NEWFANE — Due to COVID-19, this year candidates have had a difficult time reaching out to voters. Brattleboro Community Television is helping citizens stay informed about local and statewide races with BCTV's half-hour interview program “Meet the Candidates.”
In September, invitations were sent to 49 candidates seeking election (seven federal, 20 statewide, and 22 in Windham County) to appear on the series.
Twenty-one candidates responded. The 20 candidates I interviewed are Rep. Peter Welch, Christopher Helali, and Peter Becker (U.S. Congress); Lt. Gov. David Zuckerman, Emily Peyton, and Erynn Hazlett Whitney (governor); Molly Gray and Ralph Corbo (lieutenant governor); Pamela Smith (secretary of state); Auditor Doug Hoffer (auditor of accounts); Sen. Jeanette White, Sen. Becca Balint, Marc Parish, and John Lyddy (state senator - Windham); Rep. Emilie Kornheiser and Richard Morton (state representative, Windham 2-1); Rep. Mollie Burke (state representative, Windham 2-2); Rep. Mike Mrowicki and Michele Bos-Lun (state representative, Windham-4); and Rep. Laura Sibilia (state representative Windham-Bennington).
Cris Ericson, who is running for lieutenant governor, secretary of state, state treasurer, auditor of accounts, and attorney general, submitted her own interview.
All the interviews included the following questions:
1. Why are you seeking this office?
2. What sets you apart from the other candidates seeking this office?
3. What are your top two priorities if you are elected?
4. If elected, what would you do to ensure that more Vermont families with young children can find and afford child care?
5. Recent reports indicate that seniors in Vermont face one of the highest rates of financial insecurity in the nation. How do you think we can make life for seniors more affordable?
6. What is your vision for Vermont in a post-COVID-19 world?
7. What do you want voters to know about you?
The series airs on channel 1075 and streams at brattleborotv.org/meet-candidates.
The general election is Tuesday, Nov. 3. Please vote.