Tim Wessel is a former member of the Brattleboro Selectboard and was an independent candidate for state Senate in 2023.
At a few pro-Palestinian protests that have taken place in town, two of which I've witnessed in person, I've seen several of my good friends and many other familiar Brattleboro faces - people whom I greatly respect, sincerely expressing their horror at the civilian casualties that have happened in Gaza. As a father, I connect viscerally with this horror, and I join my friends in wanting the death to stop as soon as possible.
I'm here to talk not about what I've seen, but about what was missing.
On Tuesday, March 5, Brattleboro voters will choose among five good candidates for three Selectboard seats. I support two folks who I think will serve our town very well. Peter "Fish" Case is just now completing his first year on the board and is running for a three-year seat.
The stage is now set for a dramatic six-way race for two open seats in the Vermont Senate for Windham County! For voters in our state's general election, this will feel like a far-too-rare and luxurious position to be in. Not only have we not seen two vacant seats...
A few weeks have gone by since the Brattleboro Selectboard decided unanimously to move towards a municipal fire-based EMS system by contracting with Golden Cross for local ambulance service for the next year, ending a long relationship with Rescue, Inc. Understandably, many have expressed a sense of loss, given the excellent care that has been given to residents by the providers at Rescue. Believe me when I say that I have heard plenty from those who feel this loss deeply...
On Jan. 3, Gov. Phil Scott posted some pictures on his social media that caught my eye. The governor was drawing attention to an effort to grow Vermont's health care workforce, a worthy goal indeed in these stressful and frightening times. But it was the images themselves that struck me, as a reflection of something we see far too seldom in politics, even here in Vermont. The scene was our windy Statehouse steps, where the three politicians standing in the...
A number of people, from Aristotle to Jean-Jacques Rousseau to John Chardin, are credited with a good quote: “Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet.” I always try to keep this wisdom in mind when I am working toward a policy goal that is encumbered by far too many missteps and seems to be taking longer than is bearable, remembering that reaching the goal will produce a sweet and nourishing reward. I've been thinking about this quote lately while...
It is often said that the road to ruin is paved with good intentions. When we, as a community, seek to help people through broad policy changes, we must be careful that our actions have the effect we desire. Your Selectboard is currently being asked to craft and then pass an ordinance that would limit how much a landlord can charge for a security deposit - one that would essentially make it illegal to collect last-month rent up front. Setting...
Back in March, during the stress and insanity of our COVID-19 shutdown and shifting of services at the Brattleboro municipal level, I received a call from Molly Gray. She told me she was running for lieutenant governor and wanted to talk about how Montpelier could be more responsive to the needs of our town and our county. I found her to be an excellent listener with very good ideas, and I promised that I would look more carefully into her...