( – promoted by JDRyan)

Here is what they said:

Finally, we endorse Democrat Donny Osman for the seat vacated by Republican Phil Scott, who’s running for lieutenant governor. Osman, who lives in Plainfield, has a wide range of experience. He was a state representative from 1996 to 2002 and has held a variety of professional and volunteer positions with a wide spectrum of organizations -from Washington County Mental Health to the Vermont state colleges.

We like Osman’s broad experience and his expertise in conflict management and mediation. These skills will serve him well in consensus-building in the Legislature.

(keeping with our promotion of candidate diaries. Osman is running in the Washington County Senate primary. – promoted by JDRyan)

Quite understandably, environment and health care are up there as the hot button issues with the most resonance for progressive voters. But why doesn’t education and, in particular, early care and education have the same attention of progressive voters?

The science behind early education is clear.  During the first years of life, when the brain is stimulated in specific ways the neurons connect.  If the proper stimuli are not given then it is likely that many of those brain synapses may never connect.  When a child begins school without the basic building blocks of learning it becomes very difficult to catch up.  If children begin the race behind the starting line they are literally left behind.

I was talking to someone last week at the hamburger summit.  He was jesting with me.  He told me that he is a high school special educator.  He protested that if I had my way and all children came to school with the requisite skills he would be out of a job.  He was right.

Vermont needs universal access to high quality early care and education.  The evidence is overwhelming that over a lifetime a one dollar investment in early education pays back many times over.  High quality universal pre K will, in the long run, save on special education costs, welfare costs, not to mention the enormous amounts of money spent on prison.  Most of the inmate population in Vermont lack reading and learning skills.

Vermont has begun to walk toward universal Pre K through a program called “Building Bright Futures.” But the Douglas Administration has not put its money where its mouth is.  Fear mongering by the right wing tells parents that those who favor early education are trying to take their children away and that universal pre K is a slap in the face of parenthood.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  Having a rich early childhood with various and different stimulation is the first major step to a full and productive life.  For more information on this issue check out the website of KIds Are Priority One http://kidsarepriorityone.org/

( – promoted by JDRyan)

Are you a tax and spend liberal?

I have never met a tax and spend liberal in my life. I have never met one person who thinks that the way to fix a problem is to just throw money at it. Throwing things is generally not a great strategy for solving problems. Money throwing not withstanding, there is no doubt that many of our societal problems are insoluble without financial resources.

The charge of “tax and spend liberal” is a canard used to discredit the idea that the welfare of our neighbors and community is directly connected to our own well-being. The question is how can we invest in the future when we can’t pay today’s bills? Vermont’s answer must be that even with our belts cinched tight we must not fail to make investments that will produce a more prosperous future.

There is an old joke: a man is praying, “Please God, please let me win the lottery!” The hand of God reaches down and taps him on the shoulder and says, “ Schmuck! Buy a ticket.” Investing in Vermont’s future is no lottery ticket. On the contrary, we know these investments are a sure thing. Simply stated, if we do not invest in a prosperous future how can we expect to have one?

Here are a few ideas that seem a basis upon which to build consensus.

• High speed Internet down every dirt road in the state…Now.

• Major increases in energy efficiency. Efficiency Vermont has led the way as a model for electric energy efficiency. In the literal wake of the Gulf oil calamity let us agree that Vermont can lead the way to comprehensive energy efficiency.

• Our educational system must succeed at every level from early childhood education through higher education and technical training.

• Vermont needs a single payer health care system with an emphasis on healthy living and prevention.

• We must conserve and protect our rural way of life and support our agricultural base.

• Let’s agree it is time to stop bad mouthing Vermont about our business environment. Vermont is one of the best places on the planet to live and do business. The message that Vermont is not good for business is for fertilizer on your garden. Vermont is known for making premium products and Vermont itself is a premium place to live. We can attract the businesses of the future by sending the message about our high quality of life. Much of the nation envies that Vermont families live with the natural beauty that surrounds us.

