After the 2000 census, Vermont lawmakers undertook the task of
redistricting and the proposals that came out for The Valley towns would
have been laughable had they not been so sorely lacking in common
sense.
Prior to the 2000 census, Fayston, Warren and Waitsfield were paired
with Granville in the Vermont House. When lawmakers began the work 10
years ago, they came up with permutations of this district that paired
Warren with Lincoln and Ripton. Waitsfield was paired with Northfield.
Fayston was paired with Huntington and Starksboro.
Never mind, for a minute, the fact that each of these Valley towns was
separated from the other towns by a mountain pass or gap. Never mind, as
well, the fact that geographically, economically, politically and
culturally the towns had nothing in common - other than being in Central
Vermont. They weren't even all in Washington County!
So, lawmakers, take heed. The Mad River Valley towns share a watershed,
share a valley and share an ambulance service and three fire
departments. We share the Friends of the Mad River and the Mad River
Path Association and the Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts. These
towns share a high school and a Rotary Club and a Lions Club and have
such a long list of connections that they won't fit on this page.
To get to the Mad River Valley, one has to enter via the Lincoln Gap,
the App Gap, the Roxbury Gap, the Moretown Mountain or come via Duxbury
Hills. This is a specific locale defined by a watershed and bordered by
mountain ranges.
Pair us with Moretown and Duxbury. We belong together. But please don't
split us up with towns located across a steep mountain pass. We're crazy
about Starksboro and Northfield and Ripton and Lincoln, but we don't
share common interests with those towns.
Let's hope common sense prevails this year in Montpelier.
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