Domestic and sexual violence are complex issues which have major impacts on the individual, community and societal levels. What do you believe are the roots of domestic and sexual violence, and – if elected – how could you use your office to uproot these causes in Vermont?

I can see three factors that allow abuse to continue in the long term. The first being lack of access to reliable, safe and stable housing. Not being able to escape your abuser because you are or feel like you are financially bound to them can be paralyzing. My administration would handle this issue as well as homelessness in Vermont by creating a task force dedicated to affordable housing. Their first task would be to build or purchase a fleet of tiny homes and deploy them in an area suitable for a small village, seeking to create a sustainable and resilient community. I would like to have a rent to own option available to the occupants. A fully equipped tiny home would provide a solid foundation for a person to get back to a stable life, no matter what caused the instability, even if they only use it as a temporary solution. Secondly, my administration would reinvest heavily in our mental health institutions both to prevent abuse and to help the abused. Mental health issues in our state and country have been exacerbated by the pandemic and even before that a divestment in these vital institutions. It’s sad that we spend more on our prison system than on mental health services. My administration would flip and reverse this skewed spending agenda. The last factor is a distrust in the system. Those who would and should speak out against their abusers do not because the system fails to protect so many that do. My platform has an extensive plan for justice reforms to hopefully restore trust in the system to protect AND serve, not just one or the other.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had significant impacts on victims of domestic and sexual violence and the systems that they rely on for safety and support. The pandemic has exacerbated the isolation, economic hardship and displacement that many victims experience. If elected, how would your pandemic response plan address the needs of Vermont’s victims of domestic and sexual violence?

My plan for handling the virus is as follows: Statewide moratorium on evictions until the virus is contained; a continuation of the mask mandate at least through the winter; a continuation of the health and cleaning policies set by the current administration; statewide rent freeze for the next 3 months, possibly longer; mortgage freeze for vulnerable landlords; increase support for schools in distributing food to families in need; a reconciliation of the state measures for daycares and school (schools are open part time in person but daycares are open full time which defeats any attempt to limit the number of kids coming into contact with one another); provide short term financial relief to parents struggling to pay for daycare via a coupon system or cash payments; hazard pay for anyone working directly with people, in stores, hospitals and otherwise. I’m hoping this will help carry our most vulnerable Vermonters to a time when the threat from the virus has subsided, and to when my administration would begin to tackle reforms that will lift many from the clutches of systemic poverty.

In Vermont, approximately 80% of domestic and sexual violence victims never choose to access the criminal legal system (law enforcement or the courts). According to the National Violence Against Women Survey, among victims who had experienced physical assault from their partner, only 27% of women, and 13.5% of men reported the violence to law enforcement. Similarly, sexual assault is one of the most under-reported crimes according to the Department of Justice. When victims do access the criminal legal system, the response is sometimes insufficient, traumatizing and may actually increase safety risks for victims and their children. One example is the troubling relationship between incarceration and violence – over 90% of the women incarcerated in Vermont have themselves been victims of domestic or sexual violence during their lifetimes. What do you believe are the most urgent reforms needed for our justice system?

I have quite a few plans for our justice system. Unfortunately, many of them do not directly guarantee the specific outcome of a victim of sexual or physical assault once they have chosen to enter the system. However, they will all seek to restore the integrity and credibility of our justice system and hopefully restore faith in the system for those who rely on it for protection. My platform for justice reform is as follows: require much more intensive training for police at every level, state, county, city (Barber training school is 1,000 hours vs 792 for police in VT); condemn the 1033 program and cut funding of police departments that partake in militarization; condemn and legislate against qualified immunity; pardon all non violent offenders and help them reintegrate with society; condemn for profit and out of state prisons and halt funding that supports them; ban quota systems which inflate the need for more police and higher pd budgets by bolstering town and city revenue; remove laws and policy that encroach on the privacy of our citizens (such as facial recognition software); work with legislators to amend the constitution with a provision that sunsets old laws unless a vote is held to keep them (streamlining and clarifying the state code. You should not need a law degree to read and understand the rules that bind you); restore voting rights of felons who have repaid their debt to society (via time served only, unlike Florida). There are times when a social worker would be able to deescalate a domestic situation more effectively than a police officer could. I would push for emergency response teams that have proper training to specifically handle cases of domestic and sexual violence instead of armed police units.

People of color, native communities, people with disabilities and members of the LGBTQ community experience violence at disproportionately higher rates. National studies indicate that Black women are 35% more likely to experience intimate partner violence than white women, and transgender individuals experience much higher rates of domestic and sexual violence, including homicide. Why do you think people of color, native communities and members of the LGBTQ community experience violence at disproportionately higher rates, and what do you think could be done in Vermont to address these inequities?