I have not tried to make this a comprehensive list. I want to know what issues you in the GMD community think need to be brought to the table in the State House. Do you agree that “Challenges for Change” has been a disrespectful process to the state workforce? Tell me more. Do you think that with the Gulf disaster on our doorstep that the legislature may come to grips our energy supply problems? How can we communicate that an investment in early childhood education saves people and taxpayer dollars from going into the prison system. How can we convince Vermont and the nation that we must reject short- term solutions and get to work on our long-term problems? What are you fired up about?

My experience in the State House proved my value as an effective Democratic progressive voice. My nature, humor, my ability to be civil to everyone allowed for a liberal viewpoint to be truly heard during my six years of service as State Representative. My passion for human rights and respect for others allowed me to speak and act in the milieu of the legislature that advanced a broadminded agenda. It's an agenda that I believe I share with a majority of voters in Washington County. I fight for causes and people with all my heart and if at times it shows on my sleeves, it’s okay.

 Thank you,

 Donny Osman

donnyosman.com 

(Continuing site policy of promoting diaries from officeholders and officeseekers – but in the future, please make it an actual interaction with the community, rather than a copied-and-pasted press release. – promoted by GMD)

Press release:

Donny Osman has announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination for State Senate.  “I have the experience, the know how and the will to get things done for Washington County.”  Osman served three terms in the Vermont House of Representatives and was Vice Chair of the House Education Committee. Osman served as a advocate for children’s issues as Director of the Central Vermont Early Childhood Council.   He directed the renowned Vermont Governor’s Institute on the Arts for 25 years and toured widely as a performing and teaching theater artist.  Donny played a key role in the birth of Circus Smirkus.  

STATEMENT

I bring to this Senate race a record of experience and accomplishment.  Washington County needs a Senator who can hit the ground running, and get things done for an even better Vermont.  I know the legislative process and I’m not afraid to stand up for what is right.  I voted for civil rights and to move Vermont forward during the furor over Civil Unions. I voted time and again for a more fair, progressive tax structure.  My voting record shows unwavering support for preserving our precious environment. I was a key player in legislation to make our schools safer, get state funding for the U32 expansion, and to try to bend the high cost curve in special education. I have worked hard for interests of families and I am proud of my reputation as a champion for children.  I have shown that I can work across party lines and be an effective legislator.   I will get the job done for Washington County.

We must assure that our children and grandchildren will grow up in the same beautiful, green Vermont that we love.  That means smart, sustainable growth.  Vermont has a lot to brag about and is a great place to live and do business.  We need to protect our precious environment by attracting creative enterprises that have a long-term view and respect our rural and agricultural landscape. ”  

I will fight for an affordable, high-quality health care system for all Vermonters.  The bill passed by the legislature to study how we might change our system to deliver quality care at a reasonable and affordable cost is a start.  But it is only a start: small business and our schools are being crushed by the cost of health care.  We can do better in Vermont.   I will push for a more humane system of health care that is affordable and works for everyone in the state.

For years we have elected senators who come from Montpelier.  I love Montpelier!  And I hope lots of Montpelier voters will agree that it is time to have a senator who comes from the smaller towns and villages. I want to help small downtowns like mine in Plainfield that are beginning to sprout small businesses.  I live right on the Barre town line with a Barre phone and address and I am in Barre all the time.  I see too many empty stores, too few jobs and too many desperate people.  Like many of our other small cities and villages, Barre needs the state and federal government to step up efforts to increase commerce and create good jobs for its citizens.

Property taxes are a chronic Vermont problem.  I will work to assure value for our educational dollar.  Our children need a world-class education to compete in a global economy and quality education and economic progress go hand in hand.   At the same time we cannot balance budgets on the backs of working people and those that can least afford to pay.

I want to be a voice for those that often have no voice.  I will be a fierce advocate for children and a voice for the respect and dignity of elderly people and those with disabilities.  As Senator I will be eager to help individuals who are having problems negotiating the system. These qualities of working for justice, fairness and opportunity have always been the best of what politics is about.”

I look forward to the campaign and meeting as many people as I can between now and Election Day.   I know most candidates for Senate don’t do a lot of door to door campaigning, but I intend to wear my shoe soles thin.  I see the campaign as a long job interview and I want to give the people of Washington County a chance to interview me in person.