PUTNEY-Early voting has started for the Tuesday, Aug. 11 state primary. I believe the best choice for governor and lieutenant governor are Amanda Janoo and Ryan McLaren, respectively.
Our next governor needs to have a political imagination that can address our most pressing issues creatively. I see Amanda Janoo as possessing this creativity. She has a plan to address our pressing healthcare needs - a primary provider in every community actually paid for by the state - and the sources to pay for it. Imagine - doctors who don't have to deal with insurance companies, primary and preventive care for all, and support for our rural communities.
Amanda has plans for solving our housing shortage. It seems that for every home created over the past couple years, another home was lost to short-term rentals. And these are not a family with an extra bedroom who needs a bit of cash. These are corporate entities looking to make a profit at the expense of real Vermonters who just need a home.
Amanda has creative solutions for making our economy more resilient and Vermont-based. For many years, she has worked with communities, abroad and in the U.S. - including communities in Vermont - to create sustainable, resilient economies.
She can speak for herself about her platforms. Look her up, listen to her, meet her.
Ryan grew up in a working family in Essex, where his parents still live. He attended public school, where he played football.
Some see the lieutenant governor role as a stepping stone to higher office. Ryan is running because he want to be lieutenant governor.
A main duty of the lieutenant governor is to work with the Senate. That means with 30 Senators who - don't say I said this! - can at times be a bit difficult. He will do well.
Ryan worked for the Shumlin administration when I was in the Senate. He was easy and a joy to work with. He gained our respect and trust - important to have when trying to advocate for the issues with those who actually have the power to make change: the members of the Legislature.
In his travels, what he heard most from Vermonters was a lack of hope - hope for an affordable future with good health care and housing, hope to preserve Vermont's democratic values, and hope for the future of their children. Ryan will use the LG position to continue to listen to Vermonters and advocate for their concerns in the Senate and with the administration.
Ryan is persistent, respectful, respected, a good listener, a creative thinker, and genuine: What you see is what you get.
His work in Vermont and with Sen. Peter Welch (who has endorsed him) has served Vermonters well. As L.G., he will continue to serve - especially those who too often lack a voice in the process. Please check him out.
I hope you will join me in voting for these two candidates.
Jeanette White
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.