To the editor: Casting my vote for Hoser

The election for our local state representative for the towns of Chester, Grafton, Windham, and Athens is coming up on November 3rd. I have attended numerous forums to hear from the candidates regarding many issues that affect us here in Vermont, our communities, and our everyday lives. I have come away from these events with a clear choice about who I will be voting for as our representative and why.

Will Hoser is the candidate who has consistently spoken with compassion, knowledge, and lived experience, especially when discussing the important issues of housing, affordability and health care facing Vermonters. Hoser gave answers that reflected his strong desire to address issues being worsened by failed Republican policies. Hoser realizes that a state representative has limited ability to influence national policy; however, Will Hoser is vocal in his acknowledgment of the terrible consequences these flawed and harmful policies place on all of our shared struggles as Vermonters. That acknowledgement is fundamental. Hoser understands that while decisions may be made in Washington, the consequences of these national policies are felt right here in our communities, our schools, our health care systems, and our household
budgets. This is a reality that Republican legislators and supporters often fail to acknowledge, either because they are unable to see how national politics affect local communities or because they align with the beliefs behind those policies.

Will Hoser’s opponent, Tom Charlton, was asked about national issues. Charlton’s response continues to be that national matters are for our federally elected officials to address. This answer is not leadership and it concerns me deeply. National policies do not exist in a vacuum, and state representatives cannot simply separate themselves from the consequences of their political alignment and party affiliation. All politics are local and affect Vermonters.

As a voter, I want to know where Charlton stands. Perhaps Charlton does not want to be connected to a failed Republican Party. Perhaps Charlton wants us to mistake him for a moderate. Whatever the reasoning behind Charlton’s deflections, voters have a right to know where their elected officials stand on important matters, especially when it comes to core beliefs, ethics, and principles. These beliefs matter when the decisions being made at the national level have such profound implications for Vermonters. Even when political and legislative decisions fall outside the direct authority of a state representative, elected officials and those running for office should not shy away from acknowledging their impact. I want to know not just what a candidate says during an election, but what principles will guide their decisions.

Another topic that was discussed were state regulations, particularly Act 250 and Act 181. Charlton argued that both items needed a major overhaul, describing these regulations as extremely burdensome and responsible for stifling Vermont prosperity. Yet it was interesting that later in that forum, the topic of data centers came up, and Charlton was asked why he opposed more regulation and restrictions on them. Charlton voted against this legislation, stating that Act 250 was doing its job and we didn’t need more.

So which is it? Is Act 250 an obstacle to Vermont’s prosperity or is Act 250 an effective tool for protecting our communities? If the law is too burdensome in one context but entirely adequate in another, what principle guides that distinction? Voters deserve a clear explanation of Charlton’s contradictory positions.

The moderator at one of the forums, after lengthy discussions on many topics, stated that it appeared to her that both Hoser and Charlton agreed on many issues. What is important to highlight is that the issues on which Charlton aligned with Hoser are positions and priorities that Democrats have championed for years. Is Charlton drifting to the left to extend his appeal? And if so, are these genuinely held positions or positions that are politically convenient? Shared talking points are one thing; understanding the convictions and priorities behind them is another.

Will Hoser did an excellent job showing his constituents what he believes in and what type of representative he will be. Hoser will be a candidate who is proud of his beliefs and where he stands on all issues, at all levels. Throughout the forums I have attended, Will Hoser has demonstrated a willingness to engage with difficult issues, explain his reasoning, and recognize the connections between the challenges facing Vermont and the larger policies shaping them at the national level.

Will Hoser is a voice of reason and bipartisanship that we need to represent us in Montpelier. At a time when Vermont faces serious challenges, I believe we need representatives who understand the connections between national policies and local consequences, who communicate their convictions clearly, and who are willing to speak openly about the issues affecting the people they serve. That clarity, compassion, and willingness to engage matter to me, and they are why I will be casting my vote for Will Hoser on November 3rd.

Arne Jonynas
Chester