Much can be said about the cause of the higher rates of violence towards all of the groups mentioned by the question. All those reasons break down to the fact that these people are disproportionately vulnerable to attack. Whether it be because law enforcement turns a blind eye to the violence or that a chunk of society aims hatred in the direction of people that are different and/or a minority. No one has the power to break the baked in prejudices that some people have besides themselves. Ending racism, homophobia and transphobia has to come from within the people that promote and harbor those feelings. What my administration will have the power to do is remove and legislate against any and all policies or laws that directly or indirectly discriminate against these groups. We can and will take on systemic racism and other forms of systemic discrimination starting from day one. We would also work with groups like Vermont Network to inform any new policies that we put into effect. I am willing to admit that I do not have all the answers for what we need to do here, but there are plenty of people who I would count on to lend a hand in crafting policy and legislation that challenges violence with the peaceful progress of reason.

The Vermont Network is deeply committed to finding solutions to poverty. Economic security assists victims/survivors in building a future that includes sustainable, life-long safety. For sexual and domestic violence victims, the lack of economic resources is the number one barrier impeding the victims’ access to safety. Victims without access to adequate financial resources to relocate are often forced into the untenable choice between violence or homelessness for themselves and their children. Individuals who lack sufficient economic resources to meet their basic needs are at greater risk of victimization and vulnerable to sexual exploitation and trafficking. Statistics show that people who live in poverty are twice as likely to experience sexual assault. If elected, how could your office contribute towards creating an economic safety net for Vermonters who experience violence?

My campaign platform is based on starting a War on Poverty. Poverty is rooted in the systems that bear its fruit. Poverty is cyclical; many children raised in poverty will not be able break free of it in adulthood even with the current safety nets we have in Vermont.Therefore poverty is a tool of oppression. Poverty does not need to exist in the wealthiest country in human history. We can afford to do better and so we must. Specifically, my administration would create multiple task forces, one to create affordable housing for Vermonters in need, temporary or otherwise, as I mentioned in an earlier question; one to establish permaculture food systems statewide to build a food forest network to bring fresh foods to those in need, which also seeks to address climate change concerns; and one to tackle tough infrastructure problems related to public transport, health services and education. My platform isn’t specifically tied to helping any one group of people, but it seeks to stop violence and other threats to public safety from happening in the future by eradicating poverty in the present.

Domestic and sexual violence are complex issues which have major impacts on the individual, community and societal levels. What do you believe are the roots of domestic and sexual violence, and – if elected – how could you use your office to uproot these causes in Vermont?

It’s hard to find one set of cause of domestic abuse and sexual violence. If I was elected, I would want to work with someone that I could sit down with and try to fix the problems at hand. I take domestic and sexual abuse very serious. With my history I’ve seen first hand the trauma it causes, back then I tried to help the ones I saw go through this and still do. So I would do everything I could do to help the people that have to go through this, because no one should.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had significant impacts on victims of domestic and sexual violence and the systems that they rely on for safety and support. The pandemic has exacerbated the isolation, economic hardship and displacement that many victims experience. If elected, how would your pandemic response plan address the needs of Vermont’s victims of domestic and sexual violence?

Knowing what I know about Covid 19, I would not shut down the safety and the support for the people that need it. That’s why I believe Vermont needs to be more modern so if something like this happen again, we would have the tools to help the people. It is very important to me to make sure that everyone gets the help they need. I would like to know more of the tools to help and add to them for the better.

In Vermont, approximately 80% of domestic and sexual violence victims never choose to access the criminal legal system (law enforcement or the courts). According to the National Violence Against Women Survey, among victims who had experienced physical assault from their partner, only 27% of women, and 13.5% of men reported the violence to law enforcement. Similarly, sexual assault is one of the most under-reported crimes according to the Department of Justice. When victims do access the criminal legal system, the response is sometimes insufficient, traumatizing and may actually increase safety risks for victims and their children. One example is the troubling relationship between incarceration and violence – over 90% of the women incarcerated in Vermont have themselves been victims of domestic or sexual violence during their lifetimes. What do you believe are the most urgent reforms needed for our justice system?

I believe privacy is very important, and the knowledge of not alone and that they are 100% safe at all cost. We have to work with justice system to make sure these things happen for the people.

People of color, native communities, people with disabilities and members of the LGBTQ community experience violence at disproportionately higher rates. National studies indicate that Black women are 35% more likely to experience intimate partner violence than white women, and transgender individuals experience much higher rates of domestic and sexual violence, including homicide. Why do you think people of color, native communities and members of the LGBTQ community experience violence at disproportionately higher rates, and what do you think could be done in Vermont to address these inequities?

I do not know why there is a higher rate, but if I would have to guess maybe because they are afraid that no one will believe them when they report the abuse. However, I would like to look into it and see what I could do to help if I was elected. I believe that if we have the knowledge to share it and educate others. Once we do this then we can with modern systems help established the necessary help for the people.

The Vermont Network is deeply committed to finding solutions to poverty. Economic security assists victims/survivors in building a future that includes sustainable, life-long safety. For sexual and domestic violence victims, the lack of economic resources is the number one barrier impeding the victims’ access to safety. Victims without access to adequate financial resources to relocate are often forced into the untenable choice between violence or homelessness for themselves and their children. Individuals who lack sufficient economic resources to meet their basic needs are at greater risk of victimization and vulnerable to sexual exploitation and trafficking. Statistics show that people who live in poverty are twice as likely to experience sexual assault. If elected, how could your office contribute towards creating an economic safety net for Vermonters who experience violence?

