Meet the Candidates!
February 11, 2010, pages 6 and 7

Here are brief profiles of the 16 Charlotters who are running for town offices this year. Meet them in person at the Candidates Night sponsored by the Grange on Monday, February 15, 7 p.m. at the Senior Center.

Note: The profiles are in alphabetical order by the offices being sought. These are the complete profiles as submitted by the candidates.

AUDITOR

Judy Billard   
Auditor 3-year term
4206 Greenbush Road, 425-3138
Lived in Charlotte for 35 years
Education: Bachelor of Arts, University of Vermont
Occupation: Circulation Director, EatingWell Magazine
Family: Three sons, Will, Alex and Craig, had wonderful experiences and adventures growing up and attending school in Charlotte.

Why are you running? I'm ready to have some involvement with town government. I'm proficient with spreadsheets and have many years of experience managing reasonably large expense and revenue budgets, I'd like to use these skills to contribute to the town.
 
What do you hope to accomplish during this term? Working with the two other town auditors, I hope to assure the public that the financial statements of the town, as audited by independent certified public accountants, are accurate and complete and if there are discrepancies that they are clarified and/or corrected. If any member of the community has questions about town spending or revenue I would try to answer them.

CEMETERY COMMISSIONER

Daniel Cole (Dan) 
Cemetery Commissioner 3-year term
Served since 2004
3048 Lake Road, 425-3105 
Lived in Charlotte for 30 years 
Education: '68 Graduate of CVU (first 4-year class), B.A. in History and Literature, UVM '72 
Occupation: Retired US Postal Service; currently Supervisor of Protection Services at the Shelburne Museum 
Family: Married to Jennifer Steele; daughter Caroline is a second year grad student at the Boston Conservatory; daughter Susie recently bought a house in Ferrisburgh; son Allen is a Junior at Savannah College of Art and Design. Dan's family (on his father's side) goes back more than 150 years in East Charlotte, and many ancestors are buried here.

Why are you running for this office? To honor the lives and accomplishments of those past residents buried in our cemeteries who did so much to shape the town we now live in.

Proudest accomplishment?  One of my happiest moments was receiving an unexpected donation to clean out the Bradley Cemetery on Spear Street in the fall of 2009.
 
What do you hope to accomplish this term:  Cemeteries are more for the living than for the dead; they honor the accomplishments as well as record the lives of those who came before us. There is a small stone in the Barber for a two-year old girl named Thena; her epitaph reads "gone but not forgotten." It is my desire that none should be neglected or forgotten. There is no such thing as an unimportant life. Our cemeteries are in need of serious restoration work, and I would like to be part of that effort. Cemetery information and mapping needs to be updated and checked for accuracy; all of our information needs to be brought together in one place and it all should be available on-line.

Other comments: The Charlotte Cemetery Commission no longer handles active burials. The Commission complies with applicable regulations of Title 18, Chapter 121, Vermont Statutes Annotated, and is primarily charged with the care and maintenance of our historic cemeteries: Barber Cemetery on Greenbush Road, and Bradley Cemetery on Spear Street. The Commission hopes that townspeople will be proud of our accomplishments in the coming years.
 
CVU SCHOOL DIRECTOR (2 candidates)

Marilyn K. Richardson
CVU High School Director 3-year term
2757 Greenbush Rd, 425-2391
Charlotte resident for 35 years
Education: BA in early childhood and elementary education, MS in reading, MEd in special education
Occupation: Educational Consultant
Family: 2 sons who both graduated from CVU

Why are you running? I have the time, energy and expertise to serve on the CVU Board.

What do you hope to accomplish? During my term in office I would like to help the Board make decisions that support the school leadership in creating learning environments where all students are prepared to be successful young adults. With my work as an Educational Consultant in the State I think I could bring information to the Board on issues in education that are beyond our district but at the same time impact the decision making process. At the same time I want to be respected as a Charlotte representative who listens to the folks in our town.

Richard Hess (Dick) 
CVU School Board CVU 3 year term
68 Mutton Hill Dr. Charlotte-802-425-4571
Lived in Charlotte for 8 years- my whole life in Vermont 
Education: Associates in Business Mgt.
Occupation: Food Distribution, Past business owner 
Family: Wife Meghan, children Hannah (Senior CVU), Sophie (Soph CVU) ,Emma (6 grade CCS)
 
Why are you running for this office?  I like being involved and helping out wherever my kids are. I  like giving my time to the community in  which I live. 

What do you hope to accomplish during this term?I have a few things that I would like to accomplish while there:
 
- Instill the idea of "Critical Thinking" deeper in all class's making sure teaching is done in a way that promotes the spirit of true learning from the facts found from research and making sound judgments from that work.  This style of teaching would give more encouragement to the kids with different opinions to be heard and respected. It needs to be the rule not the exception to the rule. 

