BRATTLEBORO-I read Joyce Marcel's profile of the race between Emilie Kornheiser and Amanda Ellis-Thurber with great interest.
I've had my disagreements with Kornheiser in the past, but I will say that she has a profound interest and real knowledge of public policy and the issues facing working-class Vermonters.
It's hard not to see how Ellis-Thurber's campaign is a response to some of the more innovative ideas coming from Kornheiser's leadership of the Ways and Means Committee, in particular her proposal to raise taxes on short-term rentals, which are massively driving up the cost of housing in Vermont. Indeed, Lisa Ford, who is involved in Ellis-Thurber's campaign, has been quite explicit about this.
To have an honest campaign, it's critical that Ellis-Thurber, whose Lilac Ridge Farm offers farm stays, be frank about one of the primary reasons that she is running: that is, that a higher tax on short-term rentals will negatively impact her own finances as well as the finances of people who are involved with her campaign.
Matthew Cunningham-Cook
Brattleboro
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