunderland, Rep. Kathleen James and I are honored to have won the general election. Thanks to the many volunteers who wrote letters to the editor, waved signs, made phone calls, addressed postcards and wrote notes on our behalf.
We’re excited to serve Bennington-4 in the Vermont House of Representatives during the upcoming 2021–2022 biennium. Some voted for us; some did not. That no longer matters. It’s our job to represent everyone who lives in all four towns, and we take that responsibility seriously.
We take equally seriously our promise to work effectively with each other, with our fellow legislators, with leaders across Bennington County, and with our constituents to help our communities to not only recover from the pandemic but to thrive.
The next two years will be hard, and the legislature will need to make difficult choices. Our first priority will be to do everything we can to help the people and small businesses that are struggling. We will fight for funding and for technical assistance, and we will try to serve as a conduit and a catalyst for creative solutions here at home.
At the same time, we need to lay the groundwork for a vibrant economic future. To that end, over the next 12 to 18 months, we will host a series of public forums — on Zoom at first — to discuss the key economic pillars that are vital to our economic success, including broadband, childcare, housing, workforce development, education, and the climate economy. At each forum, we’ll invite local leaders, legislators and community members to discuss challenges and solutions, with time for a public Q&A. Look for information about this 2021–2022 series in the local newspapers and on social media.
Rep. Cynthia Browning dedicated many years to the legislature as a hard-working, smart, outspoken and extremely dedicated public servant. She deserves our gratitude. for her many contributions, and we look forward to working with her on projects to come.
We are committed to dialogue and communication and to staying in touch with our constituents. We’ll be starting up our face-to-face coffee hours as soon as it’s safe.
In the meantime, follow us on Facebook (KathleenJamesVTStateRepresentative, Seth Bongartz For VT State Representative), check out our Websites (kathjamesforstaterep.com, seth4house.com), and sign up for our mailing lists at our websites. Email: KJames@leg.state.vt.us, sethbongartz4staterep@gmail.com).
Sincerely,
Seth Bongartz, Representative elect
The time is now! Please join us at our upcoming honk & wave events to show your support for our campaign.
Another great day at the roundabout! Nice day to rally some votes for me, Rep. Kathleen James, and our Bennington County Senators Brian Campion and Dick Sears.
Fair and balanced article in the Manchester Journal by statehouse reporter Greg Sukiennik on our race. We’re very pleased with recent endorsements from U.S. Senator Senator Patrick Leahy, Congressman Peter Welch, Southern Vermont’s two Independent state legislators — Laura Sibilia for VT and Rep. Kelly MacLaury Pajala — and the chair of the House Energy and Technology Committee, Rep. Tim Briglin, plus former Rep. Jeff Wilson. We believe leadership skills are a central issue in this campaign and these endorsements — and our comments in this article — speak to that.
www.manchesterjournal.com/gov-phil-scott-endorsement-of-cynthia-browning-raises-stakes-in-benning...
Gov. Phil Scott endorsement of Cynthia Browning raises stakes in Bennington-4 race
www.manchesterjournal.com
MANCHESTER — The fireworks have begun in the highly anticipated three-person race for the two seats of the Bennington-4 district of the Vermont House of Representatives.
