Incumbent Brian Collamore (R) of Rutland Town was born on November 28, 1950, in Detroit, Mi., where he completed his elementary education. He attended high school at Jesuit Xavier School in Concord, Ma. He moved to Vermont in 1968, attended Middlebury College, and received a BA in sociology/anthropology in 1972. He and his wife, Christina, have one son, Brian.
He has a long broadcast career in Middlebury and Rutland, with over 45 years on the radio and over 35 years in sales. He is currently the general sales manager for five radio stations for Catamount Radio. He was the winner of the Distinguished Service Award from the Vermont Association of Broadcasters and was also inducted into the Association’s Hall of Fame.
When asked why he felt he deserved to be elected, he said he thought that he had done a “good job answering people’s concerns,” adding that while those concerns “haven’t been many,” he felt his constituents had a “right to an answer” from him.
*Editor’s note—Collamore’s responses were taken from the notes of a previous employee of The Reporter, who was unavailable for consultation at the time of publication.
Prop 5/Article 22
Stated that he felt it was appropriate for the voters to decide.
Mental-health services
Stated that he would work with the legislature to acquire more funding.
Workforce development
Stated that he felt an emphasis on housing could help attract new members of the workforce and that ARPA money could be used to facilitate that.
Equity/Inclusivity
Stated that he felt Vermont was the most inclusive state and that he supports gay marriage.
Public Education
Supports school choice.
Gun control
Stated that some new legislature would be introduced but that he felt “we’ve done enough” when it came to any new bans.
Business development
Would like to see Act 250 streamlined to make development easier.
Agriculture
Stated that he was concerned at how many farms are forced with closing or diversification.
Immigration to VT
Stated that he supports foreign immigration to Vermont as a potential means of increasing the workforce.
Police Reform
Supports law enforcement and efforts to attract new officers.
