House Dem who said "the school board needs to take over" not on ballot - Vermont Daily Chronicle (2024)

Rep. Curt Taylor, serving since 2017, not on Malletts Bay-Colchester primary ballot

By Michael Bielawski

A Colchester representative who wanted to limit communities to three no-votes on school budgets is not running for re-election in the August 13 primary.

This news is part of the third of a three-part series of VDC news stories this week focusing on primary races for the House chamber in Montpelier. Read Part I and Part II. The most recent list of candidates, updated Wednesday morning,can be found here and below.

Chittenden-19(2 seats)

Who isnotrunning is the big development for this district. Rep. Curt Taylor, D-Colchester, is not listed as seeking re-election.At an April 26 committee meeting, Taylor proposed that Vermont voters should not be allowed to vote on a school budget after it had been voted down three times. The comment was captured on the Legislature’s Zoom video and reported by VDC (see video above).

“Whichever method we choose, I think it’s important that there needs to be a real end point where you say at this point the voters are no longer involved….where the voters have had as much chance as they can, and the school board needs to take over. Otherwise it keeps going on forever,”Taylor said.

There will be running a Republican and two Democrats. They are Leland Gazo of Colchester who works with a roofing and construction company. Incumbent Republican Pat Brennan is seeking the Senate seat. Incumbent Rep. Sarita Austin and and Wendy Critchlow are running as Democrats.

Addison-3 (2 seats)

Rob North of Ferrisburgh is running for the Addison-3 district as a Republican, the district has two seats to fill. The Addison Independent ran a story in 2022 when he also ran for this seat. He is described as, “Touting common sense; an engineering and management background, mostly with Collins Aerospace; and a desire to restore party balance to Vermont government.”

North will run against Democratic incumbents Rep. Diane Lanpher, D-Vergennes, and Rep. Matt Birong, D-Vergennes.

Bennington-1 (1 seat)

Jonathan Cooper of Pownal is running as a Democrat unopposed for the seat in Bennington-1. Hiswebsitesays “to ensure that the state’s legislative priorities work for the rural communities that are home to two-thirds of the state’s population.” He’s worked managing the Community & Economic Development program at the Bennington County Regional Commission, and he is the Board Chair of Sunrise Family Resource Center.

It is not yet clear if the state GOP will appoint a challenger for this race.

Bennington-2 (2 seats)

There are five candidates, one Republican and four Democrats who are running for one of the two seats in the Bennington-2 district. The Republican is Anthony Cook of Bennington.

Asher Edelson of Bennington is running as a Democrat. On hiswebsite, he states, “I am running for the Vermont House of Representatives because I feel strongly that disability accessibility, public transit, and other crucial issues need to be addressed with a new perspective, and that is what I will bring to Montpelier.”

Leon Johnson of Bennington, a longtime school board member, is running as a Democrat. He also has an engineering background including nearly four decades with Energizer Battery Inc. in Bennington.

Rep. Timothy R. Corcoran II, D-Bennington, is an incumbent running for re-election. William Greer of Bennington is running, hiswebsitehighlights some of his career including, “In June 2022, I was nominated to the Community Policing Advisory Review Board and serve as Vice Chair.”

Bennington-3 (1 seat)

David Durfee of Shaftsbury is running as a Democrat for the one Bennington-3 seat. His website says that “David has fought for policies that protect our environment and keep Vermont at the forefront of climate change solutions.”

His opponent Victor Harwood was previously elected to the Statehouse in 2018. He will run again as a Republican.

He statedin 2020 to the Bennington Banner, “I have made it clear that, though I run under the GOP banner, I’m much more of a conservative libertarian. I will not kowtow to any political leadership in Montpelier nor be a bobble-head in a Representative’s desk; but rather will represent the will of my specific constituency.”

Bennington-5 (2 seats)

Rep. Jim Carroll, D-Bennington, and Rep. Mary A. Morrissey (R) Bennington are running again to keep their seats in the Bennington-5 district. Carroll was arrested for DUI outside the State House this spring.

Michael Nigro of Bennington is also running as a Democrat, hiscampaign pagestates “I am a small business owner and responsible landlord with 18 years’ experience in the field of healthcare. Having obtained an MBA and started a business while working full-time, I understand the meaning of hard work. I want to work for a better Bennington and Vermont.”

Bennington-Rutland (1 seat)

Mike Rice of Dorset is running as a Democrat for the Bennington-Rutland district’s one seat.His webpagestates, “He also serves on the leadership team of the Climate Solutions Caucus, the legislature’s largest issue-oriented caucus, where, alongside a broad coalition of legislators from across Vermont he works to advance policies related to adaptation, mitigation, and resilience in the face of climate change.”

Rice will eventually run against Sandra “Sandy” Pinsonault of Dorset who will run as a Republican. Pinsonault described herself as “a lifelong Vermonter with an extensive record of distinguished public service” recentlyto the Manchester Journal.

Caledonia-2 (1 seat)

Michael Southworth of Waldon is running as a Republican for the Caledonia-2 District. Southworth recently wrotefor the Hardwick Gazette, “As a taxpayer, like yourselves, the increase in taxes and fees imposed on us by the super-majority in the Vermont Legislature this year is too much. A super-majority in the Vermont Legislature is not good for any of us.”

Sabrina Morrison of Hardwick is running as a Democrat. Morrison is a designer at Porter Brook Group also in Hardwick. She also hasa Facebook page, but it’s not focused on her campaign.

Addison-5 (1 seat)

Del Thompson of Bridport is running as a Republican for the Addison-5 seat, which is currently occupied by Rep. Jubilee McGill, D-Bridport, who is running for re-election.

Addison-Rutland

Jim Casey of Hubbardton, a Republican, is running unopposed in the Addison-Rutland district, which is for one seat. There is not currently a challenger from any party. The seat is now held by Democrat Joseph Andriano.

Complete list of House primary elections candidates, as of June 5:

The author is a writer for the Vermont Daily Chronicle