When Vermont voters head to the polls on Nov. 4, there will be one name on the ballot they've seen many times before: Republican Gov. Jim Douglas. He is running against Democrat Gaye Symington and Progressive turned Independent Anthony Pollina.
Economic stability in Vermont
Douglas has been working to improve Vermont’s economic climate so that Vermonters can be successful, he says.
“My focus ever since taking office has been to improve the economy in Vermont,” Douglas says. “To provide more opportunities for young people and those that are young at heart to get decent jobs so they can support themselves and their families; to afford their place to live; to be integral participants in our communities and ultimately to retire in comfort and dignity. That’s my goal for everyone here.”
With the current economic situationin the United States, this may be unattainable for many Vermonters.
 |
Douglas supporters wave to car drivers before one of the 15 scheduled gubernatorial debates in Burlington, Vt.
(Photo by Cailey McDermott) |
“All three of the candidates have been talking about this issue of affordability, which I think is critical for the future of the state of Vermont,” says Dr. M. Reza Ramazani, chair of the economics department at St. Michael’s College. “But I don’t think that any of them have a very concrete plan as to how we are going to achieve that objective.”
Ramazani admits that among all three, Douglas may have the most realistic plan.
Douglas has been doing what he can to improve Vermont’s economy with things such as the Economic Growth Package he persuaded the legislature to pass earlier this year, and the New Neighborhoods Initiative, which helps create more affordable housing, he says.
“Those (initiatives) are a good start, but I think we have a long way to go,” Ramazani says.
Got a degree, now out on the street
One piece of Vermont’s economic puzzle affecting college students is the lack of good-paying jobs.
“Young people need to be able to come back and get a meaningful job that can pay you good wages, so that you can afford to live in this state,” Ramazani says.
The migration of young people out of Vermont is on Douglas' radar. Part of fixing this problem is matching the talent with the need, he says.
“Health care is growing because we’re an aging population,” Douglas says. “There’s a need for services like outpatient services, home care and assisted living.”
"Somebody said I set a pretty high bar for whoever succeeds me because the level of expectation is going to be quite high." |
-Gov. Jim Douglas |
Sectors like software development and higher education are additional areas where there are good paying jobs available, he says.
Increasing incomes is only one part of the overall issue of affordability, Ramazani says.
“At the same time we have to concentrate on the cost of living,” Ramazani says. “By the cost of living we have to look at the price of food, the price of energy, the price of education.”
The cost of living is going up in areas such as property taxes, Ramazani says.
“If my property tax went up by 17 percent, I did not receive a 17 percent increase at St. Michael’s College as my salary is concerned,” Ramazani says. “So there is a disparity in terms of the level of income and the amount of taxes we as a Vermonters are paying in terms of income tax, property tax, and sales tax.”
Douglas says he is going to keep working to reduce the burden of property taxes but it isn’t only in his hands.
College students look to Vermont to make change
Although the out-of-state St. Michael's students cannot vote in the gubernatorial election, there are still issues that concern them.
Lowering the drinking age has been on the minds of many St. Michael’s students. At the start of the school year, the Student Association held a panel discussion on whether or not the drinking age of 21 is working.
Students are definitely concerned about this issue, which could easily be seen through the number of students who showed up to panel, says Gary Levante, S.A. secretary. The McCarthy Arts Center was full.
“The general consensus among students is to lower it to 18, but that’s not really that surprising,” he says.
 |
Vermonters show their support for Douglas at Oktoberfest in Stowe, Vt.
(Photo by Megan Davin) |
Douglas says: “Philosophically I think that since we confer the privileges of majority on 18-yea- olds that it doesn’t make sense to deny them one particular privilege.”
The federal government required states to raise the drinking age to 21 after World War II or states would lose a substantial amount of highway funds.
“Our roads and bridges need help and I’m not in the position to give up that money to be perfectly honest,” Douglas says.
Highway safety and alcohol abuse are additional concerns if the drinking age is lowered, he adds.
Highway deaths in the 18 to 21 age category declined when the drinking age was raised, something that the law enforcement community feels strongly about, Douglas says.
“I think in the long run you would see less alcohol abuse,” Levante says. “The problem is that you have to teach that responsible drinking culture and not the binge-drinking culture that we see.”
Douglas sees this issue beyond state lines.
“I think this has to be a national debate and a national decision,” Douglas says. |
