A note from the shores of 63 Ridge Top Way

Greetings all!

Following is a letter I am submitting to the Town Manager and the Select Board.

It was prompted by a colleague's notification there are cows meandering upstream  in the Lamoille River.  We have many challenges to water quality.  Each one, however seemingly small, have an impact.  None are too small to overlook.

Best to all,

pkl

OK, so we a added a potted palm tree and a few friends

Colchester has diligently pursed through policy and practice protection of 27 miles of Lake Champlain shoreline within her municipal boundaries.  We are a leader in shoreline regulation and, as such, the State of Vermont, in recognition of Colchester's rigorous standards,   granted Colchester  delegation after the passage of the 2014 Shoreland Protection Act.     Our Director of Planning and Zoning, Sarah Hadd, and her staff have worked tirelessly to ensure we are in compliance with Federal Floodplain Regulations.  We are an MS4 community and, under the direction of our Public Works Director, Bryan Osborne, we continue to meet and indeed exceed the requirements for that program.  Colchester is a leader in addressing water quality issues and we recently completed an exhaustive Integrated Water Research Management study.  

I have been involved as a citizen volunteer on the Conservation Commission and the Planning Commission as well as a shoreline owner and concerned Colchester resident with the water quality of Lake Champlain.  Over the years, the most consistent complaint I hear from my neighbors and the public at large has been the  perceived unfair onus placed upon shoreline communities while exempting the upstream agricultural contribution.  

As an attendee this past summer at the Champlain Valley Farmer's Coalition in Charlotte, I was encouraged by the measures in place and proposed to address the Total Maximum Daily Load through Best Management Practices for farmers.

The following is an excerpt from the  Lake Champlain Action Plan as prepared by the United Sates Department of Agriculture:

"The Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) is under revision, with an expectation of increased regulations and inspections on all farms, and will likely include the following

·       Require 25' buffers on all perennial streams

·       Limit soil erosion to "T" on all fields

·       Require gully stabilization

·       Exclude livestock from eroding stream banks (my bold emphasis added)

·       Require nutrient management plans for all livestock farms

·       Require small farm certification of compliance with state regulations

In February, 2014, the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, in cooperation with Natural Resource Conservation Service in Vermont, directed all producers to NRCS to seek funding for agronomic practices (previously, producers were supported through the state for these practices)."

As a steward of the land and lake, I personally appeal to my Milton neighbor,  Owner of property located on West Milton Road on the North side of the Lamoille River, downstream from the bridge on Bear Trap Road  to reconsider his farming practices and seek a solution to remedy his livestock wading in the Lamoille River,  a direct tributary  to Lake Champlain.

As member of a wider community concerned  with Lake Champlain water quality,  I appeal to the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, the Natural Resource Conservation Service in Vermont,  the United States Department of Agriculture and the Environmental Protection Agency to intercede on our behalf to resolve this issue.

I am requesting the Select Board and Town Manager to take my concerns into consideration and proceed with the appropriate Agencies as they deem fit.

Find the Good

Dear Friends,

Rolling up our sleeves to move forward on the Bay

Had I won the Legislative seat, it was always my intention to continue to serve on the Planning Commission and hand the reins over to a new Chair.  As it so happens, that is not a decision I must execute and instead I shall remain at the helm as the Planning Commission moves diligently and thoughtfully forward to address the West Lakeshore Drive corridor.  Sarah Hadd, with Select Board approval,  has secured a Municipal Planning Grant which will aid us in this very important endeavor.

As many of you know, this area has been a challenge to many Commissions and Committees.   Among our community, there is a wealth of information and talent I hope to tap as we judiciously examine the opportunities offered in this unique area. 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

For Immediate Release

DATE: November 25, 2014

CONTACT: Sarah Hadd (802)-264-5602

Colchester, VT – The Department of Economic, Housing and Community Development (DEHCD) awarded $16,300 to Colchester in state Municipal Planning Grant funds to the Malletts Bay Village Project.   Colchester successfully competed against 58 communities and was one of 44 funded. 

Annually the Municipal Planning Grant program supports a range of locally identified initiatives to improve the quality of life and promote efficient growth and economic development in Vermont.