- Help figure out a way to  fund the school through different avenues, getting out of the box we are in and change that process through better managing the future and how planning  is done. The residents of Vermont have been forced to burden the load of this too long, we need to dig in and try to find more opportunities to fund the school we all love. 

I feel the State of Vermont needs to be on same time schedule as the school to help the schools make a budget that is real and not have to wait for the decisions that they make three or four months later as to what we will be assessed.
  
Other Comments: I love CVU and what it has done for my two oldest girls. They are different in styles and needs and are being well educated in a great atmosphere at CVU. I enjoy going to the sport venues,even though my kids did not play , the level of  play is excellent in all sports. I have enjoyed the plays and concerts, they are done well and have been a great venue for the kids to grow and express themselves.  I would enjoy having more of a part in this educational system , being able to help guide the process in which all the kids will turn into great contributors of our society.   I have been a "budget buddy" for the last three years and feel I have a real strong grip on the happenings of the school and the direction it is trying to take.   I would do my very best to represent all of you in Charlotte to the best of my ability. Thank you.
 

CCS SCHOOL DIRECTOR

Sue Thibault
CCS  School Director 3-year term
Served since 2008
546 Spear St. Charlotte  985-5096
Lived in Charlotte 10 years
Education:  Associates degree from UVM
Occupation:   Registered Nurse
Family: Husband Tom, son Jack (10), daughter Paige (9), Bulldog Ruby (3)

Why are you running?  I enjoy being involved in our school and appreciate the opportunity to  be an advocate for our community, parents and children.

What is your proudest accomplishment?  As a parent of  young children at CCS I have spent a lot of time volunteering in their classrooms.  Having this experience allows me to keep that perspective while deliberating issues that come to me as a board member.  

What do you hope to accomplish during this term?  I don't have a personal agenda, but hope to be able to continue to have a positive impact on the board.
 

Kristin C. Wright
CCS School Director 2-year term
286 Upper Meadow Lane, 425-5105
Lived in Charlotte since April, 1997
Education: B.A. from Allegheny College, J.D. from State University of New York at Buffalo
Occupation: writer/lawyer
Family: Husband, Jeffrey Berkowitz, children Emma (11), Jerry (9) and William (6)

Why are you running? As a regular participant at school board meetings, I understand the important and difficult work that needs to be done for the students at CCS. As the parent of three children enrolled at Charlotte Central School and as a member of the Charlotte community, I want to ensure that our school continues to stand out as a premier public school in Vermont. As a taxpayer, I am cognizant of the need for a budget that properly provides the tools our school needs while remaining sensitive to the profound impacts any increase in the property tax assessment can have on families.

What do you hope to accomplish during this term? My goals include continuing to improve communication with the community, increasing participation in the formulation of policy by parents, teachers and the community, and encouraging the earlier commencement of the budget process to allow more input therein.

Other comments: I hope that the CCS board will begin to actively recruit community members with varying interests and expertise to provide input and advice in developing policies that will benefit students. If elected, I look forward to any ideas about how best to do this.

LIBRARY TRUSTEE

Vincent Crockenberg (Vince)
Library Trustee 5- year term 
1321 Thompson's Point Road,425-4156
Lived in Charlotte for 19 years
Education: BA and MA degrees from Cornell University, Ph.D. from Stanford University
Occupation: AP U.S. Government and Politics teacher at CVU

Why are you running? I'm retiring from CVU in June, and I'll have the time and would like to contribute in a more direct way to the well-being of the Charlotte community. Serving as a library trustee is one way to do this.

What do you hope to accomplish during this term? I believe a public library should be the center of the intellectual life of its community. I hope to work with the trustees and employees of our library as well as with the members of other Charlotte community groups and organizations to explore ways the library can use its resources to contribute even more fully to the life of the entire community, young and old.

DELINQUENT TAX COLLECTOR

Mary A. Mead   
Delinquent Tax Collector 1-year term
Served since 2009 
1331 Roscoe Road  Charlotte VT   435-5304 
Lived in Charlotte for 26 years 
Education: Alfred University-BA Environmental Studies/Biology; Champlain College-Associates-Paralegal Studies 
Occupation:Town Clerk/Treasurer 

Why are you running for this office? It needs to be done, and since our office sends out and collects the taxes, it seems reasonable to keep track of the delinquent taxes as well.
 
 
LISTER

Maurice Harvey (Moe)
Lister 3-year term
Served since 2005
1331 Roscoe Road, 425-4811
Lived in Charlotte since 1983
Education: ABA, Champlain College
Occupation: President, Patterson Fuels
Family: Engaged to Mary Mead.  Wonderful daughter and son,  4 super grandchildren, and 3 wonderful stepsons!

Why are you running? Enjoy participating in town government.  This particular position gives me the opportunity to assure that all property owners in Charlotte are treated fairly.

What is your proudest accomplishment? Being able to survive the last town reappraisal!

What do you hope to accomplish during this term?
Continue to be as fair as possible in values of all property owners.

