PUTNEY-I enthusiastically support Mike Mrowicki's candidacy for the Vermont House of Representatives (Windham-4, Putney and Dummerston).
As a taxpayer, I am deeply concerned about affordability. I want to be able to live my life in this place, within this community, and in this state that I love. Putney's property taxes went up significantly this year; many people in town are concerned that they will be priced out of their homes.
Mike's No. 1 priority in the next legislative session is equitable tax policy. He recognizes this problem and is working hard to fix it, by changing the education tax structure to make it more progressive and by introducing a cap on property tax increases. He will ensure that the ability to pay, especially for those on a fixed income, is a prime consideration in revamping the formulas that determine property tax bills.
As a teacher, I know that our community's children deserve good schools with caring, professional staff. Teaching the next generation is an honor and a privilege that I take very seriously.
Mike views education funding as an investment, not a burden, and will continue to fully invest in our children and our schools. He knows we need to continue this investment, at a cost that we can afford, so we can have healthy Vermont communities and a robust workforce. Education doesn't work without all of us - teachers, taxpayers, and legislators - doing what we can for the next generation.
As a parent, and like every parent, I want to make sure my kids know they belong. I try to foster this feeling of belonging to our family, to our community, and to this place.
Two years ago, while in Montpelier, Mike took time out of his legislative work to give my older son a tour of the State House, invite him into an active committee meeting, and answer questions he had about state government. This authentic act of generosity had a huge impact on both of us.
For the first time, I felt that this was my government and that Mike Mrowicki, and the other legislators, were working for me and for my family.
Inviting us into the democratic process like this made a difference, and it fostered a sense of belonging that my son has not forgotten.
Jessica Turner
Putney
This letter to the editor was submitted to The Commons.
This piece, published in print in the Voices section or as a column in the news sections, represents the opinion of the writer. In the newspaper and on this website, we strive to ensure that opinions are based on fair expression of established fact. In the spirit of transparency and accountability, The Commons is reviewing and developing more precise policies about editing of opinions and our role and our responsibility and standards in fact-checking our own work and the contributions to the newspaper. In the meantime, we heartily encourage civil and productive responses at voices@commonsnews.org.