Colchester has long envisioned transforming the West Lakeshore Drive neighborhood into a community center with a recreation and tourism oriented focus. The Malletts Bay Village Project will create a holistic land use plan for the West Lakeshore Drive area of Malletts Bay that both recognizes the constraints of the area, such as traffic in the absence of the Circumferential Highway, and the opportunities for redevelopment as Colchester Fire District #2 evaluates serving the area with municipal sewer.  Design standards for new development will be evaluated as will standards for flood resiliency and green infrastructure. 

Previous studies call for action on implementing land use plans for Bay. The Town of Colchester has also  secured services from the Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission to determine the capacity of the West Lakeshore Drive corridor and the impacts of connector roads in the absence of the Circ. 

Noelle MacKay, Commissioner of the Department of Housing and Community Development said, “Jobs, businesses, transportation options, and affordable places to live are dependent on proactive, community driven local plans and land use polices.  The MPG program helps communities develop the necessary planning and implementation tools – and makes it easier for families, communities and entire regions to thrive.”  

No regrets

And Baxter in spirit always at my side

Count where man's glory begins and ends
And say my glory was I had such friends

William Butler Yeats  1938

May I once more state,  I am honored and humbled to have had the loyalty and support of such treasured allies.   The battle was well fought and my troops most valiant.  Friends new and old, family, colleagues, and  neighbors have been the wind at my back.  You are the true great measure of a challenge well met.  And I have been blessed.  Thank you everyone!

Blessed Be,
pkl

Campaign Signs

Signs for November 4

Thanks to everyone who hosted a sign.  If it disappears between today and tomorrow, it is hopefully because someone on my Team grabbed it for Laker Lane  tomorrow.  Granted some of the signs have been reapportioned by folks not on Team Pam but that is not the case today.  If you have a lawn sign and are voting tomorrow please bring it with you.

Thank you for all help along the way, let's stay positive but regardless of the outcome I could not be with a greater group of people.

Best to All!

Pam

Bring Your Leaves and Say Hello!

Another busy day at Airport Park for the annual leaf drop. I will be here again on Sunday, November 2. Bring your leaves and say hello. We'll have hot coffee and goodies!!

Save the Date!

Annual Leaf Drop    

Pam reviews the spoils of the day

This weekend,  November 1st and 2nd, the Conservation Commission will be hosting the Annual Leaf Drop,  Years ago the Select Board discontinued the 4 weekends for burning which were two in the Fall and two in the Spring.   I thought if the Town was going to ban leaf burning, an alternative should be offered to the residents for leaf disposal.  The idea for Leaf Drop was born and I manned the first drop off site along with a couple volunteers.  The first year we had two sites, one at Airport Park and another at Bayside.  The Bayside location did not attract much traffic and the Town cut back the Drop Off to Airport Park only the following year.  The Conservation Commission hopped on board and the rest is history.  We sell baked goods to warm your tummy and fill our piggy bank with some funds for our annual Colchester Blooms effort.  Stop by, bring your leaves, some spare change for treats and take a moment if you chose to visit with the candidate, that would be me,  for the House of Representatives in The Bay.

Saturday and Sunday 8AM - 4PM........we are waiting for you and your leaves.

Colchester Voters I need your Endorsement

Republican Booth at the Champlain valley Fair

Please Endorse Pam

I am in the midst of a very challenging race for the House of Representatives. My opponent has "the old guard' support but I have something far more valuable...friends and neighbors who believe, as do I, we are at a critical crossroads in Vermont to right our Ship of State. This is serious business requiring hard work and the fortitude to make hard decisions. Joining on as one of the super majority, my opponent will not get the job done.....it requires someone like myself who is willing to stand up and articulate stridently common sense solutions to the morass of problems we have created and inherited. Please consider approving the following message to be published in my last ad before the election in The Sun. I would be honored to include your name. I would like to get as many folks as possible to make a bold statement that grassroots folks like ourselves are alive, well and will not be silenced. Anyone else you know who would be willing to be included in the endorsement, please advise and either you or I could contact them. I need each person's permission by Monday to submit my text.. Thank you for your support...it is immeasurable.
You may call me at 846-7313 or send me an email.

Thank you for your continued support!

