Biography
Zon Eastes grew up in a large working-class family in Kansas where he was active in his community as a volunteer and student leader. After earning music degrees at the University of New Mexico and Stony Brook University, he came to Vermont in 1982. For nearly 20 years, he worked as a cellist and conductor, teaching and coaching at the Brattleboro Music Center, and at Amherst, Dartmouth, and Keene State Colleges.
Eastes is currently the chair of the Guilford selectboard and Justice of the Peace.
Eastes has led arts and cultural organizations in Vermont, and served for six years at the Vermont Arts Council, as Director of Outreach and Advancement. While there, he served on two national boards of creative sector service organizations, and led the development of the Vermont Creative Network, established by the Vermont Legislature in 2016. He continues today as the agent for the Southern Zone of the Vermont Creative Network.
Eastes has served on numerous area boards and has assisted a broad array of nonprofit organizations with strategic planning, capacity building, and evaluation.
Currently, Zon is music director of Juno Orchestra, a professional chamber based in Brattleboro.
Candidate occupation
Musician
Why are you running for office?
I want to serve Vernon and Guilford. I want lend my leadership skills and focus to finding sensible solutions to address the unique challenges of southern Vermont. I will work to:
- Protect the environment and foster climate resilience
- Invest in our collective future by strengthening local economies
- Safeguard the future of our youth by ensuring quality public education
- Support working families and aging Vermonters with affordable housing solutions
- Preserve the character of our towns, while preparing for the future needs of our communities.
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?
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?
To invigorate Vermont’s economy, let’s embrace a balanced and forward-thinking strategy to harness unique strengths while addressing key challenges. My vision includes empowering small businesses, the backbone of our economy. By offering targeted tax incentives, improving access to capital, and supporting business incubators, we can stimulate innovation and growth. Streamlining regulatory processes will also make it easier for entrepreneurs to start and run businesses in Vermont. Equally important is investing in workforce development, especially vocational training aligned with industry needs, to ensure a skilled and adaptable workforce. Attracting and retaining talent is crucial, as is supporting our farmers and promoting agritourism to bolster the agricultural sector. We must also embrace technology and innovation, particularly in renewable energy and the green economy, to drive future growth. Infrastructure improvements and thoughtful housing and community development will enhance our quality of life and economic stability. By fostering robust public-private partnerships, we can effectively leverage resources and expertise. A comprehensive approach will create a diverse and resilient economy that supports local businesses, leverages our natural assets, and prepares our workforce for the future, ensuring sustainable growth and prosperity for all Vermonters.
What changes, if any, would you make to the way Vermont funds its schools?
Vermont’s current school funding formula is unsustainable and requires a sturdy review to identify workable, long-term solutions. Key to this process is community engagement and transparency. Let’s provide clear, accessible information to the public. Involve parents, teachers, and community members in discussions about school funding priorities to build trust and ensure that funds meet local needs. Reforms should focus on increasing equity, stabilizing property taxes, and improving efficiency.
Is Vermont doing enough, too much or not enough to address climate change? Please explain.
Vermont has made significant strides in addressing climate change, notably through strong support for renewable energy sources like solar, wind, and hydroelectric power. However, there are still areas for improvement, including emissions reductions and additional climate resilience measures such as flood mitigation and wetland restoration. Updating agricultural practices is also crucial; providing technical support to farmers transitioning to more sustainable methods is essential.
Is Vermont doing enough, too much or not enough to regulate gun ownership? Please explain.
We must address public safety concerns while respecting Vermont’s long tradition of gun ownership. While our current gun regulations are a reasonable starting point, there is room for improvement in areas such as expanded background checks, safety training, storage requirements, and protections related to domestic violence. Enhancing these aspects can help balance the rights of responsible gun owners with the need for public safety, ensuring that our gun regulations are both effective and fair.
What would you do to help ease Vermont’s housing crisis?
Addressing Vermont’s housing needs should be a top priority in Montpelier. We need housing at all levels of the market. Promoting awareness of the housing crisis and advocating for supportive policies will also be key. I support incentives for constructing new housing units, including partnerships with nonprofits and private developers to expand affordable options. Revising land use regulations is also essential. Funding programs to rehabilitate and maintain older housing stock will help keep it affordable and habitable. Exploring tax incentives and financial tools can encourage private investment in housing. We can foster partnerships between the state, local governments, and private developers to leverage resources and expertise. Engage community members in planning and decision-making.
How would you address rising homelessness in Vermont?
Addressing rising homelessness in Vermont requires a multifaceted approach that balances immediate relief with long-term solutions. Implementing the policies outlined in the question above should help increase the housing stock. We can further develop permanent supportive housing that combines residences with case management and supportive services, particularly for individuals with complex needs, such as mental health issues. Focusing on employment and job training is important.
What would you do to increase access to health care services for Vermonters?
Increasing access to healthcare services for Vermonters involves addressing barriers such as affordability and availability. Expanding Medicaid will help us leverage federal dollars, and I will also advocate for a national Medicare-for-All model. We need to provide incentives to expand primary care services and focus on recruiting and retaining healthcare professionals. Supporting the expansion of telehealth services and mobile integrated health models, like the one being piloted at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, is also important. Addressing underlying social determinants of health, such as improving transportation systems, is crucial.
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 Eastes’s financial disclosure here.
Disclaimer
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