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John Taylor - Progressive Candidate for the Vermont Legislature from Orange-1

I'm John Taylor and I'm running for the Orange-1 State Representative seat on the Progressive ticket. The Orange-1 District covers the towns of Chelsea, Corinth, Orange, Vershire, Washington, and Williamstown. I am proud to be running on the same ticket with three-term Progressive incumbent Susan Hatch Davis.

Taylor ran as a write-in candidate in 2008 and on this same ticket two years ago. The issues I was concerned about two years ago are still current.

I've been a resident of Central Vermont for over 25 years. A resident of Williamstown, he has held several local offices having been lister for six years and have served on the planning commission, cemetery commission and as Town Agent. I've lived and worked in various parts of the state including the Brattleboro area and the Northeast Kingdom, so I have a good feel for Vermont.

Jobs, wages, and housing are priority issues in addition to getting the State's financial picture in shape in the wake of Irene and the recession. I think affordability starts with an economy that is built on more than attracting big box stores or chasing after manufacturers to relocate here. We need to encourage home-grown 21^st century employment options that reflect our children’s education and that will allow them to stay and prosper here.

The Internet makes it possible to work globally but live in this special corner of the globe.  To assure that's possible we need to push for high-speed connections to "the last mile." I don't believe in this current 'can't do' attitude that has been coming from some quarters.  We've always moved forward and we've done it by working together and that's the essence of  a progressive frame of mind.

My work in the tourism industry for twelve years has given him a renewed appreciation for his native state's beauty. "That scenic beauty is our heart and soul. People from all over the world rave about it, and national organizations like the National Trust, are worried about its future. I think we need to get serious about preserving our ridge lines and making sure our family farms don't go the way of the catamount."

Taylor sees the next few years as pivotal. "Reading the book The Vermont Century really brought home to me how much Vermont has changed in the last 50 years. The next 50 could bring just as much change. I think we need to move forward but we shouldn't lose what we love about this place in the process."

Affordable housing is about more than mortgage payments and rents; it's also about not over-taxing homeowners.”

 

When it comes to education I'd like to see some real, creative thinking from the State level with more local input on how education is delivered in Vermont – not just a shuffling of administrative nobodies. I think it's outrageous that highly paid professionals can't come up with something better than this. It doesn't speak well for the benefits of an advanced education.

I'm very concerned about the professionalizing of local governments. The legislature in recent years has passed an ever increasing workload onto local governments without any money following it. Towns have had to hire high priced accountants and appraisers to do what locals used to do just to comply with those demands. The problem is that, unlike school funding, the legislature isn’t sending any money along and the local taxpayer is seeing the payrolls in town halls going ever upward. We need to put the brakes on that.

You can find out more about me on my "About Me" page. You'll find my background as well as my approach to government.

Contacting Me

Feel free to comment on one of my positions - like I said I'm hoping this will become a conversation. Or, if you want to ask a question  just send me an email at John@JT4VT.org. If you spot a spelling mistake or such email it to Webmaster@JT4VT.org.

John

Broadband and the Economy

Probably the most important thing the legislature can do to improve Vermont's economic picture is act to assure that all areas of the state have access to broadband Internet.  Broadband makes it possible to live locally but work globally.

This first priority will be to assure that Fairpoint lives up to its commitments for coverage.  The second will be to assure that the Vtel project succeeds.

Fairpoint has asked for an extension on providing broadband coverage.  The company has proposed bringing fiber optic connections to all areas of the state.  I will push for them to honor all of the 2015 projects they have outlined especially in northern portions of the state.

The Vtel project will provide broadband Internet using state-of-the-art wireless connections: known as 4G. As part of the eState initiative enacted in 2007 the legislature placed review of  projects with three or more communications towers to go to the Public Service Board (PSB) for review to expedite approval.  The Vtel project involves a network of towers to provide coverage that will need some type of regulatory review.

This expedited review will sunset in 2011, as the project is getting rolling. I will propose or support a bill amending 30 V.S.A. § 248a(i) to extend the sunset through 2015.   I agree with Tom Evslin, former Chief Technology Officer for the State of Vermont, that this should happen early in the session to signal the Legislature's commitment to the project.

How these two projects will coexist even I'm not sure.  The lack of coordination within State government and lack of candor with you and me, much less these two companies, leaves much in doubt.

I was dubious of using cellular technology as the solution but I was reminded that China and other developing countries are opting for cellular phone service rather that stringing wires.  Given Vermont's rural nature, using cellular technology to get to the "final mile" is probably the most feasible solution.

That's just my opinion, what's yours?

Strengthening Local Economies

In the last 50 years of the 20th century, Vermont changed from a very rural state to a kind of hybrid state. Most of it "just happened." We are likely to see more such changes in the next 50 years. The question is: will we let it just happen or will we try to be the masters of our own destiny?

For too long, Vermont's economic development strategy has been focused on attracting outside businesses to this state. The true economic future of Vermont lies in helping local businesses to thrive and expand.

Vermont businesses have shown that they can compete on a national and even a world stage. Furthermore, Vermont businesses have a vested interest in their communities and are less likely to head out of state the first time they are offered a better deal.

Building on the Vermont Brand
How can we do this? By encouraging, as part of a comprehensive economic development strategy, the growth of environmental goods and services -- the so-called EGS sector of the economy. By building on the well-established image of Vermont as a clean and environmentally conscious state, and by capitalizing on the state's existing talent pool, we have a golden opportunity to attract real investment in the state in technologies like renewable energy, waste management and water quality improvement.

High-Speed Internet is Vital
The Internet has made it possible for us to live locally but work globally. It also means that more people can work in town and reduce the number of commuting miles.  More people are available to man fire departments and rescue squads and to help the economic and social life of their communities.

The legislature needs to do more to prod the expansion of high-speed internet to all corners of the state. This is not something we can keep putting off nor can we continue to let Fairpoint off the hook on their promises to extend high-speed connectivity to "the last mile."  The Waitsfield and Champlain Telecom service area has this service.  It is possible - if a company wants to do it.  They need to keep the pressure on both the private sector, regulators and others to make this happen.

Encouraging Home-Grown Business
Instead of chasing around the world to get businesses to relocate here, we need to nurture home-grown businesses that provide good jobs at all levels of the company. We also need more organization making "micro investments" into Vermont-based businesses. These types of investments have proven successful in other parts of the world and I think they would work here.

We need to encourage more funds like Community Capital Fund of Vermont that is investing in the dreams of Vermonters. Between guidance through the Small Business Development Corp., Vermont-based investing and incubator spaces, we could spur a new era of locally owned and operated business meeting the needs of  not only Vermonters but the world.

At the same time, we would also be helping to preserve all that is special about Vermont. Regional planning calls for compact villages separated by a country landscape. What fueled that open landscape was farmland.

We still need open land and can keep it through diverse agriculture and recreational uses. We need to really start planning for the next 50 years in a regional way, not merely giving it lip service.  If we start now, commit to these things and do it right, we can have our jobs and the Vermont way of life that makes it all so rewarding.