On November 4, we the undersigned will be voting for Pam Loranger to represent the Bay District in the House of Representatives. Pam has proven herself to be a true Public Steward through 16 years of service in Colchester. We know she will deliver a strong message to Montpelier on behalf of all Colchester residents.

Pam Re Elected As Chair

Pam Gets The Job Done!

Tuesday  night I was elected for another one year term as Chair of the Planning Commission.  It has been and continues to be my honor to serve in that capacity.  My unanimous endorsement by my fellow commissioners presents me with an opportunity to address a concern expressed to me by my supporters.  "Pam, would you have to step down from any of your current commitments if elected?"  I have given this great thought and my answer is a resounding "YES".   Granted, I serve the Town in many capacities but I know am  capable of  meeting  my many obligations while at the same time representing Colchester in the Legislature.    I would never shortchange one responsibility for another.  In fact, I happen to believe the ability to serve the residents as a hands on volunteer locally augmented with my participation in the Legislature greatly enhances my contributions.   I believe this is a wonderful opportunity to bring real world on the ground experience to the Chamber and Committees of the House and also translate the complexities of developing legislation back to the committees/commissions and people of Colchester.

Seriously Consider Voting for Pam Loranger

We recommend that every voter seriously consider voting for Pam Loranger for State Representative. Since 1998, Ms. Loranger has thrown herself into the workings of Colchester and has truly dedicated much of her life to being involved and informed. She has served in many, many roles in our town and is prepared to dedicate herself to representing Colchester in Montpelier. No one out there will work harder for us. If you have any doubt about Pam’s dedication to, knowledge of, or commitment to Colchester, give her a call. Really. She’s probably knocked at your door but if you missed her, talk to her before Nov. 4. You will be impressed by not just the breadth and depth of her knowledge but by how much she wants to know what YOU think and what concerns you have. And that will not end the day she is elected.

If you consider yourself a liberal, think before you cast your vote along old party lines. We are both liberal, no doubt about it, but will be happily voting for Loranger next week. Labels are not helpful these days. Ms. Loranger transcends the party line. She will study the issues. She will listen to every constituent she meets. She will hear your concerns and ideas, no matter who you are. Pam has goals that are conservative in the old fashioned way, as in “cautiously moderate”. She wants to conserve what is good about our town and be sure we are on a path to a secure future. As struggling middle-classers and small business owners, we want Pam in Montpelier working for us. Pam Loranger truly will be a great representative for the people of Colchester.

Susan McMillan, Colchester
Becky Roberts, Colchester

Pam's Positions as Queried by The Sun

 The Sun Asked and Pam Answered!

Gotta get those lawn signs staked and placed!

 Last year, Gov. Peter Shumlin surprised some when he focused his “State of the State” speech on opiate addiction in Vermont. If you were tapped to give this year’s State of the State speech, what would you focus your speech on?

Education cost containment is top priority. The ballooning cost of education is driving statewide education property taxes to levels that are crippling the budgets of many Vermonters. Under the  current funding structure, the Legislature can control the purse strings and yet they have refused to curtail spending and re-tool the funding mechanism. We need to constrain costs, re-consider unfunded mandates and provide a formula for funding that every Vermonter can clearly understand.

I support a two year moratorium on the increasing burden of property taxes capping spending at the 2015 levels.  For the next two years,  the Legislature should concentrate on assessing Acts 60/68 and confine Education Fund monies only for the functions listed in Statute(16 V.S.A.).    Towns must send a resounding message to Montpelier to address the current unsustainable education funding.  I will carry that message from Colchester.

The Colchester School Board recently agreed to a contract with the Colchester teachers union that increases teacher salaries by an average of 3.25 percent annually over the next three years. Can Colchester taxpayers support these increases, and is Vermont’s education system sustainably funded?

As noted above, I do not believe education is sustainably funded.

We are educating fewer students yet the costs per student continue to rise. Consider the following: in the past 10 years student population has declined by 10% while spending has increased by 33% and the per-student spending has increased by 60%.  Property taxes fund 70% of education spending. Anyone who runs a business or a household knows this trend is unsustainable and cannot continue.  

Taking on a comprehensive review and overhaul of this broken system is no small task but that is why you send us to Montpelier.  I am asking you to elect me to do the hard work and face the tough decisions.  Education reform and its consequences must be paramount in the upcoming Legislative Session. Runaway education costs are the responsibility of the State to fix.

