With less than a week to go before the Nov. 3 election, many Vermonters have still not voted. Some are still waiting to drop off their ballots, while others will go to the polls in person.
More than 220,000 Vermonters have already returned their ballots, but about 30% of likely voters have not yet done so — based on the 320,000 people who turned out for the 2016 presidential election.
Political insiders have opined that many people have decided who they support for president and for governor, but may still be pondering the contentious lieutenant governor’s race.
For people still making their decisions, VTDigger has broken down where the two major party candidates for governor and lieutenant governor stand on some of the most important issues in the state.
Jump to: Property taxes | Minimum wage | Climate change | Gun reform | Systemic racism
Property taxes
Candidates for governor
David Zuckerman (Progressive/Democrat)
— Believes the state must look at alternative ways to fund schools. Wants top earners to pay a higher share of property taxes, in relation to their income, in an effort to shift more of the burden to the state’s wealthiest.
Phil Scott (Republican)
— The governor, who has slightly softened his stance on new taxes and fee increases, believes property taxes are too high and has floated proposals to reduce public school spending.
Candidates for lieutenant governor
Scott Milne (Republican)
— He believes the Legislature needs to reform the education funding formula to provide property tax relief. Milne supports a plan to incentivize lower spending at the local level. Tax rate increases would be applied to spending above that base figure, while low-spending districts would be rewarded with lower rates.
Molly Gray (Democrat)
— Supports an income-based property tax system that factors in a homeowner’s ability to pay and not solely their property value.
Minimum wage
Candidates for governor
David Zuckerman (Progressive/Democrat)
— Says the state should make sure employees get to a $15-an-hour minimum wage in the coming years. When Vermont reaches a $15 minimum wage, Zuckerman wants future increases tied to inflation.
Phil Scott (Republican)
— Has vetoed bills moving Vermont toward a $15 per hour minimum wage because he believes it could hurt small businesses. Believes in the status quo of tying minimum-wage increases to the cost of living.
Candidates for lieutenant governor
Scott Milne (Republican)
— Doesn’t think there should be a state-mandated $15 minimum wage, but thinks Vermonters should receive higher hourly wages through free market competition.
Molly Gray (Democrat)
— Supports establishing a $15 minimum wage in the next 2-4 years.
Climate change
Candidates for governor
David Zuckerman (Progressive/Democrat)
— Supports a Vermont Green New Deal approach to combating climate change, with tax hikes on some of Vermont’s wealthiest residents. He would use that revenue to fund weatherization programs for low-income Vermonters, invest in broadband to encourage remote work and less commuting, and create more clean-energy job opportunities.
Phil Scott (Republican)
— Vetoed the Democrat-led Global Warming Solutions Act (which passed into law after a successful legislative override). Scott is committed to the state’s clean-energy goal of 90% renewables by 2050 through supporting the private sector and by incentivizing the proliferation of electric vehicles and charging stations.
Candidates for lieutenant governor
Scott Milne (Republican)
— Does not support the Global Warming Solutions Act, which sets specific carbon emission targets and gives citizens the ability to sue the state if the goals are not met. Milne would prefer a national solution and international agreements to address climate change.
Molly Gray (Democrat)
— Supports the Vermont Green New Deal. Believes there should be additional investment in solar technology and expanding weatherization for Vermonters’ homes.
Gun reform
Candidates for governor
David Zuckerman (Progressive/Democrat)
— Supports a 24-hour waiting period for firearm purchases. Would consider requiring all gun owners to keep their firearms securely stored in their homes.
Phil Scott (Republican)
— Does not believe additional gun reforms are needed now, after the expansive reforms he signed into law in 2018.
Candidates for lieutenant governor
Scott Milne (Republican)
— Agrees with the governor and doesn’t think any new gun laws are needed now.
Molly Gray (Democrat)
— Supports waiting periods, expanding background checks and closing the Charleston loophole — which allows individuals to receive certain firearms before their background checks are completed. Gray also supports investments in mental health services to specifically limit “suicide by cop” situations.
Systemic racism
Candidates for governor
David Zuckerman (Progressive/Democrat)
— Supports bias training for all educators, state employees and law enforcement. Would significantly expand funding for the Office of Racial Equity and re-allocate some law enforcement funding to help meet community safety goals.
— He also wants to assess the state’s economic development policies to see if Vermont is perpetuating wealth inequality.
Phil Scott (Republican)
— Has pushed the Democratic-controlled Legislature to work on police and racial justice measures in 2021. Believes there is still work to be done to address racial and criminal justice reform.
— Supports the continued work of the racial equity executive director position in his administration to identify and promote best practices in state government.
Candidates for lieutenant governor
Scott Milne (Republican)
— Says racism must be “stamped out” wherever it exists and the Legislature should have a role in that effort. Supports making sure that — for minor crimes — the criminal justice system is focused on rehabilitation and not retribution.
Molly Gray (Democrat)
— Wants to further strengthen the Vermont Human Rights Commission in its work to root out bias in education, employment and housing, and then commit resources to prosecuting those cases.
— Supports expanded cultural competency and awareness training for law enforcement officials.
— Also supports expanding use-of-force assessments of police to account for bias.
Grace Elletson contributed reporting.
