Politics section
Please see attached for the “official results” for Brattleboro’s State Primary election. These are the results, including write-in votes, from Brattleboro only and not including other towns’ results for the Primary races.
Good evening,
Please see attached for Brattleboro’s Unofficial results for Brattleboro’s State Primary election. These are the results from the ballot tallies, not including write-in votes, and not including other towns’ results for the Primary races. Those names in bold received the most votes in Brattleboro.
I write in response to statements made by Aly Richards, candidate for VT Governor, and Ryan McLaren, candidate for VT Lt. Governor, about the Vermont Defend the Guard Act, during the 7/23 Vermont Public debates, 7/23 and 7/21 respectively. Ms. Richards said “we have to be really strategic together as we are fighting against [the] attack on democracy.” She also said this bill would put a big target on the back of the Vermont National Guard. Mr. McLaren said he’s heard no support for the bill from Guard members.
I agree that we need to be strategic. Part of that strategy is the movement for this act. A letter to Governor Scott and Vermont state legislators is circulating from Vermont National Guard veterans, their family members, and other Vermont veterans of the U.S. military. They request a proper hearing and passage of the Vermont Defend the Guard Act and give their reasons.
Below is some helpful information for the August 11th State Primary Elections.
Absentee Ballots
Absentee ballots for these elections were mailed by request. Please make sure to follow the instructions provided with your ballot, including:
Signing the certificate envelopeand ensuring your ballot/s are insidethe certificate envelope.
Using a black pen to mark your ballot.
The Brattleboro Board of Civil Authority has adopted a new policy governing photography, filming, and recording at polling places during elections.
The policy was approved during the Board’s meeting on July 16, 2026, and is intended to balance transparency in the election process with the need to maintain order at polling places and protect the confidentiality of voters’ choices. The policy was informed by Vermont State statute 17 V.S.A. § 1972.
It is an easy mistake to assume Cris Ericson is a Progressive. She claims to be one but has never been a member of the Party and has been disavowed by the Party time and again.
It is a peculiar quirk in Vermont election laws that allows a person to claim and run under any party affiliation they choose as long as there is not another candidate for that party listed. Ericson has been for many years tossing her name in as a Progressive wherever there was not one running. She is not a member of and has no support from the Vermont Progressive Party.
I have struggled with this subject because I just want to scream that every search on the internet leads me to believe that Data Centers will pollute both our air and water in Vermont.
Last December, U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders and U.S. Senator Peter Welch and U.S. Congressperson Becca Balint announced that they nominated a total of 23 young Vermonters to the U.S. Military Academies.
The U.S. Military Academies are four year college degree programs with free tuition, room and board for graduating high school students who qualify.
Now, here’s the question: How many wish they had not applied?
Brattleboro survived Open Town Meeting.
It looked a lot like a Representative Town meeting, but there were small differences. Attendees were called “Voters” rather than “Representatives.” There was no separate seating for the un-elected. People who just moved to town could participate.
The similarities were numerous. A bit of confusion about Roberts Rules? Check. Exciting explorations down rabbit holes of amendments to amendments. Check. Lasting nearly 10 hours? Check.
Dependent Care reimbursement forms for the Brattleboro Town Meeting will be available at the meeting on April 11 at Brattleboro Union High School gymnasium, near the Clerk’s table. Funds are limited and not guaranteed for everyone who makes a request. This is managed in partnership with United Way.
Dear Paul Dame and H Brooke Paige, Lord knows I drive a “pray as you go daily” 1999 Chevy which is convenient when it needs repairs because the Vermont junk yards are full of parts. I believe in Recylcing, even when it comes to cars. BUT IT GETS 13 M.P.G.
Residents of District 9 will continue their discussion of Town matters in advance of Town Meeting (which is Saturday 11 April) in another of our periodic get-togethers. The District 9 forum will occur at 6:30 pm on Tuesday 31 March in the Community Room of the Brooks Memorial Library (3rd floor). For more information, contact Robert Oeser (robt.oeser@gmail.com) or David Levenbach (fideladelphia@gmail.com; 413.559.1533).
Residents of District 9 will continue their discussion of Town matters in advance of Town Meeting (which is Saturday 11 April) in another of our periodic get-togethers. The District 9 forum will occur at 6:30 pm on Tuesday 31 March in the Community Room of the Brooks Memorial Library (3rd floor). At the suggestion of one of the participants at the last forum, we invite suggestions as to matters that should be scheduled for the agenda. Send your preferred topics to convenors Robert Oeser (robt.oeser@gmail.com) or David Levenbach (fideladelphia@gmail.com; 413.559.1533).
During Town Meeting Day, held on March 3, 2026, Brattleboro voters discontinued Representative Town Meeting. Representative Town Meeting, which had been originally scheduled for March 21, has been canceled, and Open Town Meeting will replace it on April 11.
At Open Town Meeting, all registered voters who are present can discuss, debate, amend, and vote on the town budget and on other binding and non-binding items. Below are some helpful dates and documents to review prior to the meeting.
Newly-elected Brattleboro Selectboard members were sworn in by Town Clerk Hilary Francis. Amanda Ellis-Thurber, Isaac Evans-Frantz, and Nell Mayo join Oscar Heller and Peter Case on the board.
The new Chair of the Brattleboro Selectboard is Oscar Heller. “Thanks for trusting me with this position.”
The Vice-Chair is Amanda Ellis Thurber.
March 4, 2026 Motion to Discharge S. J. Res. 104, a joint resolution to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities within the Islamic Republic of Iran. ROLL CALL VOTE: Yea 47, Nay 53
This means the majority of Members of the United States Senate voted to CONTINUE the WAR WITH IRAN because they voted against (against = Nay 53) removal of U.S. Troops from Iran.
Good afternoon,
Please see attached for Brattleboro’s Official Town Meeting Day election results. The winners are in bold.
WSESD official results will be released from the Central School District office as they are ready.
Thank you,
Hilary
Thurber, Evans-Frantz, Mayo
Yes, Yes, Yes
Please see attached for Brattleboro’s Unofficial Town Meeting Day election results. These are the results from the ballot tallies, not including write-in votes, The projected winners are in bold.
WSESD results will be released from their central office once they have the results in from all voting towns.
Note that these are numbers that were crunched after a VERY long day. I will reiterate that they are UNOFFICIAL.
Thanks to the amazing poll workers and the American Legion who made today possible! We had a lot of voters coming through the doors – 28% for Town Meeting Day (similar to last year). The day was smooth and safe!
Interview questions were sent to all candidates for Brattleboro Selectboard; for the first time, not everyone bothered to return answers (there is still time).
Here are the links to candidate interviews in one handy spot of those who chose to participate so far:
