by Seth Bowden, President, Vermont Business Roundtable
Six months ago, few of us would have predicted Vermont’s gubernatorial race would be this close. But with Election Day just around the corner, polls show a strikingly competitive contest. That change is worth taking seriously; not as a sentiment about the candidates on the ballot, but as a sign of how unsettled many Vermonters feel about the state’s direction and whether we’re responding directly enough to the challenges we face.
The national political environment is part of the story, and permeates our news cycle just like anywhere else. But something deeper is happening. Vermonters are anxious for a vision of a prosperous future. They want to believe their children can afford to stay here, their communities can remain vibrant, and the next generation will inherit a state with more opportunity, not less.
That feeling is especially strong in rural areas. Vermonters don’t want to be told decline is to be managed. They want a reason to believe their communities will thrive, and they are right to expect that shared vision. (more…)
