LONDONDERRY — The race for state representative for the Windham-Bennington-Windsor district is more critical than some might think. Our incumbent representative, Republican Oliver Olsen, has decided not to run again; subsequently, voters must choose between two new candidates, my opponent, Tim Goodwin and me. Both of us are running as independents.
Since voters are going to be electing a freshman state representative this year, it's important that that person has the relevant experience and knowledge to hit the ground running on day one.
I'm the candidate with the business acumen, the management skills, the diplomacy, and the far-reaching relationship with the community that is vital to the position.
For the last 10 years - in addition to running a full-time farm business and working as a part-time educator - I've served as the vice president of Bowen Wharf Co., a commercial property management company based in Newport, R.I.
The company manages a collection of shops, restaurants, and offices, along with a marina, on its historic waterfront. As vice president, I'm tasked with participating in the approval and responsible expenditure of our annual million-dollar budget, which has always been balanced during my time on the board.
I'm also responsible for motivating and assisting in the contemporary branding of the wharf, which is fully rented, with some 45 tenants.
And because I serve as a vice president, other directors frequently contact me for input on how to attract new tenants and expand business. My position also requires that I play a key role in establishing and maintaining positive tenant relations.
My business knowledge, mediating abilities, and planning skills are all relevant to the issues that I will have to undertake as an independent legislator.
I also have experience collaborating with Republican, Democratic, and Progressive representatives in Montpelier, having helped create legislation for the Vermont Farmers' Markets (Act 109). I feel that I have already made good connections during my campaign with some current legislators.
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I've also served on a number of other boards and held other senior planning and leadership positions.
While I was board president for the West River Farmers' Market in Londonderry, where I also sold products from my land, Anjali Farm, we doubled the number of vendors from 20 to 40 and gross sales from $200,000 to $400,000 per season.
Now, the market has more than 60 members and reaches $900,000 in sales, and it's a leading market in the state.
I am the founder and current director of the Vermont Farm Trail, an agri-tourism and food product marketing cooperative.
I helped create the Vermont Farmers' Market Association as a founding co-chair of the board and founded the Manchester Farmers' Market. All of these efforts helped foster and grow a sustainable local economy.
Currently, I am the board secretary at the West River Montessori School, where, during my time, we were able to complete over $60,000 of building improvements, double our staff, and become fully enrolled.
So not only do I have experience as a senior board member and in decision-making roles, I'm also the only candidate who has actually had his feet on the ground, participating in and fostering the growth of local economies and development.
On Nov. 6, please vote for me, for the kind of personal and practical experience that really counts. As your representative, I will be attentive, aware, and realistic in my approach.