Anthony Cook

       
                                                                     Why I am running
       
I am a Bennington native born in 1967. For most of the past 45 years I have lived in North Bennington. Three generations of my family have lived in Bennington County. Bennington District .2 are my people. For the past eighteen years I have been the owner/operator of Classic Metal Restorations, a nickel-plating business in Shaftsbury Vermont.  After spending my adult life in the private sector, why run for public office? 
     I am running because we need change in Montpelier. What is the current status quo of Vermont in comparison to other states? New Hampshire has twice Vermont's population yet, operates on a smaller budget. Vermont has the third highest tax burden of all the states. K-12 per student education cost is second highest in the nation. Highest health care premiums in the nation. We have the fourth highest per capita homelessness. In Vermont we have a housing shortage, high rent and low paying jobs. Vermont is becoming unaffordable for the average working person.  In Vermont, to much of the middle class has become the working poor. For 22 strait years democrats have controlled the state house.
       When a party has been in charge for decades you get layers of special interest built into the bureaucracy. You can't expect the party that built the bureaucracy to effectively reduce it. 
A vote for my democratic opponents is a vote for the status quo and not the change we need. I believe we need a new set of eyes in Montpelier. My political lens is that of a personal liberty leaning, constitutional conservative. As a state representative my biggest goal will be to streamline Vermont government, making tax relief possible.  Streamline also means fewer authoritarian rules and regulations that prohibit private sector growth. Act 250 reform or repeal is much needed. Property rights must be protected, fully repeal Act 181.
     Crime is falling nationally but in Vermont we must support are police, prosecutors must prosecute, and we must have laws that keep violent criminals off the streets, because repeat offenders have many victims. As a state rep I look forward to fighting the fight to make Vermont a safe place to live, the way it should be.
 
         " Government of the people, by the people, for the people. " (Abraham Lincoln, Gettysburg address)
        
         A big goal of mine is to grow the republican party in Bennington County.  When I was younger, I volunteered a few election cycles at the Bennington campaign headquarters, years later I am a candidate myself. I can think of a few people I know young and old that might make good political candidates. Volunteering is a great way to learn the ropes. Regardless it is rewarding to get involved, make a difference, and experience local American politics.

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