Neal Fox
Knows Vermont

I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about the race for the legislative seat between Sandra Haas and Neal Fox. In light of the personal attack on Neal Fox that appeared in a recent editorial I felt it was time to stand up and be counted.

The incumbent Haas is from California where a lot of blatantly socialist ideas begin. That shows in the support of state controlled property taxes for school funding, support for state control over our municipally owned class 4 roads, her support of the state-run health insurance program where we cannot buy coverage further removed from the people.

Fox, on the other hand, grew up in rural New Hampshire where it is much like Vermont. A place where government is closer to the people. He was one of a large farm family who worked his way through college and has lived in Vermont for over 40 years. He has raised a family in Vermont, has nine grandchildren and has always been involved in civic activity. He has chaired school boards., union district boards, been a selectman for years, built a successful business and was chosen as executive director of our regional economic development cor-poration.

In that capacity he has been involved in the creation and retention of several hundred jobs in this immediate area and more than 1000 in his development region.

He knows that good jobs make Vermont affordable for everyone and he has heard the horror stories from people who can truly no longer afford to live here. Some people scoffed when he remarked several years ago at a school budget meeting that people will not longer be able to afford to live in Vermont. He was right then and he is right now.

The current legislature is not listening to the people. Young people can’t afford to settle here, older people can no longer afford to live here. Vermont is becoming the home for the rich and famous leaving little for the common Vermonter who once knew this as home.

This cannot continue for me, my children or my grandchildren. We can do a lot to bring about change, right here in our little valleys. The choice is clear. Neal fox is right for Vermont.

Donald Hyde

East Bethel

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