John Rotter Says He Will Run

As Republican for State Rep.

John Rotter of Randolph announced this week that he will run in the September primary election as a Republican to represent Brookfield, Braintree, Randolph and Granville in the Vermont State House of Representatives.

A recent graduate of Vermont Law School, Rotter has been involved with the community since his arrival in June 2005, and has just resigned as director of public works for the town of Randolph.

Rotter is the second Republican to announce candidacy for the two-seat district, as Stewart Skrill of Randolph Center announced earlier. It has also been reported that Jocelyn Stohl of Braintree will run as a Republican, but as of yet, she has made no announcement.

Both the Democratic incumbents, Patsy French and Jim Hutchinson, are planning to run for re-election.

"This is a wonderful area, full of amazing people who deserve an effective and independent leader in the General Assembly, and I intend to provide it," Rotter said.

"I decided to run for the Vermont House because I want Vermont to be a place where my children can afford to live and work," he added. "The residents and businesses in the four towns that make up the Orange-Addison 1 district continue to struggle with the tax burden we bear each year. From what I know about economics, I am sure the people can spend their money wiser than the government can."

Rotter will begin teaching at Norwich University in the fall, but will continue to work for Randolph on "special projects" such as the reconstruction of West Street, which was destroyed in the 2007 flood.

Rotter noted that he has significant experience in environmental issues. He spent a summer with the Environmental Law Clinic in South Royalton and a semester at the Environmental Court in Berlin. "I do not believe the choice is between jobs and the environment or growth and the environment. I believe the choice is between maintaining responsible growth with a healthy environment and an ineffective legislature that provides for neither."

A graduate of Arizona State University, Rotter is a U.S. Navy veteran. He and his wife, Sandy, who works at Norwich University School of Graduate Studies, have three children, Samantha, Carley and John.

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