Why I Run for Office
I run to bring the voices, ideas, and concerns of our district to Montpelier. I am continually inspired by the people I volunteer with and the community members I talk to. We live in a special community, where neighbors do help neighbors, and where many of us fight to ensure everyone feels welcome and safe. I will always do my part by representing these values in Montpelier.
I moved to South Burlington in 2005 as a renter. I know first hand about the difficulties of affordable housing in our city. When I talk with my neighbors here, the most common economic issue that I hear is that South Burlington’s property tax burden is too high. I am committed to finding solutions that reduce the tax burden on our elderly, support our small businesses, and encourage growth while protecting the social services and safety net policies that are vital to our community’s success.
It takes many different perspectives and ideas to figure out how we can grow without leaving neighbors behind. My generation is uniquely aware of the value of inclusivity and diversity. We need collaboration and creativity to address and reverse the effects of climate change, and we must do so in a way that provides a future for our state through green energy and economic incentives for our business communities.
I run to find the gaps in the systems for the people who have been disenfranchised and also to find state and community based solutions to bridge those gaps. Through my volunteer work at the food shelf, I have seen first-hand the discrepancies in race and socioeconomic status between those who walk through the doors and those shopping down the street. I have heard the cries of people experiencing houselessness while serving on the Housing Trust Committee. And I have connected with the youth in our community to re-engage them in a process they feel has ignored them as they grapple with student debt, climate change, and food and housing insecurities.
Everyone I talk to wants their voice included in the process and I will continue to work hard to make more space and invite you in. I am committed to transparency in the legislative process and being accessible to all of my constituents. I will always strive to have one foot in the state house and one foot in our community.
My favorite Ruth Bader Ginsberg quote is “Fight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you.” My father, Gerald Krasnow, served two terms as a VT State Representative and did that with honesty and humor. He taught me how impactful that can be and I intend to follow his lead.
I am committed to lifting up the needs and the strengths of South Burlington every step of the way.