To the editor: William Hoser understands Vermonters’ healthcare, housing needs

I am writing to get the vote out for William Hoser, a Chester resident and physicians assistant who is running for the House of Representatives for Chester, Windham, Grafton and Athens.

Will raised his family in Chester, so he knows what a good education means. He has run two small businesses, was born in a rural state and grew up on a cow farm! For most of his career, he has served all residents of this area as a physicians assistant in two emergency rooms. He knows how healthcare — and the lack thereof — personally affects the lives of fellow Vermonters.

We need a representative in Montpelier who understands the implications of basic healthcare, to the most complicated. Being well-versed in how insurance covers care or does not and the gap that is needed to fill the care required would be a game changer in Montpelier. His recent
shift to providing health care in a mobile van shows his commitment to bringing healthcare to
those who may be housebound, or do not have care providers.

His challenger, Tom Charlton, had his time in Montpelier to make a difference, and has not.
Glancing at his voting record, I see he voted against Act 217, an amendment to the bill that would expand supplemental child care grants to pre-school and day care facilities so parents could work. These grants are income-based. He voted no. Skills learned at this early stage in life set the path for future success on all levels.

Tom Charlton voted no on Bill 727. This bill was introduced to regulate the transparency of data centers that use and discharge our water after it has been used, as well as total electricity being used. Bill 727 protects local homeowners to not be subjected to higher rates of electricity used by a data center in their neighborhood. Voting no shows he doesn’t care about the environment, or the rising cost of electricity, and yes to data centers that do not increase jobs in Vermont. Once they are running, there is very little need for local employees.

He voted along the Republican Party line of Gov. Phil Scott and other House Republicans. His website shows him shaking hands with Phil Scott. At a candidates forum in Athens, he publicly stated he is not a politician. Recent letters to the editor in another publication promoting his re-election show they are paid for by the Chester Republican Committee. I found it disingenuous to claim he is not a politician, yet is accepting the endorsement and money provided by a Republican Committee.

Will Hoser, recognizes urban versus rural. Where a person lives should not effect a child’s education or a family’s healthcare. He also has children who would like to move back to Vermont, yet like we all are aware, jobs and housing solutions are going to take hard work.

Will has taken on challenges his entire life, and his energy, willingness to work hard, and listen to people whether it is his patient or a community member, he is up for the challenge of representing the needs of local Vermonters. He also wants to continue to hear from those he represents if he gets elected.

On a recent afternoon, Will and I went “door knocking.” It was uplifting. We met people who opened their doors to us, and shared a bit of themselves. Above all, they were proud of their choice to be a Vermonter, and the hope to keep their dreams alive.

Each home showed us how hard people have worked for their lives here. Will wants everyone to have a place they can call home, a school their children can attend, a job their parents can go to or work remotely so we can all enjoy this gracious state.

There should be no “othering” here. We can do this together, please vote on Nov. 3 for William Hoser, to be our collective voice in the House of Representatives!

Leslie Thorsen
Chester