BROWNINGTON — Ken Wells, running unopposed for the Orleans-3 House district seat recently vacated by David Templeman, has outlined an agenda focused on affordability and preserving traditional Vermont values for his upcoming term representing Barton, Brownington, Westmore, and Orleans.
The incoming Republican representative identifies the Clean Heat Standard as a primary concern, warning of potentially significant heating cost increases for low- and middle-income Vermonters. “I don’t want them to have to pick between buying groceries or purchasing fuel during the long winters,” Wells stated.
Wells opposes mandatory transitions to electric vehicles, citing concerns about their winter performance, high costs, limited range, and insufficient infrastructure. He questions the electric grid’s capacity to handle increased demand under such mandates.
To address the housing crisis, the future representative advocates reducing regulatory barriers to facilitate affordable housing construction, emphasizing long-term solutions over temporary fixes. On education, Wells calls for systematic reform, pointing to the paradox of rising costs despite declining student enrollment.
The former newspaper industry professional supports stronger drug enforcement measures in the Northeast Kingdom, opposing supervised injection sites while advocating for increased law enforcement resources. He also backs the DUMP organization’s efforts regarding landfill capacity issues and calls for modernizing wastewater treatment systems to protect Vermont’s water quality.
Wells frames his upcoming service as a mission to preserve “the Vermont way of life,” expressing particular concern about the influence of non-generational Vermonters on state policy and property matters. He plans to prioritize bipartisan cooperation while working to address what he views as an overwhelming liberal majority in the legislature.
The incoming representative will serve in the district encompassing Barton, Brownington, Orleans, and Westmore.