Have the struggles implementing health care reform under the federal Affordable Care Act/Vermont Health Connect changed your outlook on the state’s move toward universal, government-run health care? How will you handle the issue in the Legislature next year?

 Health care is a topic of utmost importance for Vermonters and they are being led down a single-payer road on a hope and a prayer by the Shumlin administration and the Democrats’ super-majority in the Legislature. I have seen no evidence that Vermont’s single payer experiment can succeed in our small state without substantial rationing of care. The failure of Vermont Health Connect is a clear example of government overreach, a colossal waste of taxpayer funds and evidence they are incapable of managing such an upheaval in the medical system.

I support quality healthcare for everyone, but prices are better controlled by a system that encourages multiple insurers either through a person’s employer or purchased on an individual basis. The costs of health care must be constrained by a  combination of rational government regulation of hospitals and personal responsibility  by everyone for their own health.

As a legislator, I will not support single-payer.

The EPA is pressuring Vermonters to stem the tide of polluted urban and agricultural runoff into Lake Champlain that is degrading the lake’s water quality. What needs to happen to ensure the lake has healthy water for swimming and drinking supplies?

Conservation Commission at Colchester Pond 

I am very pleased to report it is already happening!.  Last year, the Legislature passed the Shoreland Protection Act.  As steward of 27 miles of shoreline, Colchester has led other municipalities in local shoreline protection.  Our regulations are of such high caliber that the State of Vermont has granted Colchester municipal authority to provide for continued permitting under our existing regulations.  The Planning Commission and staff worked diligently throughout the session to ensure our delegation would be granted.  Additionally, the Planning Commission approved and provided to the Development Review Board guidance for seawall construction The Shoreline Stabilization Handbook.  

As chair of the Planning Commission and member of the Conservation Commission,  I believe I am uniquely qualified to serve on the House Natural Resource Committee when elected to the Legislature.

  Is there anything else about you, your history in Colchester or your candidacy that voters should know?

I began my service to our Town in 1998 after attending a meeting of  the Conservation Commission. My commitment quickly mushroomed into greater interest in Town government. I jumped in with both feet, first to understand our local governance and secondly to participate constructively and collaboratively in Town government.

Now, 16 years later I:

o  remain a member of the Conservation Commission.

o  am the chair the Planning Commission

o  remain a founding member of Colchester Blooms,

o  am a member of the Historical Society

o  volunteer at the Malletts Bay Schoolhouse

o  serve as Secretary of the Colchester Community Center Initiative

o  participated on the Governance Committee

o  serve on the Firearms Safety Committee

o  was a member of the Citizens Committee selecting our Town Manager.

Now it’s time to apply my energy, experience and knowledge accumulated in the past 16 years to serve the residents of Colchester in Montpelier.

I have the passion to help bring balance to our Legislature and re-align Montpelier’s actions to reflect the pressing needs of Vermont citizens. 

Join Pam at Tonight's GOP Rally

Jack is encouraging you to VOTE Pam

Greetings!

Please join me at the Rally tonight showcasing GOP candidates at the American Legion Hall on Roosevelt Highway starting at 6:30.  There will be a band and a cash bar.  A $10.00 donation is requested.

Hope to see you there!

As we move into the last stretch (15 days until "E" Day) please consider helping my campaign with any of the following:

• Letter to The Sun
• Posting to Front Porch Forum (better)
• Hosting a lawn sign…..I will have them with me tonight
• Introducing me to Friend in person or via your Facebook page
• Any time you can donate would be greatly appreciated

This is true grassroots campaign..so hop on board the Pam Train….it will be a fun ride.  And for those of you already on board thank you ever so much for your continued support.

The Education Challenge

The Education Challenge

Pam calls the Fall Class of Geese to Come to Attention

While school funding equity, the primary goal of Act 60/68, may have been accomplished, one consequence of this legislation has been to drive up the taxes to support the costs of public education to exorbitant levels, all in the face of a shrinking student population and a stagnant economy.

Clearly the issues resulting from Act 60/68 need to be confronted.   However, the Legislature refuses to do so when they clearly have the authority to cap school spending. Instead they have been complicit in driving up property taxes.

