Biography
Amanda (she/her) graduated from UVM with a BS in Plant and Soil Science and started farming with her husband Ross and his family in 1995 on Lilac Ridge Farm in West Brattleboro. She brought organic vegetable production and fresh market sales to the already diversified dairy farm. Amanda has served on State boards: Vermont Farm to Plate Steering Committee, the first Vermont Working Lands Board, Brattleboro Farmer’s Market Board, and a federal appointment to the Vermont Farm Service Agency Board. Amanda graduated with a Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Antioch University NE in 2015 and served as an outpatient therapist in a community mental health clinic in Greenfield, MA from 2016-2020. She then returned to full time farming in 2020 due to farm staffing needs as a result of the Covid pandemic and family needs. Amanda and her husband have three children ages 24, 21, 18. Amanda currently runs Lilac Ridge Farm with her family and is thankful and proud that there is an upcoming generation that will be continuing the organic family farming business.
Candidate occupation
Farmer
Why are you running for office?
I think that it is a pivotal time to be a moderate Democratic voice in Montpelier. My neighbors come to me reporting concerns for the economic future of Vermont such as few opportunities for younger Vermonters looking for careers, worries about affordability and worries about businesses leaving Brattleboro and our state. I believe that as we address our housing crisis, we need to revitalize our economy simultaneously. We have serious issues with drugs and homelessness in our community, and it is time for practical, state supported efforts to provide treatment and transitional supports to work our way out of the crisis. I feel strongly that older Vermonters need more choices for downsizing and housing communities where they can thrive. I am running for office to represent my district- rural, large, and hardworking. I think that my experience as a deeply connected person in the community who works alongside farmers, contractors, artists, conservationists, loggers, business owners, educators, retirees and new Vermonters will get their concerns heard in Montpelier.
Issues in brief
Do you believe Vermonters are better off now than they were 10 years ago?
No
Do you believe Vermont needs a new education funding formula?
Yes
Do you support imposing new taxes on the wealthiest Vermonters?
Yes
Do you support the establishment of overdose prevention centers?
No
Do you support a ban on flavored tobacco products?
No answer
Do you support increasing penalties for property crimes such as shoplifting?
Yes
Do you believe Joe Biden won the 2020 presidential election?
Yes
Issues in depth
What would you do to help grow Vermont’s economy?
I will vote on policies and initiatives that will revitalize the local economy, reduce barriers to doing business, and create jobs without threatening environmental sustainability. Vermont needs high-quality, high-paying jobs to grow our tax base so that we can afford our governmental services.
What changes, if any, would you make to the way Vermont funds its schools?
Schools need support and our children deserve it yet taxpayers cannot afford steep, continual increases. We need to define a quality education and make the funding formula transparent. The current funding formula is complex and voters don’t understand that what they vote for is not the increase they will pay. I will listen to the experts on education in our state and consider the four proposals from the VT Superintendents Association when deciding how to vote.
Is Vermont doing enough, too much or not enough to address climate change? Please explain.
Considering the severe flooding this summer- it is clear that our state needs to plan ahead for climate change disasters, mitigation and prevention. As an organic farmer, I fully understand this issue. Due to our state’s topography, the diversity of climates in our state and counties is significant- we need to address these issues so that communities can get the help that they need- we need to activate agencies and communities to steer Federal Dollars to our state for climate resilience. And use those federal dollars to increase investment in climate resilient infrastructure and help communities adapt to be better protected from future disasters.
Is Vermont doing enough, too much or not enough to regulate gun ownership? Please explain.
Common-sense regulations, such as background checks and restrictions on high-capacity magazines and assault weapons, are important to ensure public safety. Responsible gun ownership and sensible regulations can coexist to protect our communities. I believe in hunter safety courses for all hunters as part of their journey with gun ownership. I also believe in community prevention strategies for gun owners experiencing a mental health crisis.
What would you do to help ease Vermont’s housing crisis?
We need to build all kinds of housing: workforce housing, affordable housing and transitional housing for our neighbors in need. Older Vermonters especially in Windham County need more choices for senior living options so that IF they choose, they can sell their homes to simplify which will free up housing stock for working families. There are currently very few choices for our older Vermonters, and they deserve to be honored because they built our state. Our housing stock needs to be increased through innovative ecologically sustainable and affordable strategies such as modular green building.
How would you address rising homelessness in Vermont?
Homelessness in our community has grown significantly. It is the confluence of a series of challenges, including inadequate mental health services, lack of housing supply, and the unchecked availability of addictive substances. We need to push for more aggressive solutions to these three systemic issues to address homelessness in our community.
Coordination of care within access to mental health and substance abuse treatment services will better initiate and support people on a path to recovery and health. Individuals deserve to have a future to engage in community in a meaningful and productive way which includes recovery bridge supports for job training and employment opportunities, and strengthening community outreach programs to connect individuals with resources and support systems.
What would you do to increase access to health care services for Vermonters?
Our current healthcare system leaves too many people behind. Access to healthcare should be based on need, not on your job or ability to pay. I believe in Medicare for All.
Financial disclosure
Candidates for state and legislative offices are required to submit a financial disclosure when filing to run. These disclosures include each source, but not the amount, of personal income of each candidate, and of their spouse or domestic partner, that singly or jointly totals more than $5,000 for the previous 12 months. The information provided is an opportunity for voters to learn about candidates’ potential conflicts of interest.
You can find Ellis-Thurber’s financial disclosure here.
Disclaimer
We emailed a questionnaire to every candidate with a valid email address. The responses provided by candidates are in their own words. VTDigger has not edited or fact-checked information provided.
If this is your candidacy and you’d like to fill out the questionnaire or report an error, please contact us at voterguide@vtdigger.org.
