 Welcome to ongoing local election coverage by Town Meeting Television. You are watching State Representative Candidate Forum for Chittenden District 7-2. This is one of 22 forums we are bringing to you in advance of the general election in November. All candidates on the ballot are invited to participate in Town Meeting TV election forums. These forums introduce you to community decision makers and connect you with issues that shape your local community. If you are watching this live, we welcome your questions at 802-862-3966. Watch Town Meeting TV on Comcast Channel 1087, Burlington Telecom Channel 17 and 217, as well as online at Town Meeting TV's YouTube page. Joining me today is Representative Anne Pugh of District Chittenden 7-2. We will begin with opening statements. Representative Pugh, if you want to tell us please why you are running for re-election and a little bit about the experience that you bring to this position. Thanks. Thanks, Christine. Thank you for moderating this. Thank you Channel 17. I think what you all are doing in terms of bringing to challenges. Those who are running for election is really important. And this election is really important. I'm Anne Pugh. I represent, as Christine said, Chittenden District 7-2, which is one quarter of South Burlington. I think very simply I'm running for re-election because I love Vermont. And I really care about the well-being and future of all Vermonters. And if this pandemic has showed us anything, it has shown that there's more work to be done. I want Vermont that works for everyone. Given the pandemic, given the what we see in DC and elsewhere, I think part of what I bring to South Burlington and to this process is experience and a record of working across the aisle, working with the administration, working with South Burlington. And at this point in time, I think we need, this is one experience counts. That's what you'll get with re-electing me and I'd be so honored. So speaking of that experience, I want to ask you about the impact that you'll have in this role. So, you know, you have a lengthy background representing your district. What about your past work will you continue? Or what will be different in your next, should you continue in this role? What I bring, as I said before, is experience. What people will get is a legislator who seeks out and listens to different perspectives, working to me that all voices are heard. I may not agree with all the voices. I also can learn from new voices. I have been, since I have been a legislator with the exception of four years, I have sat on for the past 14 years in chair of the House Human Services Committee. And that is the, that's the committee because of people. It deals with the well-being of Vermonters. It deals with and addresses the issues that Vermonters face that makes it more difficult for them to work, to go to school, to live fully. So what you will, I guess that is where I will continue to put my energy. Do you have any specific priorities or is there specific legislation that you're focused on for the next biennium? The next biennium, from my perspective, is going to be all about the pandemic, all about equity, all about ensuring that institutional and systemic racism is addressed, that the, that the decision, that what we have seen now with the pandemic in terms of how our society, our laws, our institution is in equity, equity across the board, all Vermonters are hurting right now. And so my priority will be seeing that making, making the shifts in those systems, whether it is in terms of access to food or whether it is ensuring that older Vermonters are able to age and be safe in nursing homes, whether it's that our youth can be protected, whether it is that people who are wrestling with alcohol and substance use disorder have access to treatment and services that they need. There's a lot there. Well, we're on the topic of the pandemic. You know that's really sharpened our focus on inequities in health care. I wonder what your thoughts are on what is next for health care in Vermont what changes might be coming up, you know that spring from what we have seen during this pandemic. I think we've already begun to see in terms of health care we've already begun to see some changes as we as a state and actually across the country have had to look at things in a way, whether it's medicine, whether it's been figuring out how Vermont can be less sensitive providers in different states. And whether it's been in terms of ensuring that we have enough people in terms of health care in Vermont. Vermont's in the in the year three of the waiver or what I might say up an experiment in terms of providing medical health care differently, rather than fee for service rather than paying for every best every visit, but in fact, okay for outcomes that in doing so. The thought is that will not only save money, but for monitors will be healthier. There's three of the of this waiver or this experiment. We're running into some bumps, we're not saving money. And people are questioning whether this is the right way to go. What I would, what I believe is that one were in the middle of something and going back to fee for service is not going to work. It does not make for monitors, anyone healthier. And so it's important to continue the evaluation and to continue to see what we can do differently. I don't want to leave this conversation though without saying health care isn't medical care. And I think what I hope my personal hope is that what this pandemic has done has really illustrated that to everyone that for Vermonters to be healthy. They need to have food on the table. They need to have their. You need to have people around them who support them who care about them, who can. They need to have a roof over their head and a way to be connected to the community through a job, or through other activities, and to have their mental health and substance disorder issues. But these basic things, food, belter, the job that pays the ability to take care of those on who they were in their family. Having doing that, Vermonters will be healthier. So if we shift the balance and put more of our fiscal resources. That. I think Vermonters will be healthier and I think that is something that we may see. Thank you. Viewers you are watching town meeting TV candidates forum for chanted state