I support school choice in the form of charter and private schools which creates a dynamic and competitive marketplace.  And in a free market offering options for parents, school boards will have incentive to control costs and insure quality.  This does not provide immediate relief, but the start of the process to control public education costs. 

The income sensitivity level of $90,000 should be challenged.  I realize this would be supremely unpopular but until more voters have a greater stake in controlling education costs, property taxes will continue to escalate.

If State mandates  are driving school budgets, local school boards should be identifying these costs to their legislators and voters. If social services mandates are driving up local education budgets, that should be clearly identified to the voters.

Expanding social  programs such as lifelong learning, adult education, non-profit teen pregnancy programs, relief for caregivers of the disabled, should be critically reviewed based on the tenets of Results Based Accountability with clear and measurable goals.  If the programs are not producing proven results, they should be cut back or ideally eliminated. 

I am admittedly a novice in this supremely complicated area. However, unlike more populated states, we have the ability to implement incremental changes without enormous adverse unintended consequences as we reverse the trend towards an unmanageable, unsustainable education system based on property taxes. 

I realize I have not provided a ‘magic bullet’ to education sustainability but I  think we are way too far down the path to turn this on a dime. 

In my years of service to the Town, I have been witness to more than one study sitting now on a shelf and I am no proponent of endless analysis without concrete goals and outcomes.  That is why I support a Results Based Accountability approach which uses plain language, common sense, less paper, and is useful to the community.

Exodus of Vermonters

Quote for the Day:“Lower rates of taxation will stimulate economic activity
 and so raise the levels of personal and corporate income as to yield 
within a few years an increased – not a reduced – flow of revenues to the federal government.”

– John F. Kennedy, Jan. 17, 1963, annual budget message to the Congress, fiscal year 1964

Pam assists a client on a fixed income

The Exodus of Vermonters

I read with great interest the timely article written by Art Wolfe in the September 25, 2014 edition of the Burlington Free Press. In the article he states "The out-migration of people tells us something about opportunities, the attractiveness of the state to people, its desirability as a place to live, and its overall quality of life. As people weigh all those factors, more have decided to leave Vermont than to come live here. ".   

 He provides empirical data to support this conclusion.  I, on the other hand, have merely anecdotal information.   I am a native Vermonter with a deep and abiding affection for our State.  In so far as all citizens of the State are also Vermonters,  the affect of any one choosing another State for residency is as equally damning as our natives leaving.  It just feels like losing a native has a  greater impact.

 Just recently I was having a discussion with a neighbor, also a native, who is considering pulling up roots and taking residence in Florida.  She and her husband would keep their current residence and pay the non-resident tax,  but in their cost savings analysis Florida is the better long term investment as they move into retirement.  This is a refrain I hear more and more frequently meeting voters in my 9-2 Malletts Bay District.  She spoke wistfully that  it pains her to make this decision due to her sentimental attachment to the State.  She even expressed feeling like a traitor but financial considerations cannot be ignored at this stage in their lives.

The loss of our citizenry affects us financially but it also erodes the character and the strength that is Vermont.  When each one of our citizens chooses to establish their legal residence in another state we lose their contribution to our democracy and the votes they cast at the ballot box.

 Many of you recall when us "Woodchucks" were losing ground to the "Flatlanders."  Now  constituents,  native and non- native are electing to cast their votes and pledge their allegiance to another state, not out of their desire but out of necessity.  We must reverse this trend and return our State to one of opportunity and sustainability for this generation and the others who follow.

Word for the Day:   extirpate 1. To pull up by the roots. 2. to destroy totally, exterminate

If we continue with our current economic policies,  we will extirpate the culture that is Vermont.

Pam

Pleasant Persistence

Albert takes his bride for a ride

Quote for the Day:
"Let me not to the marriage of true minds
Admit impediments"
      Sonnet 116 Shakespeare 1609

                    

Pleasant Persistence

This past weekend Albert and  I indulged in a respite from my campaign to enjoy a Sunday afternoon celebrating our wedding anniversary.

