BY ANGELO LYNN
VERMONT — Six candidates are vying for Vermont’s lone congressional seat as Congressman Peter Welch, who has held that seat since 2007, makes a run for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Patrick Leahy.
Democrat Becca Balint, who was Senate Pro Temp in the Vermont Legislature for the past four years, is the best known among the candidates and is leading the race in state polls.
Republican Liam Madden has gotten ample press for his unique views and that the fact that he claims to be an Independent and chose to run as a Republican because he was more likely to have a larger platform on which to make a run. Having won the Republican primary against that party’s favored candidate, the Republicans have not backed Madden as one of their own.
Madden’s views are an interesting mix of liberal positions, similar to those embraced by many Democrats as well as some Libertarian ideas, along with a streak of independence from both major parties. He has been running on a platform that the nation’s two-party system is “broken” and needs a healthy dose of outside thinking to right America’s politics.
Libertarian Erica Redic, who lost the Republican Primary to Madden, and three other Independents are also on the ballot. The Independents are Luke Talbot, Adam Ortiz and Matt Druzba. Of the six candidates, all responded to VtDigger’s questions and provided a brief biography except Druzba.
This report will sketch each candidate’s bio and the brief yes-no answers to eight questions, but will not repeat each candidate’s in-depth answers to six other questions because of length. We do encourage readers to log on to VtDigger to read those longer responses and learn more about what each candidate represents.
LUKE TALBOT: INDEPENDENT
Talbot is an Island Pond resident and has been married to his wife for seven years. After his discharge from the U.S. Navy, he writes that he has been “doing inspection work in the manufacturing and power generation industry” for the past 30 years. He says he “enjoys motorcycling, snowmobiling, and is an avid gun enthusiast.”
In answering Digger’s yes-or-no questions, he:
• Would not support a comprehensive national health care program, commonly known as Medicare for All.
• Would not support strengthening federal voting rights protections, including those described in the John Lewis Voting Rights Act.
• Would not support the federal legalization of marijuana.
• Does believe F-35 fighter jets should continue operating out of South Burlington.
• Would not support legislation requiring the federal government to continue funding free testing, vaccination and treatment for COVID-19.
• Gave no response to whether members of Congress should be subject to term limits, but in his in-depth comments he notes that congressional term limits would help break up the partisanship in Congress.
• Would not raise taxes on the wealthiest Americans.
• Does believe that the Affordable Care Act, commonly known as “Obamacare,” should be repealed.
LIAM MADDEN, REPUBLICAN/INDEPENDENT
Madden is a Marine Corps veteran who became the leader of America’s largest antiwar organization of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. Afterward, Madden then co-won M.I.T.’s Solve Award for organizations innovating climate change solutions. His work has been covered by “60 Minutes,” the New York Times, and most major media. Madden was awarded the Institute for Policy Studies Human Rights Award, and he has also been a Climate Fellow for the social entrepreneurship accelerator Echoing Green.
Madden attended Northeastern University and focused his studies on policy and science pertaining to energy, economics, food systems and the environment. He is currently the Solar Energy Director at a Vermont home energy company.
He lives in his hometown of Bellows Falls with his wife, Lauren, and young sons June and Winn. Madden’s campaign for Congress is centered around what he terms Rebirthing Democracy — a set of technological and structural innovations to dramatically improve the problem-solving processes of government.
In responding to Digger’s yes-no questions, his answers are in sync with most Vermont Democrats. He:
• Would support a comprehensive national health care program, commonly known as Medicare for All.
• Would support strengthening federal voting rights protections, including those described in the John Lewis Voting Rights Act.
• Would support the federal legalization of marijuana.
• Does not believe F-35 fighter jets should continue operating out of South Burlington.
• Would support legislation having the federal government continue funding free testing, vaccination and treatments for COVID-19.
• Does believe members of Congress should be subject to term limits, suggesting 10 years as the sweet spot.
• Agrees taxes should be raised on the wealthiest Americans.
• Does not believe that the Affordable Care Act, commonly known as “Obamacare,” should be repealed.
ERICKA REDIC, LIBERTARIAN
“Being born and raised in Vermont, I was taught values like hard work, perseverance, and acceptance,” writes Redic. “With a Bachelor’s in accounting from Champlain College, I have spent much of the last 2 years helping individuals and businesses achieve their goals and dreams. I’ve always had a heart for the underdog and public service.”
