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Orleans County Republicans Meet Statewide Candidates |
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Monday, 19 October 2009 |
Left to right, Mark Snelling, Tom Salmon, and Chris Roy were the three guest speakers at the Republican Fall Dinner at Jay Peak Saturday. (Photo by Christopher Roy)
By CHRISTOPHER ROY
Express Staff Writer
JAY — Orleans County Republicans heard from three party members they hope will be elected into office at their Fall Dinner at Jay Peak Resort Saturday evening. Auditor of Accounts Thomas Salmon is seeking re-election, Mark Snelling is seeking the office of lieutenant governor, and Chris Roy is running for secretary of state.
Salmon, who switched from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party
in September, said he didn’t take switching parties lightly. He said
his office is a non-political, objective, and independent position.
“We’re working on performance measurements and performance audits to
give the Legislature a clearer picture of what’s going on,” said
Salmon.
Salmon said he’s committed to the current lieutenant governor and
gubernatorial hopeful Brian Dubie. He said he hopes both of their
messages along with the party message can be intertwined. Salmon said
he changed parties for one reason, Vermonters are starving for the
truth and leadership.
“I’m unafraid of any issue or person,” said Salmon. “The Vermont
Republican platform of living within your means, not over taxing your
citizens, and not over burdening your children is a very reasonable
message and a very good message for Vermont.”
Roy has been an attorney for more than 20 years. He said this is his
first attempt in running for statewide office, but it is not his first
endeavor in trying to help the state. His political experience includes
being involved with the Vermont Environmental Board, he serves on the
Williston Selectboard, and has served on the Quadricentennial
Commission for Lake Champlain.
“This time I’ve decided to take the step up and take a plunge at
statewide office,” said Roy. He said 2010 is going to be a crucial
election year. “I think we all know in our guts and hearts that there
is a crossroads ahead. This state has a chance to turn back toward
common sense solutions, towards fiscal prudence, and to responsible
government.”
Roy, whose mother’s family is from Derby, has been coming to Orleans
County for 40 years. He said he’s seen the good times and the
challenging times.
Roy said his family’s connections to the way of life in the granite
industry and dairy farming have gone along with what it means to be a
Vermonter.
“Twenty years ago, it was very tough for a Vermonter to come back with
four years of college debt and three years of law school debt and make
a go of it in Vermont,” said Roy. “Fortunately I was able to do that.
As we have become painfully aware, it has become harder, not easier for
our children and grand-children to make a home in Vermont.”
Roy said one of the reasons he has gotten involved is because he’s
concerned the opportunities won’t be adequate enough for his children,
ages three, 10, and 13, to return to Vermont after college.
Snelling is the son of former Governor Richard Snelling and former
Lieutenant Governor Barbara Snelling. He told the crowd at the
fundraiser he was raised in Shelburne when it was rural. Snelling said
he was taught rural Vermont values that include working hard, helping
those less fortunate than he is, and talking less and listening more.
He now lives in Starksboro on an old farm. Snelling said the 2010
election will be very important.
“The financial issues that are facing us are critical, tough, and will
determine the next 10 years on how Vermont operates,” said Snelling. “I
think it’s important to step back and ask what is going on.”
When he was growing up Vermont had 300,000 residents, today there
600,000, said Snelling. The saying was, there are more cows than
Vermonters, but that is not true anymore. He said the state’s
population growth between 1960 and 1990 was 10 percent, and eight percent between 1990 and 2000.
“That’s pretty fast growth,” said Snelling. He said more young people came into the state and brought jobs with them, competed for jobs that were here, and made the economy grow. “All of that revenue flowed into the statewide coffers and it got gobbled up for years.
“We’ve been very generous and we’ve been very creative in creating new programs, but the sad reality is it can’t continue,” said Snelling. He said growth in the state continues to decrease.
Snelling said the state’s population is aging. In 2004, there were 81,000 Vermonters over the age of 65. That number is expected to double by 2024. “We have less and less people working and more and more people enjoying their rocking chairs,” said Snelling “We’re living longer, but we also need state services longer. We’re starting to tip in the wrong direction.”
The 2010 revenues for the state is going to be approximately the same as the 2005 revenues, said Snelling. He said the state and county has a high unemployment rate, and it is likely that everyone knows at least one person who is looking for work.
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Last Updated ( Monday, 26 October 2009 )
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