Franklin-2 House Candidate

[Chris Santee]

Letter to Editor,

I am announcing my candidacy for the House Seat representing St. Albans Town, Fairfield and Fletcher.  It is time for a change in Montpelier.

We are in a fiscal crisis. There is a decline in State revenues, and we find it difficult to do many of the things we want to do. The state government can do many good things, but it cannot create the wealth and prosperity that will help Vermonters. Without strong employers and well paid jobs for Vermonters, we can’t provide the revenue to do all the things we want to do.

The legislature needs to recognize that the employers of this state and the jobs they provide to Vermonters are good for all of us.  Without these jobs, there is no prosperity, neither for Vermonters nor the State of Vermont.  We are exporting our most precious resource out of state:  our children.  It is heartbreaking to see our young people leave the state because we don’t have good jobs and affordable housing for them.  I feel fortunate that we have worked hard to develop a family business that makes it possible for our daughter and possibly, our son, to return to and stay in Vermont.  Every Vermonter should have this opportunity to keep our families together.

In the 35 years I have lived in Franklin County, I have developed a strong faith in the decisions of the people of Franklin County.  We know how to provide for ourselves and our families without Montpelier telling us what to do, where to shop and how to take care of our own land; for example, if the people of Franklin County want Wal Mart, we should get it.  We are frugal, helpful to our neighbors and support the needs of our communities and schools, without Montpelier telling us how and when to do it.  I want to go to the legislature to let Vermonters do what we do best; take care of ourselves and our communities.

We are in a time of war and uncertainty.  Many Franklin County residents have been deployed and have served their country admirably.  I want to help our neighbors, friends and family who met the call and served so well. As a legislator, I will dedicate myself to do everything I can to take care of the families while the soldiers are gone and to help the veterans when they return.  The legislature needs to help create the jobs, and opportunities that will allow us to provide a prosperous future for our veterans and their families. 

I have spent over 30 years serving my community.  I served on the BFA School Board and the Board of Trustees, and as President of the TPO and the Title I Advisory Board at the St. Albans City School.  I have served on the board of Mental Health and for the past five years on the Public Oversight Commission that review the budgets and certificates of need for the hospitals in the state. I bring hard work, and energy to listen to and represent the citizens of the Franklin 2 district.  I can be reached at 524-3404 and I look forward to hearing about your issues and concerns.

Eileen “Lynn” Dickinson

St. Albans Town

[Chris Santee]

Posted for Lynn Dickinson, candidate Franklin-2

Letter to the Editor

I wish to commend Ray and Eileen Gadue and all those that worked to gather over 12,000 signatures to voice our community’s frustration about the delays facing the Walmart project.   A new Walmart in our area would create much needed jobs while providing a vital local resource for buying the necessities without having to drive to Williston to do so, especially with the cost of gas at over $4 a gallon and rising.  Act 250 was originally intended to be a way for local people to have some say in how their community would grow.  It has evolved to become a way for outsiders and/or a very small minority to hold the process hostage, even when the public wants the process to go forward.

If I am elected to represent our community in Montpelier, I will work to make sure that this can be fixed and if I have the privilege of representing my district of St. Albans Town, Fairfield and Fletcher, I will work to do just that. It is time for a change that works in the legislature in Montpelier. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me at lynndickinson08@gmail.com .

Eileen “Lynn” Dickinson
Candidate Franklin-2
St. Albans Town, Fairfield, Fletcher

[Chris Santee]

Letter to the Editor

   Like many residents of Franklin County, I was deeply troubled to learn about the latest layoffs at IBM.  As Vermont continues to see more and more jobs lost or moved out of state, our elected officials in Montpelier would do well to remember the old adage:  “The best social welfare program is a good job.”  For far too long, our representatives in Montpelier have tried to “protect us from ourselves” by heaping –regulation upon regulation upon businesses to the point where we lose good jobs like the ones at IBM.   

