Biography
While I wasn’t born in Vermont, I can say that I’ve grown up in Vermont- with the qualifier, that I didn’t start growing up until I was 27. That’s when we moved to Vermont and I became a father. Two of the greatest events in my lifetime, that have informed what I’ve done since.
We landed well, when we landed in Putney , Vermont, and I feel obliged to give back to a community of caring, creative and generous people. I’ve been an active parent (and now grandparent) and active in my community since then. From coaching sports to local boards and community events, I see my work as a State Rep as public service. More so than as a political operative. While crafting policies and seeing them into laws are important, providing service and a willing ear to constituents is as important. It’s also informed me of the importance of working together, for the betterment of Vermonters. And, to use the measure of a good bill as, doing the most good for the most number of people. Nobody gets a bill passed on their own. Cooperation, and sometime bridging the divides between disparate viewpoints is how legislation comes to pass. I feel it’s an acquired trait I’ve worked hard to gain, and made me an effective legislator and productive public serva
Candidate occupation
Community Organizer
Why are you running for office?
We have much work to do, especially in regards to creating a cleaner environment as a legacy to our children and grandchildren.
This can’t wait as we get closer to a tipping point where reversing environmental harm will be a near-impossible task. Good news is there is great economic opportunity in creating a cleaner environment. From conservation and efficiency efforts to building cleaner homes to a transportation network that is both cleaner and cheaper to run.
It’s also important that we stay vigilant to those who would try and move us backward, especially in regards to women’s rights, most especially reproductive rights. There are those in this country and state who would join the states who are making it so women of today have less rights than they did 50 years ago.
Housing, as we’ve seen, is hinged on growing our workforce. As the Great Retirement proceeds and gains momentum- and as we live longer- growing our workforce is essential to maintaining Vermont and even trying to see some growth for the future.
And, our Health Care system, currently, is not sustainable. With providers retiring, finding successors daunting and an insurance costs spiraling out of reach for more Vermonters.
Issues in brief
Do you believe Vermonters are better off now than they were 10 years ago?
Yes
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?
Yes
Do you support a ban on flavored tobacco products?
Yes
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?
Housing is a key to workforce growth which is a key to maintaining our economy. It’s also an area where the “free market” has failed us. Thus, government has a role in growing our housing sector. Climate action presents lucrative economic opportunity. With Home heating and transportation being two large contributors to our carbon footprint, these areas are ripe for growth into cleaner, greener, and cheaper homes to maintain and options for transportation.
Another key to workforce growth is immigration from other states and nations- and recognizing and accepting that the workforce of the future will probably include more off the “global majority” than we currently have.Efforts to further Inclusion will then benefit all of us and help economic growth.
Climate action is also an economic growth sector we do well to nurture. With Housing and transportation large factors in Vermont’s carbon footprint, these are opportunities to create good jobs with the benefits that owning a home and a green transportation network can be cleaner, greener and less expensive.
Agriculture is also ripe for growth with more diversity. And, we also do well to nurture our high tech and service sectors.
What changes, if any, would you make to the way Vermont funds its schools?
The future of Vermont resides in how well we educate the next generation.
Education is essential not just because the children of today will be taking our blood pressure and changing our bedpans tomorrow. We do well to foster an education system that helps our children became caring , productive , critically thinking members of our society- and hopefully stay in Vermont.
And yes, to know that the adults who had the chance to do so, were generous and thoughtful in how we provided for their education.
One factor that would help is creating a system that is more equitable and easier to understand.
The complexity and perception as being opaque creates a substantial amount of misunderstanding and even, enmity, for the funding system. There is then spillover into the system that teaches our children what they need for the future of Vermont.
Perhaps a straight income tax would be better, for individuals and corporations- with considerations for lower income levels and those on fixed names.
This highlights how our entire taxation system is unbalanced from the Trump tax cuts. They created a cohort of millionaires and corporations that pays little or no tax, so we pay more. Right down to the local level. Time for systemic reform.
Is Vermont doing enough, too much or not enough to address climate change? Please explain.
Not enough. We are getting closer to where the damage may be irreversible. Vermont must do its part or be the weak link (or missing link) in a chain of action that needs to be global. The Climate is on fire and we need to deal with the fires & floods as well as stop throwing fuel on the fire. Mitigation and decarbonization are both essential.
Is Vermont doing enough, too much or not enough to regulate gun ownership? Please explain.
We can do more. That said, as one who’s proposed several Gun Safety Reform bills, I recognize that gun violence in Vermont is different than in more urban states. Domestic violence and suicide are more prevalent than other forms of gun violence. We’ve taken some steps and can do more. That said, I don’t want to wait until there’s a mass shooting here to consider whether weapons of mass destruction have a place among the citizenry here or anywhere other than within a “well regulated militia”.
What would you do to help ease Vermont’s housing crisis?
Government has to step in as the “free market” has failed us. The Free Market has produced a shortage of homes and prices that get more unaffordable by the day. State and federal Government can help in ways that post-WW2 programs helped many veterans acquire housing with federal loan programs, more first time buyer assistance with down payments and closing costs and also considerations for how marginalized people were squared out of options available to others. We can also help train more in the building trades and create affordable, usable insurance for builders and home owners. Climate is creating a crunch for insurers to whether they are leaving areas that have been hit hard by climate events. This is another area where both federal and state intervention may be needed.
How would you address rising homelessness in Vermont?
This is a complex situation that will require more federal – state collaboration to fully address the needs. For those working and homeless, we can ,as noted above, provide incentives and assistance to ge them into permanent housing. The demographic of Vermonters that is unable to work will need wraparound services and housing that is affordable long term through subsidy. In the long run, this will be les exspensive than the current lack of a system or plan from the Administration, and certainly less expensive than incarceration.
What would you do to increase access to health care services for Vermonters?
Insurance reform is a first step. And, looking at further expansion of both Dr. Dynosaur and Medicare. Current insurance is getting more expensive with larger copays and deductibles . Combined with a smaller provider pool, access is getting more difficult. Whatever we can do to help providers pay for school, if they stay in Vermont, will help increase that pool of providers. Perhaps it’s time again to look at a state system, in collaboration with other New England States?
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 Mrowicki’s financial disclosure here.
Disclaimer
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