Biography
I grew up in Manchester and have lived and raised my family in Weston for the last 24 years. I ran the family business, Northshire Bookstore, for 22 years. I served on two local school boards, multiple non-profit boards and I am a graduate of the Snelling Center for Government’s Vermont Leadership Institute. I served in the Peace Corps and founded Local First Vermont, an organization promoting keeping money in VT through buying local. For more information about me, please visit my website (www.morrow4vt.com).
Candidate occupation
Property Mangaement
Why are you running for office?
Vermont is at a pivotal time. We are at the mercy of global and national forces such as inflation, climate change, a broken health care system and housing shortages. Simultaneously, we have statewide dynamics to address – primarily our outdated and expensive education funding system, but also hospital finances/health care and housing. How do we balance these issues with the clear need to control spending so regular folks can still afford to live here?
As we’ve lived over the last few years, change is inevitable. We cannot stop change or go back to the old Vermont we are nostalgic for. The question for our communities and governments at all levels is how do we manage change? What is the role of government and what should be left to the private sector? How do we build communities that are strong, resilient, affordable and kind?
To face these challenges and manage these dynamics, we need experienced decision makers with broad real-life experience in Montpelier. We need common sense, not ideology. We need business experience, not social media influencers. We need a focus on fundamentals, not fads. My background is suited to this challenge!
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?
No answer
Do you support the establishment of overdose prevention centers?
Yes
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?
Right now it seems like economic vitality is not being hampered by traditional economic issues but by demographics and housing. The vast majority of Vermont businesses are in need of qualified employees. It is very hard to run a business let alone grow one without good staff. People can’t find affordable housing in many areas so they can’t afford to live here and work or start a business. Also, the state is aging quickly which is making the problem of getting employees harder. So, we need to start with housing.
What changes, if any, would you make to the way Vermont funds its schools?
We definitely need changes. I am awaiting the results of the Blue Ribbon committee looking into this issue.
Is Vermont doing enough, too much or not enough to address climate change? Please explain.
We are doing enough on the mitigation side, on addressing our emissions. We are not doing enough on the adaptation side. We need a comprehensive resilience program that cuts across State Government silos to deal with the inevitable near future economic, environmental and social disturbances that will arise as more pressure is put on our systems.
Is Vermont doing enough, too much or not enough to regulate gun ownership? Please explain.
No answer
What would you do to help ease Vermont’s housing crisis?
Find a way to leverage public funds to generate private sector interest in building. Further reduce the burdens of regulation – the time, money and hassles.
How would you address rising homelessness in Vermont?
Learn from states that have done it well. Also, build more housing.
What would you do to increase access to health care services for Vermonters?
We not only need to increase access, but look at health care comprehensively. Our hospitals need help, our insurance is too high, there are too few providers. This is a huge issue!
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 Morrow’s financial disclosure here.
Disclaimer
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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.