representative district seven two. If you are watching this live please give us a call at 802-862-3966 and ask your question of representative view. If you'd love to take our questions. You can watch more town meeting TV election coverage at www.ch17.tv or Comcast channel 1087 in Burlington telecom 17 and 217. Getting back to what you were just discussing representative Pugh. I think that's what we're talking about. You know about. More resource allocation to that whole sort of healthcare big picture. Well being for Vermonters. That I think brings us to thinking about the budget for next year and so given. Next few years. How would you approach the budget, you know to address those concerns and also the priorities that you see for us in the future. I think that Vermont is not alone. This is a time. The federal government. The federal government. The support states when they are in the middle of this crisis. Vermont was very fortunate in that. The support, the financial support that we've got from and we got from the federal government in the past seven months. We've gotten this small state minimum. more financial support than the vast majority of states. So the first thing that I would be doing would be looking at our congressional delegation to continue to support and work with the federal government and ensuring that not just Vermont, but actually all of the United States. This is going to we're going to need to decide what our priorities are on the one hand. And to as we do things differently. We are going to need to potentially stop doing things that right now are not on recovery. The issues that the pandemic has brought up. So while we're on the topic of finances. I also wanted to ask about education funding. There's discussion about changes to that method. Do you see a need to change the education funding method. And is that something that you would want to be addressing at this time. We absolutely funding of education has historically and continues to be an issue. And if it were easy, it would have been done yesterday. Because I don't know. I don't know of a legislator sitting legislator. I actually don't know if too many people across the state. You think that the way right now, we are funding education, which is all we try not to with the hybrid system. And that's part of the issue. It's too complicated. Supreme Court decision. And I think it's important to note that we're not talking about it. It's not long ago that we're lying solely on the property tax. Not constitutional. Does not promote equity. In education. That said, we are seeing reports are showing. The system that we have now, which has. State support. That's a big part of the process. Which then. Communities have some. Have a voice in. What they as local communities. Or in terms of the school budget. What we have now is inequitable. It's confusing. And we need to change it. We need to perhaps focus on one of the simple. One that maybe does not. It looks at wealth and not just income. And the focuses on quality. Thanks for sharing some specifics there. You know, equity is something that has come up several times during our conversation and recently, right before the session ended. I'm going to go back to the, the legislature passed some racial equity legislation. And I wonder, so one direct question for candidates, do you support reparations and apologizing for Vermont's role in slavery and systemic racism? And then to what else do you think we should be doing to advance dismantling systemic racism in Vermont? Pardon me wants to say, of course. And that. Addressing historical equity. Recognizing and acknowledging the store. Things that have happened in the past. Our horrific is really important. It's time. And. It has harmed and it is. It has traumatized many individuals. And we need to. And I am a white woman. And I'm not, I'm not going to have the. In terms of. How to best address them. The first bill that was passed. One was passed this year. Built with. Firing. You have elements of. Their curriculum. Focus on equity. And that was the first thing we did. The last thing that we did. We're taking steps in terms of. The process is an action. In a law enforcement community. That. We're not intentional. But what in fact. Built. In. Racial injustice. Well, thank you for that. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Racial injustice. Well, thank you for that. We are nearing the end of our time. Is there anything you'd like to say to as a closing statement to viewers. Vermont is a wonderful place. I love Vermont. I. I am not a. Generation. I chose Vermont. I've been in Vermont. For a long time. And I am glad that I. Vermont. Since 1976. I came for a year. And I stayed because Vermont is a wonderful community. We can do better. And I think that. In doing better. What that means. Do is to have. A difficult conversation. Some of which mayor. We were asking. Me about today. We're strong. But the foundations that our community has done. They're fragile. And. But the pandemic has done. Is shown that fidelity. The gasoline 21 will be about who you are. As a state. And where we want to be. And where I want us to be. Is the best state in the world. In the country. Lift. Raise a family to grow old. Work. Recreate. But we're going to have to be bold. If we want to recover. We're going to have to have honest conversation. At our challenges. We need to bring the voices. Of our neighbors. We need to bring the voices. Of our community together. To talk this new path. To bring your voice to the table. You haven't turned in your ballot. Already. I'm. To be in the mail today. Actually today's the day that the. Today October 23rd is the day. That the secretary of state has said. Put it in the mail. Miss that. And you have it still on your hand. Have it still on your hand. Go to your local city or. Bring it there. Or bring it to the polls. On Election Day. If you want to go to. The polls will all be voting. Will all be open. Bringing your voice to the table. By voting. In the meantime. Wash your hands. Wear a mask. You stay six feet apart. Thank you. So yes. Yes, Election Day, November 3rd, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thank you for tuning in to Town Meeting TV, ongoing coverage of statewide and regional candidates. You can find this in more forms at www.ch17.tv. Thank you for watching.