WESTMINSTER-I have been a member of the Vermont Conservation Voters (VCV) Board of Trustees for two election cycles. The board puts forward endorsements for candidates who support the Vermont environment and we keep track over the biennium of how the elected members actually vote on key environmental issues.
The VCV endorsement process starts with a broad coalition of environmental groups establishing a unified environmental agenda. VCV then asks candidates of all parties their position on those issues. The candidate responses and their voting record (if they have one) determine whether they are endorsed by VCV.
Here in our two member Windham-3 district, where you get to vote for two House Representatives, both Leslie Goldman and Michelle Bos-Lun have been endorsed by VCV for this election. They responded to the VCV questionnaire issues affirmatively and both have 100% voting records not only for this biennium but for all their terms in the Vermont House.
Environmental protection goes far beyond tree hugging. In my bailiwick of protecting streams and rivers, protecting the aquatic environment not only helps the environment, but when we protect riverways, shorelands, wetlands, and natural flow regimes in our rivers, we also lessen the flood possibilities and/or lessen the impact of any flooding. Environmental stewardship is a win-win situation.
Our attention to the environment makes Vermont attractive for people to relocate here - some pushed by the effects of climate change where they were, others because of our acceptance of diversity - and mixed in with all of that is access to the natural outdoors.
Enjoying the great out-of-doors is a good reason to support public policy that protects our environment.
David L. Deen
Westminster
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