“In a representative republic,” she continues, “it is our duty to be honest and take care of the vulnerable. Through work with organizations like the Women’s Rape Crisis Center, I’ve helped influence policy changes at the local and state level. I call myself a Conservative because I believe in the liberal values established by the Constitution. I trust Americans to make the best decisions for themselves and their families. In order to maintain a civil and just society, we all must demonstrate a real tolerance of others and their viewpoints. We do this by conserving Constitutional Rights and Values.”
In her yes-no responses, Redic said she:
• Would not support a comprehensive national health care program, commonly known as Medicare for All.
• Would not support strengthening federal voting rights protections, including those described in the John Lewis Voting Rights Act.
• Would support the federal legalization of marijuana.
• Does believe F-35 fighter jets should continue operating out of South Burlington.
• Would not support legislation directing the federal government continue to fund free testing, vaccination and treatment for COVID-19.
• Gave no response to whether members of Congress should be subject to term limits.
• Would not raise taxes on the wealthiest Americans?
• Does believe that the Affordable Care Act, commonly known as “Obamacare,” should be repealed.
ADAM ORTIZ, INDEPENDENT
“I’m a workaholic,” Ortiz says. “I believe in dotting every ‘I,’ crossing every ‘T,’ and checking every box. Big things are only a bunch of small things put together. I’m smart enough to know I don’t know everything and sometimes it’s best to find a subject matter expert and take a supporting role. I understand how important teamwork is.” Ortiz lives in Rutland.
In his yes-no responses, Ortiz:
• Would support a comprehensive national health care program, commonly known as Medicare for All.
• Would support strengthening federal voting rights protections, including those described in the John Lewis Voting Rights Act.
• Would support the federal legalization of marijuana.
• Believes F-35 fighter jets should continue operating out of South Burlington.
• Supports the federal government continuing to fund free testing, vaccination and treatment for COVID-19.
• Had no response to whether members of Congress should be subject to term limits.
• Does not believe taxes should be raised on the wealthiest Americans.
• And does believe that the Affordable Care Act, commonly known as “Obamacare,” should be repealed.
BECCA BALINT, DEMOCRAT
Balint introduces herself as “a former public-school teacher, mom, and President of the Vermont Senate. I was first elected to the Vermont State Senate in 2014, later becoming Senate Majority leader.” She is quick to add that she is the “first woman and first openly gay person to serve as President Pro Tempore of the State Senate.”
In the Senate, Balint says she “led the charge to pass the first gun safety laws in Vermont history, the strongest reproductive rights in the nation, and the largest investment in affordable housing in a generation.” That’s partly true, though she was part of a supermajority of Democrats in the Legislature, those pieces of legislation were marshalled through via their respective committees, and Republican Gov. Phil Scott was also leading the way on those same issues.
Balint says she is “running for U.S. Congress because I know Vermont alone can’t solve the problems we face. I know Vermont has long been a place that moves the rest of the country to think differently, to imagine a better future and a brighter world. That’s what moved me to join this race.”
In her yes-no responses, Balint hoes to the Democratic positions. She:
• Would support a comprehensive national health care program, commonly known as Medicare for All.
• Would support strengthening federal voting rights protections, including those described in the John Lewis Voting Rights Act.
• Would support the federal legalization of marijuana.
• Believes F-35 fighter jets should continue operating out of South Burlington.
• Would support legislation authorizing the federal government to continue funding free testing, vaccination and treatment for COVID-19.
• Does believe members of Congress should be subject to term limits.
• Would support raising taxes on the wealthiest Americans.
• Would not support any effort to repeal the Affordable Care Act, commonly known as “Obamacare.”
MATT DRUZBA, INDEPENDENT
Druzba, 58, did not fill out the VtDigger questionnaire, but did contribute to a brief candidate profile in Seven Days. He’s a resident of Burlington and is the chief operating officer in a financial industry business.
Druzba says he is a left-leaning Independent and moderate (with conservative undertones) and says in his interview with Seven Days that he will “never be beholden to any political party or special interest group.”
More information can be found on Drubza’s website, MattDVT.com, or in Seven Days Election Guide.