We were married at the Marble Island resort long before the fire and that day was as glorious as this Sunday last.  Albert is not only my husband,  but we are partners in the business he founded in the mid 1980's, Preston Property Management and Leasing Services Inc.  In the early years of the business I worked full time as a Rehabilitation Specialist for a local Medical Equipment company and provided administrative assistance on evenings and weekends.  I joined Albert in the early 90's when the demands of the our growing company required my daily  presence on the front lines.  With pleasant persistence, forward planning and an eye on customer service in a very demanding profession, we established a solid business of which we are truly proud.  As property managers overseeing well over 400 units in northwestern Vermont  we are daily served a mixed offering of challenges from the very mundane maintenance complaints to  far more demanding issues usually revolving around tenant relations.

Throughout it all we have created a balance of our talents serving our customers, providing quality housing opportunities for a wide range of budgets and  building a future for ourselves and our employees.  And when the lights are low we still manage to laugh, repose and reflect  all the while keeping our marriage and our business alive, fresh and cherished.

 

Word for the Day:
impediment  something that impedes: a hindrance or an obstruction.

As a problem solver like myself, impediments are only hindrances to overcome.

A Call To Arms

A CALL TO ARMS!

Walking softly and carrying a big stick with Charlie 

"Faint heart never won fair lady". 

 

From the Gilbert and Sullivan 1882 comic opera Iolanthe.  Interestingly, this was a satiric treatment of the political party system.

Friends,

My opponents in this election present a formidable challenge.  One of my opponents is an incumbent and the other has deep connections with some of the more noted names in Colchester.  I am completely committed to meeting this challenge, winning the election and serving you in Montpelier but I need your help.   Please consider one or more of the following ways you can assist my campaign:

Place a sign on your lawn …I will deliver the sign

Write an Op Ed to The Sun

Post a comment on Front Porch forum

Host a "Meet the candidate" at your place of choice

Allow me to include your name on an ad in The Sun as a supporter

And, as always, any monetary contribution is gratefully appreciated

I have a tremendous task before me and November 4 is will be here sooner than one can imagine.  However, with your help and my dogged determination we will win in November and contribute to the restoration of common sense and balance so desperately needed in Montpelier.

Word for the Day: dearth  a shortage or a scarcity.

There is clearly a dearth of common sense in our current Legislature.

Balance

BALANCE

"The health of a democratic society may be measured by the quality of functions performed by the private citizens."  

Alexis de Tocqueville Democracy in America 1835-1840

Balance has several  dimensions.  Balance may be referred to as simply a balance in numbers, but balance may also mean, as it does to me, a balance of ideas.

People elected to office are generally selected from either a liberal or conservative camp.  I am not a fan of labels as I think they limit the breadth of discussion, but for the purpose of this exercise let us allow ourselves some latitude.  In my view, the Liberal approach tends to lean toward  the philosophical and the Conservative may be considered more pragmatic.  Each viewpoint is necessary for democracy to thrive.  A healthy tension between the two fosters a dynamic relationship in the creation of new legislation.  Each elected public servant brings to the forum a wealth of varied experiences.  It is our duty, as your public servants,  to apply the balanced  breadth of perceptions and backgrounds for the purpose of creating the best  legislation possible.   

Also, there is balance in the formation of our government.  The Framers provided for us in the Constitution the principle of separation of powers and checks and balances.  The Framers intended for each branch, legislative, judicial and executive to exercise some restraint in the power of the other.  Whether by numbers or by ideology, they thought it wise that not one branch prevail over the other.

When the legislative branch does not challenge and indeed, may even walk in lockstep with the executive branch, we are  thwarting the very intent of the Constitution.  Lively debate is healthy for a vibrant democracy.   Our strength, as a democracy is to bring forth individuals imbued with their own intelligence, strong wills and commitment to service.  In the very nature of dissent may be found the unity of purpose.  However, lively and productive debate may only  take place when a grand mix of all ideas enters the arena.

Word for the day:  clarion  loud and clear

The time is now for a clarion call to ring out for balance in our government.

Have a great weekend!

Pam

Oft asked question

An  Oft Asked Question

Quote of the Day:

"Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty"  Andrew Jackson

"Pam, why did you decide to run for Office?"

