BRATTLEBORO-The Commons reached out to challengers to incumbents in state legislative seats, inviting them to contribute some basic information to introduce them to readers as early voting in the general election gets underway.
Following are brief profiles from those who responded to the newspaper's outreach for this story, with additional reporting and context from public records.
A number of Republican challengers declined to participate, all claiming hostile treatment in the local press.
A campaign website or social media presence follows each profile, as does public contact information released by the Office of the Secretary of State.
State Senate: Rick Morton, Republican
Republican Richard "Rick" Morton, who is running for Windham County senator, says the country is "on the wrong track."
"The average of almost 400 separate polls indicates that 63% of Americans think the [economy] is on the wrong track," the Brattleboro resident wrote, citing a Sept. 9 report in The Hill about a Harvard CAPS-Harris poll.
"Nationally, the three main issues affecting voter sentiment are the economy, immigration, and crime. There are many secondary issues affecting voter sentiment as well. All three of these national issues also affect Vermonters. But in Vermont, our politicians are more rational than D.C. politicians, right? Well, not so fast."
Property taxes have gone up this year because of school financing. Morton asks, "Are you excited about the average property tax increase of 13.8%?"
"It appears our elected representatives listened more to bureaucrats, lobbyists, and activists rather than the voters who put them into office," he wrote. "Population outflows and the greying of Vermont are likely to continue as a result."
Morton is also against the Clean Heat Standard, to which no figures have yet been calculated, although he - and Gov. Phil Scott - claim a "carbon tax" of $3 to $4 per gallon would be added to the base price of heating oil and kerosene.
"Who did this?" Morton asked. "Vermont's supermajority :egislature put us in this place. Gov. Scott vetoed the Clean Heat Standard (Act 18), but the Legislature overrode that veto," he said.
He noted that incumbent Windham County Sens. Nader Hashim and Wendy Harrison joined in the veto override.
Morton said that having legislators from more diverse points of view will give better outcomes.
"Without more balance in the Legislature, more foolish, unwise, and fiscally irresponsible actions will be taken," Morton wrote. "If our legislators are not held accountable for what they have already done, then what is to make them change course going forward?
"Vermont voters need to send a message to the Legislature. Windham County voters cannot rely on other counties to do the work of restoring balance to the State Legislature.
"We must do our part from all parties: Democrats, independents, and Republicans. We must choose senators and representatives who will help the Legislature chance course."
Morton, the former chair of the Windham County Republicans, previously ran for a Senate seat in 2022. He has also run races for state auditor, state representative, and state treasurer.
Contact Morton at [email protected].
House (Windham-3): Casey K. Cota, independent, and Ryan Coyne, Republican
Two new candidates are in the running for the Windham-3 district, representing Rockingham, Westminster, and Brookline.
Casey K. Cota, 53, an independent, and Republican Ryan Coyne, 40, both of Rockingham, will be on the ballot with incumbent Democrats Michelle Bos-Lun of Westminster and Leslie Goldman of Rockingham.
The owner of Cota & Cota Plumbing & Heating and Deliverable Heating Fuels, Cota said he is running from a place of "frustration that the Vermont Legislature isn't listening to the concerns of ordinary Vermonters."
"I am running as an independent to make Vermont affordable for Vermonters," the first-time candidate said. "To give the working Vermonters a voice and to help keep them here by creating more opportunities for them. Running as an independent because I want to put Vermonters first."
The biggest issue in Vermont right now is the cost of living, Cota said, "from the high taxes to high home and rent prices."
"A lack of supply of housing in the Windham-3 district prevents growth in the community, schools, and workforce," he wrote. "Vermonters want to live here and provide opportunities for their families to stay here. Affordable living is integral to supporting every age of Vermonters - youth through retirement."
One solution, Cota said, is to work with the town to find "designated land, and work with the state to expedite different regulatory bodies to move quickly to fix the dire need for housing. A common-sense approach needs to be used to ensure hard working Vermonters get good value from their hard-earned money."
Cota wanted voters to know that he has "helped guide and grow his business and strengthen the community over the last 29 years."
Through this experience, he "has seen firsthand the struggles his employees and their families have along with customers struggles with affordability and housing."
Cota said that his "strong family values and upbringing guide his mission to serve" and that his first priority "will always be what is best for his fellow Vermonters."
Ryan Coyne, who gives his occupation as the "social services," said he is running because "I am a veteran and I love my country."
The most important issues facing Vermont, Coyne said, are the economy, the environment, and the local communities here.
"I think it is clear taxes keep going higher and higher in Vermont," Coyne said. "If I was an elected official I would try and start a transition in a different direction. I have been in the community a long time and am always excited to hear from people about what issues are facing them politically here in Vermont."
His solution would be to "vote for bills that will lower the cost or essentials of life, food, gas, etc. Make Vermont as business friendly as possible."
Coyne ran for the seat as an independent candidate in 2020 and 2022.
Casey Cota's website: cota4vt.com. Ryan Coyne's campaign Facebook page: bit.ly/783-coyne.
House (Windham-8) and State Senate: Ken Fay, independent
Semi-retired accountant Ken Fay, 62, an independent, is running for both the State Senate and for the House in District 8 in Brattleboro.
"The most important issue facing Vermont is perspective," the first-time candidate wrote.
He defined perspective as "each 'side' understand[ing] the other. Vermont (like most places) needs to work together to solve its problems."
His solution to the problem? "Solve the issue by electing me," he wrote. "Either office works. If you are in District 8 and you like my message, please vote for district and Senate. Those in the county should include me as one of the senators.
"In the unlikely event I win both races, I would meet with others to decide what office to serve that helps Vermonters the most."
According to Fay, "The perspective that I could bring to the Legislature is one of many experiences."
In addition to his work in public accounting, including auditing, these experiences include work as a union and nonunion laborer, as a security guard, as a summer day camp counselor for low-income children, as a dish washer and food prepper at a restaurant, and as a worker for a homeless shelter and a rural health clinic.
Fay supplied his resume, which includes his work as town manager of Westminster, where he put on administrative leave after two weeks with no public explanation. He later settled with the town.
Beside being arrested for DUIs, Fay wanted people to know that his personal experiences also include a stint on welfare, collecting SNAP benefits (food stamps), and collecting unemployment across five states.
"Another personal experience that I have is of alcohol abuse - 8.3 daily drink average during 2023," he wrote. "Currently, I am mostly sober and diligent."
He described the services in Vermont (unemployment, COBRA, pension, disability services) as "the worst that I have experienced, and I have lived in New York City as well as Alaska. As I have told people, the governor is undoubtedly popular with people who don't use or need state services."
Lastly, Fay wanted readers to know that he is not running against incumbents Sen. Wendy Harrison, Sen. Nader Hashim, and/or Rep. Mollie Burke because he thinks they are doing a poor job of serving their constituents.
"The incumbents are doing great jobs," Fay wrote. "I just need to get to the Legislature to learn the ropes and players for the next step to governor."
Contact Ken Fay at [email protected].
This News item by Joyce Marcel was written for The Commons.