Thank You for the Privilege of Serving Our District

Friends and Neighbors,

As we continue to process the results of the 2024 election, I want to pause and express my gratitude for the continued opportunity to serve this district. I am nothing but humbled by the continued opportunity to represent you in Montpelier. Although I ran unopposed (and I want to acknowledge that you may have mixed feelings about simply checking that box), I want to assure you that I take this responsibility to heart. I truly understand that representing our community is a privilege that I do not take for granted. I know that uncontested seats still demand an active and thoughtful representative.

As we reflect on the election results, we’re once again reminded of the systemic racism, hate, and misogyny that so clearly pervade the foundational processes by which we select our leaders. I am especially thankful to serve in Vermont’s legislature, a place where collaboration across political lines is still possible and where I have already had the honor of developing genuine, constructive relationships with my Republican colleagues. In these times of heightened division, Vermont’s unique commitment to dialogue and cooperation is something I recognize and value.

As we move into the 2025-26 legislative session, I’d like to briefly share some of the priorities I’m working on. At the forefront of my concerns is the future of public K-12 education in Vermont. With recent election results, we will likely see renewed calls for austerity measures in our schools. The Governor’s opposition to income tax-based funding and refusal to consider non-homestead or additional property tax increases will likely limit our options for adequately funding public education, leaving us reliant on reserves as a short-term solution. This, along with eliminating school meals, has so far been his only proposed solution. I worry that this approach will eventually lead to more burdens on local districts, unwarranted and short sighted critique of our educators’ salaries, and ultimately, the call for privatization of education services – changes that could reduce both access and quality. Please realize that I am also committed to continued advocacy for the current student weighting system that absolutely serves our district.

Regarding our higher education systems, I remain committed to challenging the growing commodification of our public institutions. Education is a public good and a pathway to opportunity, not a product to be purchased at escalating rates with predatory loans. I especially worry about how UVM has been irresponsible with its growth and its outsized impact on the local housing crisis. Years of a refusal to consider the necessary questions about how big a land grant institution in a state the size of Vermont should be, continued calls for faculty and staff to do more and more as their wages continue to compress, and relying on the practice of simply shoving more students into unsustainable housing options have resulted in rising housing costs and increasing pressures on the surrounding community. I’m focused on policies that support accessible, affordable education and ensuring that students, faculty, and staff can thrive in environments dedicated to learning, not bloated administrative salaries.

My commitment also extends to labor rights and criminal justice reform which are fundamental to a just and equitable society. I am advocating for legislation that protects the right of higher education professionals to strike and ensures that severance pay is not exempt from public records requests. I am convinced that both of these factors played a significant role in UVM’s staff union arriving at an impasse with the administration during recent failed negotiations. Overworked staff currently await a decision by the state’s Labor Relations Board as they continue to provide their labor without a fair contract. Additionally, I will continue to advocate that the UVM Board of Trustees become more democratic with the addition of faculty and staff representation.

For those within our criminal justice system, I am working on measures to guarantee fair wages for labor performed by incarcerated individuals and to limit the profit margins on commissary items and phone calls. Additionally, I am pushing for reforms to ensure that young people under the age of 19 are treated within family courts as a default, emphasizing rehabilitation over punishment. These measures not only support fair treatment but also serve the larger goal of economic justice across our state.

I will continue to advocate for these and other priorities that support our community’s values in service to a more sustainable future for our district. As always, please do not hesitate to reach out with your thoughts, concerns, or ideas – I’m here to represent you. Thank you for your trust and for, once again, giving me this opportunity to serve.

Troy