The candidate forum offers a number of views, experience | Local news

Bennington-a Long series from selected board candidates took part in a 150-minute forum on Monday and offers the voters a surplus of information about the top editions with which Bennington will fight and the residents of the election on March 4th.

The candidates – eight of the 10 people who were looking for three open board seats this year – answered a number of questions from moderator James Thatch, who had been submitted online, and some of the spectators.

The event took place in front of a live audience in the Bennington Theater, with others watching the Catamount Access television cable network or via its Facebook or YouTube services.

The forum, which was organized by the Bennington Banner and Cat-TV, was recorded and can be accessed online or during the repetitions on the government channel of the cable network.

Participation was candidates Kelly Carroll, Jim Sullivan; Incumbent Tom Haley, Jackie Matts, Beau Alexander, Jack “Ripper” Hurley, Martha Mackey and Jack Rossiter-Munley.

The candidates Mike Bethel and Maria Corrales, who could not take part, are also in the election voting mood with three three -year seats in the Select Board.

Statements, goals

Hurley said he runs because he believes that Bennington “led in a downward spiral” and because greater transparency is required in the local government.

There is also a need to “have harder in relation to crimes and to get gang activity out of our city,” he said, adding: “I remember when children could walk along the street. Now you cannot walk along the street without running on needles, gang activities or robberies. “

Rossiter-Munley said that he runs because he is already involved in many community efforts, “and in all of these environments I am constantly impressed by the way people appear here in Bennington. And I would like to make sure that we can use this positive participatory energy in our local politics and our local government. “

As an example, he said that when he went to the forum, he met two people who were stopped and said: “Hey, do you need a trip?” … this is the kind of spirit that I find everywhere in this city. “

Mackey said she run because: “First and foremost this is my home, and I want it to flourish her full potential.”

The candidate said that she has experiences and skills that she would like to bring to the board, but added: “What really qualified me for Bennington that could be an example of the entire state. “

Alexander said he worked together in the community, including the law enforcement authorities, in the state probation and probation services and in local schools.

“I am now working in the school system and see a lot of difficulties that we have in this community and I think. “”

Matts said she moved to the city 20 years ago and was involved in many community efforts.

“I campaigned for me to serve the community by voluntarily reporting my time and supporting our neighbors and working on making our city a better place for everyone.”

She added: “I run because I see an enormous unused potential for Bennington that I would like to make it a reality.”

Matts quoted her background in the field of information technology and said she worked with medical, education and other organizations.

Through her experience in the IT area, she said: “I have experienced a real, sustainable growth of large organizations.

Matts said she also has experience on the board, including President of Queer Connect and in the Citizen Charter Review Committee of the City in 2025.

Haley said: “This job was the most rewarding job I’ve ever had in my life. It is really an honor to serve the community that raised me. We have done so much good work in recent years and have made so much progress that I want to continue this forward dynamics. “

He said he wanted to continue to be part of the “challenges that we are still working with cooperation and Bennington”.

Sullivan said: “I also love this community and I want to help thrive. I believe that the words in the city’s vision statement, “inviting, inclusive, committed and resilient” are really important and that we have to work together to bring them together in a way that improves the quality of life for all residents. “”

He noticed his over 35 years in the area of ​​municipal and regional planning as well as in a number of boards.

“Through these experiences,” he said, “I have developed an appreciation for the further development of the common goals through respectful discussion, compromises and collaborative decision -making.”

Carroll said: “I love Bennington” and noticed that she moved here when she was in kindergarten, later completed Mount Anthony Union High School and a family in the city of Großzog.

In her work, she works in her job “with several million dollar contracts,” said Carroll, said that she was part of a management team and is currently in a company training position.

She said she “learned first -hand about violence in the community when I lost my daughter four years ago. This life -changing event prompted me to withdraw and look at Bennington, where the gaps affect especially in terms of mental health and public security. Give participation and, above all, something back. “

Carroll’s daughter Emily Hamman died after being broken down on a sidewalk in the city center of Bennington. The man cited by authorities in death has been held since his capture, but he was determined not to be authorized to face a suspicion of murder.

Carroll is the current chairman of the Bennington Community Policing Review Advisory Board, which deals with questions of law enforcement and criminal justice.

Benn Hi Project

Many of the questions of the candidates on Monday were unspecific, but one of an audience was: if the candidate is supported by the Bennington High School Sanning project, a public-private partnership between the city and Hale Resources, LLC.

Mackey praised the plan to restore a historical city structure in the Main Street, but she said: “I want to make sure that there is a good mistake, and I believe that this is happening in an affordable and effective way that really serves our community.”

Alexander said he supported the project idea, but said: “I have a lot of concerns about how the amounts have changed and continue to change.”

The currently estimated project on more than 50 million US dollars was originally estimated at less than 20 million US dollars. However, almost all funds from federal and state subsidies, historical preservation and other tax credits and private investments are expected.

Hurley said he sees the project as possibly economic opportunities, but he believes that there could be problems in the future, e.g.

He added: “I think the idea is good. I just think we didn’t get a lot of answers that I think you asked people … I just think we need more information before we are fully sold. “

Rossiter-Munley said: “The restoration of an impressed property in the city center and converting it into a community asset is a giant plus … I think time and how it becomes reality. “

He added: “The potential is incredible and the change it will bring is very exciting.”

Carroll said: “I support the Benn Hi project as a whole. I think there will be a big difference in the main street. I think it will make a difference for the pleasant street. “

She said the city needed childcare and new apartments that would provide the project.

She said she was disappointed that a meal on the kitchen on the bike was dropped out of the project, but it was hopeful that the function can be returned if the project continues.

“The Benn Hi Project is one of the most important projects that took place in Bennington in a very, very long time,” said Haley, “and I’m proud of every single voice that I made to support it.”

He said he understands that projects of this size and costs express concerns, but design and other changes in such a project are normal when it progresses.

“What it is important to remember,” said Haley, “is that the part of the city’s project is very, very small.”

Sullivan found that Benn Hi is a public-private partnership that “offers a lot of public advantages”, including new residential units, recreation room, childcare and space for city programming for seniors.

These amenities will attract people to move to Bennington, he said: “Keep the people in the city and really help Bennington thrive.”

Matts said: “I support this project. I know that the costs have exploded and for many people who give them a break. I understand that. As Tom said, the city’s costs are a very small piece of it. And I think Zak Hale (CEO of the development company) did an excellent job to find money to cover the increasing costs there. “

She said the project “will really change the nature of this part of the city and not only revive the building, but also the neighborhood”.