Editor’s note: This article is by Howard Weiss-Tisman, of the Brattleboro Reformer www.reformer.com, in which it was first published Sept. 7, 2015.
[B]RATTLEBORO — Just three days after announcing his candidacy for the Democratic nomination for governor, Matt Dunne came to Brattleboro to introduce himself and listen to what people had to say about the challenges and opportunities in the state.
About two dozen people came out Saturday morning to Brooks Memorial Library to listen to Dunne and take part in what Dunne called a community forum.
Dunne, 45, will be traveling around the state for the rest of the month before making a formal campaign announcement later in the year.
“What we are hearing at this early, early stage, in what is going to be a long campaign, is that people are excited about engaging in what can the future of Vermont look like,” he said. “They know there’s a problem. But they’re excited to bring their expertise whether it’s working with seniors, with education, or with technology.”
Dunne lives in Hartland and is a former Vermont representative and senator.
He ran for the Democratic nomination for governor in 2010. But he has been away from Vermont politics for five years and he said before he presents his platform he wanted to listen to what people around the state wanted to say.
He scheduled the listening tour before his announcement this week and said he was going to travel to all 14 counties before talking more specifically about his ideas.
“I’ve been very rooted in the state of Vermont and engaged in a variety of different things, but it’s very different to go to where people are and to hear from them directly about what their concerns are and what they feel are opportunities” Dunne said. “It’s been a great process throughout the last couple of weeks and it will be continuing for the next several.”
Dunne was elected to the state House when he was 22. He was director of AmeriCorps Vista under President Bill Clinton, and was then elected to the state Senate in 2002.
Dunne said during his time away from politics, most recently as head of community affairs at Google, his experience in business, technology and social responsibility sets him up as a good candidate for the state’s highest office.
During most of the meeting Dunne listened while people talked about the challenges facing their community.
There were a few comments about the problems with Act 46, the school consolidation law, and about drugs, poverty, the lack of affordable housing and a shortage of high paying jobs.
People thought transportation could improve and that the state could do more to improve broadband.
Dunne said he has been hearing many of the same themes during the last few meetings he held.
“There’s some common themes in here that I think are real, including the need for the infrastructure for an economy rethinking the way that we do governance and 21st century management,” he said. “People seem to be interested even at a time when folks aren’t necessarily focused on politics.”
Dunne will be in Bellows Falls at 4 p.m. Saturday at the Waypoint Center at 17 Depot St.
