In his opening statement, Greshin told attendees that he was running
again because he's "passionate about public policy and service to the
community" and said that his background as a professional in the private
sector "brings balance."
ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Rood said over his 37 years living in Warren, he has served nine years
on the school board and six years on the Warren Select Board and has
spent a lot of time serving the town.
When asked for their stance on the siting of alternative energy
installations and the regulatory process by the Vermont Public Service
Board (PSB), Rood said that the PSB "needs to take local consideration
with town plans taken into account."
Greshin said, "It is crucial for towns to have a say in projects," and
was in favor of the terms being changed from "due process consideration
to conformance with the Town Plan."
MODIFY ACT 60/68
When asked how each candidate would propose to modify Act 60/68 to put a
cap on "gold towns" to limit what they could contribute, Rood said that
where Vermont was once a "self-supporting, self-confined state governed
by towns, now we're part of a larger community - Vermont."
In response to further audience questions about the structure of the
Vermont education funding structure, Rood said it's important to "look
at ways to control educational spending. We do need to get costs under
control, but I don't think we want to lose local control."
Greshin said, "The property tax is steady and rising, and generally a
good reflection of wealth; income fluctuates much more than property
value."
Rood said the state "should look at using the income tax with education.
Every system is imperfect; income tax is more reliable."
LOVES TO HATE PROPERTY TAX
Greshin said, "Everyone loves to hate the property tax."
On whether either candidate was in support of a proposed large-scale
wind farm on the Northfield Ridge, Greshin said he didn't think the
project "was a particularly good idea" and wasn't sure it would be
economically viable.
Rood said, "We need to produce enough energy locally as we can," and
though there is a big supply of wind on the ridge, he wasn't sure if the
particular project was "a great one."
When asked about the possibility of a referendum at public meeting
regarding the PSB's regulatory process, Rood said, "We need to be really
careful about how we regulate utilities."
Greshin said, "We have a process already. Act 248 allows a voice; other
states regulate differently. Large power projects deserve more input
than three people."
ENCOURAGE BUSINESSES
Concerning questions about economic development, lost businesses and
whether Vermont is "business friendly," Rood noted The Valley's need for
infrastructure and broadband internet access.
Greshin said, "Governments create the climate that then encourages businesses to come."
Rood added, "The federal government is creating jobs and is preventing
us from descending into a depression. We've done a terrible job at
promoting Vermont. I don't think it's wise to promote that Vermont is a
bad place to do business."
When asked about last April's health care legislation, Greshin said it
"had a lot of good things to it and a few things we could have done
without."
Rood said that the study commissioned was "the best part in examining the single payer option. Adam voted against that bill."
Greshin said, "The system, dealing from employment, has to be
preventative. What's it going to cost? We have to have a cost control
mechanism."
VERMONT YANKEE
When asked of whether each candidate supported the decommissioning of
Vermont Yankee, Rood said, "I have thought for a long time that Vermont
Yankee should not be relicensed. It's important to be vigilant and set
up a decommissioning fund."
Greshin said it is important to look at "how we will be replacing the energy, not how we'll decommission."
UNDER THE GUN
Rood then asked Greshin why he voted against a decommissioning bill.
Greshin said that his vote against the bill in question would have
resulted in a costly court battle and said it "had nothing to do with my
love for the plant."
Greshin asked Rood how we would fund education with income taxes. Rood
said, "I'm not suggesting that we eliminate property tax. It's a
complicated system. It's so complicated it puts school boards under the
gun on how and why money is spent."
Rood asked Greshin why he thought being a registered Independent was advantageous for the residents of The Valley.
Greshin said, "The caucus system is irrelevant. Anyone can go to any
caucus. My being an Independent didn't seem to hurt The Valley in any
way."
SHOW LEADERSHIP
Both candidates agreed on the need to show leadership on the topic of
green jobs. Rood said, "We live in the most important community in the
whole state. We need to make sure incentives are predictable and
reliable."
Greshin said he was "willing to advocate for and work harder to boost green jobs and create a business climate to create jobs."
One attendee commended Greshin for his vote in favor of the marriage
equality legislation and said that it is important to "keep our eye on
the ball with human rights issues."
FISCALLY CONSERVATIVE
Greshin said that though he is fiscally conservative, he is socially more liberal and a supporter of equal human rights.
Rood added, "Vermont can be proud to be on the edge of civil rights; we
were the first state to outlaw slavery and to allow marriage equality."
Warren resident Tim Seniff asked the candidates for their top three
priorities if elected. Rood said, "Reforming the tax system, working
with Governor Shumlin on instituting a single-payer health care system
and transitioning away from fossil fuels."
Greshin said, "Vermont continues to pull itself back. We need to
consider economic prospects, help Valley residents to finance the
education system, and be good stewards of the environmental and quality
of life in Vermont."
BEST IDEA/BEST PERSON
When asked why he was a registered Independent party member, Greshin
said, "I vote for the best idea and the best person. I'm an Independent
representing the best interests of the people that live here."
Rood said, "I've always been a Democrat. The Democratic Party is
concerned with civil rights, the needs of the less fortunate, taking
care of climate change; Act 60 is the only thing I disagree with my
party on."
In his closing statement, Greshin said, "I'm someone who can advocate
for you. Being an Independent helped me. I'm in the Mad River Valley
party."
Rood disagreed with Greshin and said that while he thought "Independent
voters are great - they vote for the best idea or person - but when you
get to the Legislature you want to work in concert with one part or
another. I pledge if I'm elected to bring my expertise in housing,
renewable energy and municipal affairs."
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