I'm hosting a campaign meet-and-greet/fundraiser for Matt Dunne, a charismatic, 35 year old, progressive candidate running for Lt. Governor here in Vermont. If any fellow Vermont Kossacks happen to be in the area and would like to stop by this event and meet Matt in person, we would welcome your support.
My press release below:
Matt Dunne at Spiral Press Café in Manchester, Vermont
Matt Dunne, candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Vermont, will be at the Spiral Press Café on Wednesday, August 30th at 6PM. There will be live entertainment and refreshments as well as an opportunity to meet Dunne, ask questions and learn more about his vision for Vermont and his plan of action for the office of Lt. Governor.
Matt Dunne is an energetic and passionate Vermonter who has dedicated a majority of his life to public service. During his time in the state legislature Matt has worked to expand access to high-speed Internet, invested in our downtowns, and created the Vermont Film Commission. These initiatives created the opportunity for new jobs without compromising our farm and forestland - the kind of "win-win" solution that Dunne is good at finding.
"This is a wonderful opportunity to meet one of Vermont's most dedicated leaders," said Stephen Drunsic, event organizer. "I look at his campaign as a wake-up call to young Vermonters who face the difficult choice of leaving Vermont behind to seek greater opportunities elsewhere. I think that's why his efforts to sustain and catalyze economic development in Vermont and stimulate 'the new creative economy' resonate with me."
If you cannot attend the event on August 30th but want to learn more about Matt Dunne, please visit our website at mattdunne.com. The Spiral Press Cafe is located at the Northshire Bookstore at 15 Bonnet Street, on the corner of routes 7A and 30.
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A bit on Matt's record on the issues:
Economic development
* Launched a broadband grant program to bring high speed Internet to rural communities
* Authored legislation that created the Vermont Film Commission
* Authored Brownfield legislation and secured funds to support the redevelopment of abandoned industrial buildings
* Developed a Seed Capital Fund to provide financing to Vermont entrepreneurs
The Environment and Agriculture
* Encouraged the clean-up of contaminated properties including the creation of the new Brownfields Clean Up Fund ("Cleaning up state Brownfields" by Ernest Pomerleau Rutland Herald 11/21/05)
* Sponsored legislation to support our diverse agricultural community as our state changes
* Worked with the Tuck School of Business to find ways to strengthen our Forest and Parks System (Click here to find the preliminary report)
* Supported legislation to protect farmers as our agriculture base diversifies
* Streamlined the permitting process while protecting our core environmental standards
* Launched a tire recycling pilot program through the Department of Transportation
Education
* Supported a fairer and clearer way to fund education, and increased state investment in our children's education
* Developed legislation to encourage stronger civics education
* Proposed partnerships to provide entrepreneurship training to high school students
Healthcare
* Launched initiative to create electronic healthcare records to reduce costs and save lives
* Strongly supported initiatives to contain healthcare costs by providing universal coverage
* Fought against increased premiums for Medicaid recipients
* Supported securing funding to make sure seniors did not lose prescription drug coverage with the implementation of the Medicare drug plan
Veterans, Workers and Local Government
* Authored legislation to ensure that those men and women returning from war have special hiring status for state jobs
* Fought to increase the minimum wage and add an annual cost of living adjustment
* Championed legislation to ensure nurses have the right to speak out if they see dangers in a hospital setting
* Established a volunteer pilot program to support the efforts of municipalities to move towards electronic storage of records