TOWN MEETING MODERATOR

Jerry Schwarz
Moderator 1-year term

ROAD COMMISSIONER

Hugh Lewis, Jr
Known as "Jr" 
Road Commissioner 1-year term
Incumbent since March 1998
1863 Ferry Road, Charlotte, VT 05445-9403  (802) 425-2223 
Lived in Charlotte  All my life
Education: High School
Occupation:Road Commissioner - Excavation
Family: Married 24 years to Leslie & 2 sons Matthew & Tyler

Running for this office because I enjoy the work.
Proudest accomplishment:  Upgraded 25+ miles of dirt road with less then 7 miles to finish & Staying within the budget each year.
Hope to accomplish this term:  Continue to upgrade dirt roads - Orchard & Cedar Beach Roads

SELECTBOARD

Winslow Ladue
Selectboard 2-year term
Incumbent
457 Sentinel Cedar Lane, 425-2275
Lived in Charlotte since 1981
Education: UVM, MS in geology
Family: Wife and 2 children
Section Manager, Financial Management Section of the Facilities Engineering Division, Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation

Ed Stone
Selectboard 3-year term
Served since 1995
138 Wildwood West, 425-3277
Lived in Charlotte since 1978
High School Education
Retired
Four Children

Why are you running? I totally enjoy helping people get things done.

My proudest  moment: The rebuilding of Higbee road and the total up grade of all town roads ( something that had never been done.

What do you hope to accomplish this term? To put to bed all the ancient roads in town once and for all.

Brief Comment: I believe strongly in managed growth.  My vision for Charlotte involves maintaining the rural character, open spaces of our town with its village centers, East and West Charlotte. I believe in diversity of agriculture, business and affordable housing. I understand compromise and I am able to work with diverise groups to continue to make Charlotte a wonderful place to live. I have the leadership and commitment to address the difficult questions in our state and the effect they have on Charlotte. I have always acted with responsibility when addressing the needs of ALL Charlotters. While on the board I have tryed to get things done in a respectful manner. I will continue to work to ensure that All Charlotters have a voice in the process the helps shape our Community. Thanks for your support.

TOWN AGENT

Edd Merritt
Town Agent 1-year term
Incumbent since 2008
2086 Hinesburg Road, 425-2191
Lived in Charlotte 23 years
Education: Last degree is a doctorate in organizational behavior from Columbia University; Baccalaureate from Beloit College, Beloit, Wisconsin
Occupation: Contributing Editor, Charlotte News and Dysfunctional Handyman around the house
Family: Wife Beth (Charlotte Library Trustee and Town Party Maven), son Chris (Pediatrician), son Ian (Graphic Artist and Photographic Director cars.com), twin grandsons Ben and Rory (3 ˝ years young), Guaca baby due in March, grand puppies Lola (golden retriever) and Monti-verde (mutt)

Why are you running? Because it is required to be filled by statute, and it requires relatively little of my time, and, when asked, I feel I can contribute in an advisory capacity.

What have you accomplished, and hope to accomplish in this term: The duties of the Town Agent have largely been passed on to the Town Attorney. If asked on a particular issue, I hope to give reasonable and well thought through advice.

Every morning as I drive over Church Hill and view the Adirondacks; every evening as I stop at the Hinesburg/Mt. Philo Road intersection and see the Greens, I never cease to be taken by what a lovely place our town is. I’m curious to learn as much as I can about it, its people and land. Serving the town in some capacity is a good way to learn – that and listening carefully to what others have to say.

TOWN GRAND JUROR

Walter B. Gates (Wally)
Town Grand Juror 1-year term
Served 7 years
2247 Ferry Road, 425-2083
Lived in Charlotte 13 years full-time, part-time summer resident for entire life
Education: UVM (B.A.), Harvard (M.B.A.)
Occupation: Retired
Family: Wife Joan, 5 grown children, 7 grandchildren

Why are you running? It needs to be filled
What have you accomplished, and hope to accomplish? There have been no duties required. The Town Grand Juror position is generally ceremonial. I will
faithfully perform any duties that should arise.
This position has had no activities in a long time, but since it is in our charter it continues to be on the ballot. If no one runs for the office, the election counters must tabulate votes for all of the numerous and sometimes peculiar write-in candidates.

TRUSTEE OF PUBLIC FUNDS

Dorrice G. Hammer
Trustee of Public Funds 3-year term
Served in this position since 1991
55 Sunset Road, phone: 425-4065
Family: John and I have lived in Charlotte since 1991

Why are you running? I'm a free-lance writer, have a BA in English, and have two grown children and three grandchildren. When we first moved to Charlotte, the Charlotte News announced that several town positions needed to be filled. I ran (unopposed), won, and have been serving in this capacity ever since.

Proudest accomplishment: The other two trustees and I have computerized and simplified our records, maintained the cemetery plots specified by the various trusts, and have done our best to keep the funds entrusted to us invested wisely and income distributed as specified. I will continue doing the same during this coming term.