Letter: Katherine Sims, candidate for Vermont House of Representatives

My name is Katherine Sims and I am running to represent the towns of Eden, Jay, Lowell, Troy, and Westfield in the Vermont House of Representatives.

I am running for state representative because we deserve better. It’s time we have someone representing us who isn’t content sitting on the sidelines. We need a new voice that understands the issues affecting our community and is willing to do something about it. If elected, I promise to take my fight for the Northeast Kingdom straight to the capitol.

From the golden dome in Montpelier, it’s easy to ignore the reality of what is happening up north. We value our local schools and they force us to consolodate. Households are struggling to make ends meet, with one in four children not knowing where their next meal is going to come and many families now knowing how they will pay bills if they were to get sick. Fewer jobs are available and existing businesses find themselves struggling as economic development continues to leave rural areas like ours behind. They don’t see how a lack of high speed internet and cell service hurts our small businesses or how industrial winds divides our communities.

As the founder and executive director of Green Mountain Farm-to-School, I have worked with a team to build a business that employs a dozen people, has generated over a million dollars of sales for our local farmers, educated thousands of children, and increased access to healthy foods for our community. Our work started with one school garden at Jay/Westfield Elementary and the belief that all Vermonters, no matter their income level, deserve access to healthy and nutritious food. It hasn’t been easy, but we now work with schools and farms throughout the NEK. I am proud of the growth Green Mountain Farm-to-School has seen but I also know how hard it can be to make it.

We know that the success of our region is only possible if we work hard and make sure all of our community members have their basic needs met. I have demonstrated my ability to implement creative solutions to address some of our district’s biggest challenges. I will work tirelessly to strengthen our local economy, support working Vermonters, and make sure government works for all communities – including rural ones like ours.

We need a strong representative to address issues like lack of high speed internet and cell phone service, high property taxes, Act 46, and energy siting projects to name a few. Vote for me on November 8 and together we can be a powerful voice for our community.