Pair of political newcomers vie for House District 5-1
Pair of political newcomers vie for House District 5-1
October 28, 2006
By Brent Curtis Herald Staff
http://www.rutlandherald.com
Two political newcomers are running for a single Vermont House seat in Rutland District 5-1.
Democrat Virginia McCormack and Libertarian Jeff Manney, who said he is running with the support of the Republican Party, are vying for a seat left empty by Republican Rep. Christopher Louras.
Manney, 38, said he wants to focus on making Vermont an affordable place to live.
The energy efficiency specialist said he would support legislation to lower the burden on taxpayers and wants to study ways to curb state spending in general.
“I’m telling people I’m not going to spend any more of your money because it’s getting ridiculous around here,” he said.
Manney said he wants to curb spending on grants to nonstate entities, eliminate so-called pork spending and reduce overall spending by making frugal decisions.
He said he also wants to cap property tax increases and to focus other legislators on issues that matter.
“There is a lot of frivolous and unnecessary legislation being proposed and enacted in Montpelier,” he said. “I don’t think we have the luxury to worry about frivolous items when people are struggling to live here. I am very sincere about keeping my promise to people. My voting record would reflect my efforts to save money.”
McCormack, 57, said she, too, wants to save taxpayers money ? something she said could be done by lessening some people’s reliance on the state, reducing education spending and by introducing a universal health care plan.
The para-educator and former Rutland school commissioner said the state’s educational bureaucracy was top-heavy, expensive and ripe for trimming. And she said providing universal health care coverage would alleviate a huge financial burden for many Vermonters.
If elected, she said, she would look at government’s role in people’s lives, to find areas where the state is more of a crutch than a cure.
“The government can’t be the answer to everyone’s problems,” she said. “I think there are definitely people who need help and should receive help, but on the other hand, it’s not the total answer.”
Contact Brent Curtis at [email protected].