Dear Voter,

Shortly after arriving in Colchester and settling into our new home, we were served with a Notice of Violation which essentially accused us of living year round in a seasonal home.  Cochester, as many of you know, is an evolving community and "camps" which at one time were seasonal converted to year round use for a variety of reasons.  We happened to purchase one such camp which was historically occupied year round for 20 years prior to our purchase. Having a passable knowledge of property rights and the Vermont Bianchi ruling,  I had no reason to believe our occupancy would be challenged. 

The final upshot of this story, very much abbreviated here,  is we appealed and won our case in Environmental Court to live year round in our home.  All's well that ends well, but this legal battle with the Town somehow quite inexplicably brought me to become engaged in the local civic affairs.

Fast forward fifteen years of public service,  and I believe now is the time to harness the experiences and education accumulated over these years for greater service to the Voters of Colchester in Montpelier.  While serving locally, I have been able to respond to neighbors and friends on  matters of local interest and inquiry.  I understand the frustrations of our citizens when trying to make sense of rules, regulations, and ordinances.  And,  as  you may imagine, if local matters are confusing,  the work performed in Montpelier can be enough to make your hair hurt.

As part of my contract with you to serve, I will work to interpret the vagaries of the Legislature, keep you apprised of Legislative action and when asked, research and respond to any inquiry you may have for me.  I will strive to find the  answer and, indeed, will many times return to Colchester with answers you prefer not to hear.  However, I pledge to work diligently on your behalf with the same intensity and fervor I applied when fighting for our very home.

Word for the Day…  bootless   useless, fruitless, to no avail.

It is a sad commentary on our cherished Democracy, when citizens become disheartened when their bootless cries seemingly go unanswered by their elected Representatives.  In my very limited capacity as your  House Representative I will work to reverse that perception.

Enjoy your Day,

Pam Loranger

We Have Much Ground to Cover!

We live in a remarkable country. The great Republic of Vermont is one of 50 stars burning brightly. It just happens I think Vermont burns the brightest. I am indeed blessed to have been born in this State and I am twice blessed to claim Colchester as my home.

Growing up in Montpelier with two state employees as parents, the throb of State Affairs pulsed with regularity throughout my young life. As a teen, I served dinners to the Legislators at what is now known as the Capitol Plaza. Tales and ruminations filled my ears as I filled their coffee cups. My grandfather sat on the House Judiciary Committee and, although he passed too soon for his years, the DNA remains.

We have precious few calendar days left in the first leg of my journey to serving you in Montpelier. I

am hopeful over these few days you will have the opportunity to meet me on this blog and certainly at any time of convenience to meet you in person. We have much ground to cover, you and I, so let's get down to it.

Every day I like to find a phrase to guide me in learning what molds great leaders and thinkers. I do not

presume to be either but aspiring to one or both is a worthy endeavor. The quote for today comes from one of our great founding fathers, Thomas Jefferson. "The ground of liberty is to be gained by inches. It will not be won overnight"

Our Republic is floundering on the beaches of looming unsustainability. She will not be righted

overnight. However, I must believe and fervently do believe with dedication, determination and the support of common sense Vermonters we can collectively work together and return our Ship of State to the Seas of Promise for the next generation and all future generations.

Word for the Day... abstruse  The Vermont Health Connect is one example of many abstruse policy decisions running our great State aground.

Lawn Signs

Show your support for Pam by placing a sign on your property, on your lawn, in a window, on your car - or wherever else you's like to show your support!  

Request A Sign

 

Thanks for your support!

Vote for Pam!

Commitment To Service:

I have been active and serving Colchester since 1998. I am a fiscal conservative who believes we govern best when we govern ourselves. Over-regulation is strangling our long standing pride of entrepreneurship and incentives. Property taxes are threatening our established families and new families who want to raise their children in our Town. Your voices and concerns need strong and energetic representation in Montpelier. I have a proven track record that reflects my commitment of service to Colchester.

About Pam:

• Member Colchester Conservation Commission, 16 years
• Member and current Chair of Planning Commission, 5 years
• Secretary Colchester Community Center Initiative, 3 years
• Past member and Secretary Governance Committee, 2 years Member Historical Society and volunteer at Malletts Bay Schoolhouse
• Parks and Recreation events volunteer, 8 years
• Initiated and coordinated Leaf Drop
• Member 250th Celebration Committee
• Founding Member of Colchester Blooms!