Priority one in Montpelier should be to create more jobs for Vermonters in places like Franklin County.  We need a change in the state legislature.  Should I be given the privilege of representing my district in the State House I will make recruiting and retaining good employers in all parts of Vermont my full time job. 
 
Eileen “Lynn” Dickinson
Candidate Franklin-2
St. Albans Town, Fairfield, Fletcher
Lynndickinson08@gmail.com
Lynndickinson08.com

[Chris Santee]

Letter to the Editor,
   We are all hearing rumors fly about more layoffs at IBM and other companies. These layoffs affect more than the people who are laid off.  The job loss trickles down and hurts all of us who have small businesses in the area. Job loss means people who are laid off don’t buy new cars, or new appliances.  They do not do the planned renovation on the old kitchen, and they do not install the new pool.  They do not go out to eat and they do not go to the movies as often.  Even people who just feel threatened with the loss of a job are less likely to spend money.
   The consequences of these layoffs are that the rest of us are harmed as well.  It is important for our legislators to be aware of this employment challenge in the state and make employment and economic stability a priority for all of us. 
   If I have the privilege of being elected to the legislature, I will make job creation and employment stability a priority.  It is time for a change in Montpelier that works for all Vermonters.
Eileen “Lynn” Dickinson
Candidate Franklin-2
St. Albans Town, Fairfield, Fletcher
Lynndickinson08@gmail.com
Lynndickinson08.com

[Henry]

One of the big factors for IBM is the cost of electricity, which they use a great deal of.  Should Entergy be closed, cost of electricity will soar and companies like IBM who use a tremendous amount of power will certainly leave for a more business friendly climate.

[Chris Santee]

http://youtube.com/watch?v=BwCYBoc7cfQ

"The attitude displayed in this ad by the Speaker is not limited to her alone.
It is pervasive in the Democrat party as a whole.
We can't forget Senate President Pro Tem Peter Shumlin rudely calling IBM's
John O'Kane a liar on Vermont Public Radio (VPR, 4/22/08).
We can't forget Rep. Warren Kitzmiller, the Democrat chairman of the Commerce Committee,
calling the Vermont business community "myopic"
for being concerned about their ability to make a profit (St Albans Messenger, 12/6/07).
So, a broader question for the voters of Vermont is,
how can we expect to grow Vermont jobs if we keep electing a "super- majority" of
legislators who share this hostile attitude towards productive employers.
The simple truth is, we can't."
Rob Roper

[Chris Santee]

another letter posted for Lynn Dickinson:

Letter to the Editor
I would like to thank everyone who attended the storm water meeting I sponsored on September 8, 2008 at the St. Albans Town Educational Center cafeteria. Like many of you, I  was very interested to hear from Julie Moore,  the Director of Clean and Clear and Megan Moir, the Storm water Scientist here in St. Albans regarding the state’s current and future efforts on this issue and am grateful to them for accepting my invitation to brief area residents. 

The presentation was primarily focused upon non-point runoff that is from paved surfaces and in developed areas of the region.  This is an important aspect of the phosphorus concentration in Lake Champlain that affects the quality of the Lake. They discussed efforts to minimize these runoffs.  Megan Moir is available here in the St. Albans office for anyone who wants information on how to work with their paved and developed areas to offset the runoff that goes into our waterways.  Megan has also been involved in an effort to see if the St. Albans area can examine and create a storm water district or utility for the area.

It is vitally important that our elected officials work to keep the ideas and concerns of Franklin County residents on the minds of state agencies and decision makers in Montpelier, particularly on significant issues that affect all of us.  As a candidate, and should I be elected to serve our community in the Legislature, this will continue to be a top priority for me.  For more information on this topic, please contact me at Lynndickinson08@gamil.com.

Eileen “Lynn” Dickinson
Candidate Franklin-2
St. Albans Town, Fairfield, Fletcher
Lynndickinson08.com