State Rep Candidates Announce, Thanks to Gary Franklin, School Bond project,
May 20, 2010, page 3.....

Changing candidacy from Senate to House
Mike Yantachka

After campaigning for several months for the State Senate, I have decided to change my focus and run for the Charlotte-Hinesburg (Chittenden 1-2) seat in the Vermont House of Representatives. My decision to change direction comes in the wake of Representative Scott Orr’s decision not to run for re-election. 

By running for the House seat, I look forward to representing my community of Charlotte and my neighbors in the Hinesburg part of the district in a more immediate relationship, and I will continue to support the same values and goals that I have previously expressed at my website, mikeyantachka.com. I expect to conduct a door-to-door campaign this summer to talk with you about the issues that concern you and to let you know why I would like to represent you in the House. I believe that my extensive involvement in the Charlotte community over the past 25 years has provided me with a good base to work from.

To everyone who has expressed support for my Senate campaign, I am grateful and I hope you will continue to support me. I will continue working for the same goals as before, i.e. to insure that government serves the governed by providing a framework within which individuals can become productive citizens in a growing economy, a vibrant community, and a healthy environment.
Mike Yantachka

----------------------

Russell announces candidacy

I’m writing to announce my candidacy for the position of State Representative for the Chittenden 1-2 district encompassing all of Charlotte and part of Hinesburg. Having served on the Town of Charlotte Selectboard for the last ten years, I have gained invaluable knowledge of how the town functions at a very detailed level as well as how well the town’s needs are met by the laws passed in Montpelier. I know as well that some of the issues facing both towns can only be addressed effectively at the state level. For example, conversations about property taxes and the school budget often focus on Act 60 and Act 68. On local boards, we can only work within the confines of the current legislation. As a state representative, I can work to change legislation that is not in Charlotte’s or Hinesburg’s best interests.
I am proud of how well the Charlotte Selectboard has served the town under my leadership and am confident that if so honored by your support I would represent both Charlotte and Hinesburg equally well at the state level. I look forward to a spirited campaign and to the opportunity to enunciate my positions on the many issues facing us in these tough economic times.
Charles Russell

-------------------------

Stone announces for State Rep

I hope that most of you reading this know who I am or at least have heard of me. It has always been my goal to serve the people of Charlotte and to try and be a responsive civic servant. I have lived here for 30 years, and my wife’s family was a founding family of Charlotte. We have raised our children here and now have grandchildren growing up in town. I have served you as a selectman for 15 years.

I am passionate and committed about local politics. This year has been a rough year for so many, and your selectboard is not exempt from those rough times. We have worked hard at compromising and working together constructively. I personally make it my commitment to listen to what voters tell me and to represent you.

I do not feel Charlotte has been well represented in Montpelier. I hear over and over that the previous Democratic representative is not responsive and does not return phone calls from townspeople. Many people have told me that they don’t know who their representative is and that there has not been a presence at any town meetings, school board meetings or selectboard meetings where town issues are discussed and concerns of Charlotters are voiced. This is not acceptable to me. I also think it is important, as your town representative, to attend school board meetings on a regular basis to gather information and keep abreast with the urgent issues surrounding school funding and protect our teachers’ contracts. I have always been prompt in returning calls and follow up on issues brought to my attention as an individual Selectboard member.

As the election gets started after the August primary, you will hear candidates talk about why you should elect them over the other. Please remember this, after 15 years of serving Charlotte, I am good at what I do and being your State Rep is what I am committed to. Help me succeed in making Charlotte/Hinesburg a presence in Montpelier, and I will make you the promise that you will be represented well.

Ed Stone

--------------------------

Thank you, Gary

We would like to thank Gary Franklin for his seven years of service as Chair of the Charlotte Trails Committee. From 2003 to 2010, Gary led with humor, patience, and clear vision. Under Gary’s leadership, we moved forward on many initiatives, including:

• completed a trail inventory map and published a
pamphlet of open trails
• finished a new recreational trail on town property
• produced a Trails Vision Map of possible future
pedestrian areas
• held symposiums on trail uses at three different
locations around town
• coordinated many trail work days
• finalized changes to the Pease Mountain trails
system
• began grant writing and development efforts
• started work on the Charlotte Link in earnest.

We appreciate all of the time, energy and expertise you gave over the years to make Charlotte a more pedestrian and bicycle friendly community. The work that you started will not go unfinished, and it will be continued by those of us whom you have inspired.

The Charlotte Trails Committee

----------------------------

Renovate is Out – Rebuild is In ... But Where is the Short List for Improving Health and Safety?

Last fall the slogan for “health and safety” initially caught all of our attention. The School Board said at the time of the bond vote that there were no “detailed specifications” for a project, requesting we commit $2.8 million, yet we were being advised to vote “yes.” The board said it needed the bond to pass in order to have enough money to find out complete details. We have found out that we do in fact have a few repairs we need to do. The question is, do we spend or limit how much we take of approved money?
The good news is that there is no mold, according to the investigation. However, it is prudent to fix the leaking roof as soon as possible. The bad news is that we cannot afford much of what we need to do. The most important item of interest to all may be a sprinkler system, which is discovered to be much too costly. Faulty wiring still exists. So, it appears we just do not have the funds to fix all that pertains to our health and safety.
Today, architects are advising us, construction managers are leading us. We will pay people to remove parts of the building, and we will work with less than two million dollars to tear down and rebuild the smallest part of our school. In doing so, approximately $800,000 to $900,000 from the $2.8 million will go to architectural and construction services management. For this we will pay $167,000 out of the school budget for the next 17 years.
We have asked for education to be a priority, and two new principals are coming to lead us. So, if the budget is approved, or if it is not approved, more needs to happen. It is important that the board disclose to the community the “updated itemized construction specifications” before mid-June.

Candis Perrault-Kjelleren