PUTNEY-With the Aug. 11 Democratic primary election for governor looming, how is one to make a fact-based choice between Amanda Janoo and Aly Richards?
After 10 years of Gov. Phil Scott’s failure to live up to his promises to “reduce property taxes” and “make Vermont affordable,” let’s look at the contrast between how these two candidates will finance their initiatives.
Janoo supports the “Fair Share for Vermont” 3% tax surcharge on the wealthiest Vermonters — those with yearly incomes over $500,000 — which would raise $114 million to pay for free preventive and primary healthcare for all Vermonters. This common-sense initiative has been endorsed by 15 Vermont organizations.
Asked repeatedly in the debates, Richards has refused to support this surcharge on Vermont’s 1% richest, each of whom received an average tax cut of $57,000 in 2026 federal taxes.
On education, Janoo has spoken out strongly against the forced consolidation of our schools. She believes that our local schools form the heart of our communities. In contrast, despite the Legislature’s Redistricting Task Force having voted to reject forced consolidation, Richards hasn’t categorically come out against forcing Vermont’s 119 school districts to be shrunk to between 10 and 25.
Some people bring up the so-called “electability” question, which brings to mind the 2016 presidential primary. Despite Bernie Sanders winning more than six primaries and caucuses in the Midwestern rust bowl and rural states, pundits declared that only Hillary Clinton was “electable.” Her subsequent loss to Donald Trump and Bernie’s current Fighting Oligarchy Tour (which has turned out over 100,000 voters disgusted with the concentration of wealth and power) call into question claims about who is or is not “electable.”
Like so many of you, I am tired of the politicians who, despite their promises, end up doing the bidding of the rich and powerful. That’s why I’m so excited about Amanda Janoo.
Like Bernie Sanders, she is an entirely different kind of candidate. She has a strong moral core, and she is deeply committed to economic fairness and justice. From her own lived experience, she knows that Vermont has become way too expensive — not just because of our sky-high property taxes, but because of unaffordable health insurance, spiraling rent, and runaway energy costs.
I am doing everything I can to support Amanda Janoo’s campaign, and I am hoping you’ll learn about her policies.
Let’s turn the leaf and celebrate a politics of compassion and justice.
John Field
Putney
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