Opinion

Brattleboro Town Meeting Members of Districts 1, 2 and 3 will meet on Wednesday, March 20 to accept nominations to fill town meeting member vacancies. Appointments are for one year. District 1has four vacancies, District 2 has two vacancies and District 3 has three vacancies. Anyone interested in being considered for these positions should be present at Academy School on Wednesday, March 20, at 6:15PM to meet with their district prior to the Town School District’s 6:30 p.m. pre-town meeting information session at the same location. If you are not able to attend but wish to be considered for a position, call the town clerk’s office at 251-8129, prior to the meeting.

WASHINGTON, March 13 – Here is the prepared opening statement by Chairman Bernie Sanders at a Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs hearing today into the claims backlog at the Department of Veterans Affairs:

During the last several weeks, the Veterans’ Affairs Committees in the House and the Senate held four hearings with veterans’ organizations. During their testimony, the leaders of the veterans’ organizations raised a number of concerns, but I think it’s fair to say that the No. 1 issue they raised is the very significant backlog that we have in processing claims for our veterans. I believe that is the No. 1 issue and that is why the first hearing the committee is holding under my leadership is addressing this issue.

WASHINGTON, March 12 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) today introduced a constitutional amendment to overturn a Supreme Court ruling that allowed unrestricted, secret campaign spending by corporations and billionaires. Rep. Ted Deutch (D-Fla.) filed the “Democracy is for People” amendment in the House.

The 2010 Supreme Court ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission undermined democracy by opening the campaign spending floodgates. Already nine states including Vermont and more than 300 cities and towns have passed resolutions calling for the ruling to be overturned.

BURLINGTON, Vt., March 11 – U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), a member of the Senate Budget Committee, held a news conference today to discuss the impact of federal budget cuts on Vermont.

Sanders was joined by Steve Geller, executive director of Southeastern Vermont Community Action, and Marianne Miller, Head Start director at Central Vermont Community Action Council. They spoke about the impact of across-the-board spending cuts that kicked in on March 1 and will total more than $1 trillion over the next decade, including $85 billion by this Sept. 30.

It’s  time for Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin (Democrat) and Rand Paul (Republican) to start facing off for the 2016 Presidential Race!

Both Rand Paul and Peter Shumlin have each spoken to some extent about marijuana legalization.

The problem is that the First Drone Strikes in the United States could  be from the United Nations attacking marijuana fields.

United Nations thinks it can stop Marijuana Legalization in the USA by the same means they use to control Afghanistan.

At Guilford Town Meeting someone referred to Mr. DeGray having commented on the Guilford Middle School issue “on the radio.”  Since I wanted to speak on the school issue I decided not to rise and ask the person for more info, because that would have counted as my “turn” to speak.  But I was wondering if anyone can tell me about that radio program (WTSA or WKVT I presume?)  

Do the stations have an archive of programs?  I’d like to review whatever comments Brattleboro’s Selectboard Chair made on that occasion.  I would guess it was an elaboration on his amenndment to the BUHS budget that passed at the district annual meeing on Feb. 12.

WASHINGTON, March 7 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) today issued the following statement on his vote not to confirm John Brennan to be the director of the Central Intelligence Agency:

“While we must aggressively pursue international terrorists and all of those who would do us harm, we must do it in a way that protects the Constitution and the civil liberties which make us proud to be Americans. With regard to the use of drones and other methods employed by the Central Intelligence Agency, I am not convinced that Mr. Brennan is adequately sensitive to the important balancing act required to make protecting our civil liberties an integral part of ensuring our national security.”

Contact: Michael Briggs (202) 224-5141

The official numbers, courtesy of the Town Clerk’s office, are below and displayed as follows:

Candidate, District 1 votes,  District 2 votes,  District 3 votes,  Total votes

MODERATOR, 1 YEAR

Douglas Cox 239 232 290 761

Lawrin Crispe 278 254 247 779

Below are the unofficial vote results for the March 2013 Election in Brattleboro. Final vote counts and voting by district will available soon and we’ll get it here for you to analyze.

Moderator

Douglas Cox  – 761

Lawrin Crispe – 779

I live off Cedar Street, between Crowell Lot and the Harris Hill Ski Jump. Brattleboro’s a special place, and it will require thoughtful representation by its Representative Town Meeting to help the town strike the right balances as we try to keep our economy healthy and vibrant; educate, retain and attract young people; and live up to our values.

Among my priorities for Brattleboro town governance:

After noting that there are only TEN candidates to fill 16 seats for District 1 three-year Town Meeting Members, I have decided to declare myself a write-in candidate.

If elected, I will represent West Brattleboro residents and interests to the best of my knowledge and ability.

My personal hopes and interests for West Brattleboro’s future include:

When I went to vote early on Friday, I was disturbed that, for the fifteen 3-year seats for District 3 there were only 10-11 printed candidates. I wrote myself in, and am now appealing to the community to write me in (don’t forget to fill in the oval to the right of the write-in slot).

I’ve lived on Elliot Street right above Harmony Lot since September 2007, and have experienced many disturbing scenarios (2008-2009 was especially bad; it’s better but there are continuing challenges). District 3 is the smallest in town, but it covers downtown and cannot afford to be underrepresented.