Gov. Scott brings ‘Capital for a Day’ tour to Orleans County

NEWPORT — Governor Phil Scott and members of his cabinet visited Orleans County today as part of the “Capital for a Day” 14-county tour, engaging directly with local residents, municipal leaders, and community partners.

The day began with a cabinet meeting at North Country Union High School in Newport.

“Despite the challenges facing North Country, I appreciate everyone’s commitment to the students here,” Scott remarked. “There are a lot of good things happening too—an impressive arts program, a strong CTE program, and the reigning girls basketball champions.”

Scott and his team then toured the Ethan Allen facility in Orleans, which was impacted by flooding last summer.

“We need to focus on making Vermont more affordable—to make sure major employers like Ethan Allen continue to do business here and their employees can afford to live here,” he said.

A public safety roundtable was held at the Newport Gateway Center, where Scott was joined by Public Safety Commissioner Jen Morrison and Transportation Secretary Joe Flynn. They met with local law enforcement, mental health professionals, and municipal leaders.

“Public safety is a top priority of any government, and today we met with local law enforcement, mental health, and municipal leaders to hear about what they’re experiencing in their communities,” Scott said. “It’s clear law enforcement and communities need more tools to hold offenders accountable as well as resources for mental health and addiction. That’s why my team has continued to advocate for legislative changes to make places like Newport safer for families, workers, and our kids.”

In the afternoon, a telecom and energy roundtable took place at the Orleans Country Club, featuring discussions with Public Service Commissioner June Tierney. The day concluded with a visit to the Glover Sensory Trail in Glover Park, accompanied by Racial Equity Director Xusana Davis.

“Spending a day in each county gives us an opportunity to hear directly from Vermonters, see the good things happening in their communities, and understand how decisions made in Montpelier are impacting them,” Scott said. “In the past, challenges identified on these visits led us to make historic investments in wastewater systems to support economic growth, strengthen our career and technical education centers, collaborate on public safety issues, and more.”