Zon Eastes is the Democratic Party nominee to represent Windham-1 in the Vermont Legislature.
GUILFORD-As I reflect on these past few months of campaigning to represent Vernon and Guilford in the Vermont House, I am deeply humbled by the experience itself, as well as by conversations I've had with so many of you.
It has been a privilege to knock on your doors, listen to your concerns, and hear about your hopes for our future. Above all, I have learned that we residents - Republican, Independent, and Democrat - have much more in common than we do dividing us.
At every turn, no matter the political affiliation, I've been hearing the same central issues.
We're all worried about affordability and sustainability - I've heard about rising taxes, the increasing costs of education, health care, groceries, and fuel. It is clear to me that we all want to continue living in the communities we love, surrounded by the beauty of rural Vermont. And we all want to ensure that our towns remain safe, particularly for our children and grandchildren.
These concerns do not belong to any one political party.
While it might be gratifying to stoke partisan divides, I firmly believe that the way we will solve our collective problems is by working together. We will make solid progress when we set aside the heated rhetoric that can dominate discussion. No longer should we pit neighbor against neighbor by using an "us versus them" mentality.
By focusing on our shared desires, we can work to maintain the character of our towns while planning for a sustainable future. We can ensure that, as we grow and develop, we are doing so in ways that respect our neighbors, our environment, and our history.
We all want our children to have the opportunity to thrive here, to inherit towns where they feel safe, supported, and connected.
Campaigning has reinforced for me the deep value of community. Whether I win or lose the election, my hope remains the same: that we can come together to collectively set a solid path forward.
I'm convinced that the challenges we face will not be solved by pointing fingers or by allowing division to fester. I believe solutions are available when we listen to one another and seek common ground.
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Our state's motto, "Freedom and Unity," describes that balancing act that is Vermont. On one hand, "freedom" means allowing people the space to live their lives in ways that reflect their values and circumstances, and on the other, "unity" means working together for the common good.
By embracing this striking conundrum, we go a distance in creating the kind of world we want for ourselves and for future generations.
We really are one community, facing shared challenges and aspiring to common hopes.
Together, we can create a community in which our children and grandchildren can thrive, where our elderly can age with dignity, and where all of us can live in safety and security.
That would be a place I would be proud to call home.
This is my hope for our community, and I believe it is a hope we can achieve together.
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