If I was elected, I would want to make more homes available and affordable for victims or even more shelters. I would also want to establish more modern programs. I would really appreciate it to sit down with someone in this field so we could feed off each others opinions to make sure we got a system that would works to help all the individuals that need assistance.

Charly Dickerson did not submit a candidate questionnaire.

Domestic and sexual violence are complex issues which have major impacts on the individual, community and societal levels. What do you believe are the roots of domestic and sexual violence, and – if elected – how could you use your office to uproot these causes in Vermont?

There are a number of roots of domestic and sexual violence. But none of those roots have ever or will ever be the actions of the victim. As Governor, I will work to address some of the societal factors that can lead to domestic and sexual violence. Raising the minimum wage will ensure that fewer Vermonters are living on the edge. Paid family leave will ensure that fewer Vermonters will have the strain and stress of deciding between taking care of a family member or their income. Investing in our quality education system with adequate social and mental support will help students learn in safe and supportive environments. Providing more access and support for substance use disorder will help families and individuals overcome these disorders. And while not all domestic and sexual violence is perptrated by men, the vast majority is. As a male, I will also be vocal about the role that men can have in speaking about such violence and how we can also reduce it with peer to peer societal pressure.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had significant impacts on victims of domestic and sexual violence and the systems that they rely on for safety and support. The pandemic has exacerbated the isolation, economic hardship and displacement that many victims experience. If elected, how would your pandemic response plan address the needs of Vermont’s victims of domestic and sexual violence?

As soon as the pandemic hit Vermont and Vermonters began physically distancing in their homes, we began hearing and talking about the fact that this would dramatically exacerbate domestic violence and make it more difficult for those experiencing domestic violence to get the safety and support they need. As governor, I will work to build out a Vermont economy that works for all and supports all Vermonters. I will also ensure that we are investing in the mental health and social services that they need. I will also make sure to speak about this issue regularly in order to highlight that there is help and that services are available for those who are victims. I have been meeting with educators regularly and they are extremely concerned for some of their students. If the pandemic continues and we will have more prolonged isolation I think we will need to establish in-person systems for checking in on families. This should not fall on teachers and schools but they do know which students and families might need additional support and attention. In addition, those families with younger children and children with special needs are under particular stress without the assistance of child care or educational support services. We cannot forget this demographic and we cannot allow ourselves to believe that fewer reported cases means there is less violence occurring. We have a responsibility to protect our most vulnerable and I will be working with stakeholders and advocates to understand how we best accomplish that.

In Vermont, approximately 80% of domestic and sexual violence victims never choose to access the criminal legal system (law enforcement or the courts). According to the National Violence Against Women Survey, among victims who had experienced physical assault from their partner, only 27% of women, and 13.5% of men reported the violence to law enforcement. Similarly, sexual assault is one of the most under-reported crimes according to the Department of Justice. When victims do access the criminal legal system, the response is sometimes insufficient, traumatizing and may actually increase safety risks for victims and their children. One example is the troubling relationship between incarceration and violence – over 90% of the women incarcerated in Vermont have themselves been victims of domestic or sexual violence during their lifetimes. What do you believe are the most urgent reforms needed for our justice system?

I support significantly reforming our criminal justice system. The news earlier this year of the abuse women in our South Burlington prison were facing is unacceptable. We must ensure there are safe, anonymous ways for incarcerated women, and men, to report abuse without fear of repercussions. Part of reforming our criminal justice system involves reallocation of resources to better meet community safety goals including domestic violence response. Better community training for our police including appropriate use of force, de-escalation tactics, and cross-cultural awareness are absolutely necessary. We need to redefine the purpose of our criminal justice system. If we focus more on rehabilitation, job training, substance use disorder services, parenting skills (for men and women) and non-violent communication we will save money in the long run and allow those who have entered the system a way to safely return to our communities. We must reshape the debate and ensure our mission is to help rehabilitate people and prepare them for a more successful life after they are incarcerated, not punish them. This means better programming, better support, and more resources for individuals so that they do not have to return to dangerous or unstable situations that could both lead to violence or recidivism.

People of color, native communities, people with disabilities and members of the LGBTQ community experience violence at disproportionately higher rates. National studies indicate that Black women are 35% more likely to experience intimate partner violence than white women, and transgender individuals experience much higher rates of domestic and sexual violence, including homicide. Why do you think people of color, native communities and members of the LGBTQ community experience violence at disproportionately higher rates, and what do you think could be done in Vermont to address these inequities?

Our society has dehumanized and belittled minority groups for centuries. The disproportionately higher rates of violence against these communities are part of a legacy of violence that must be stopped. As a start, my administration will ensure that we are bringing diverse voices from these communities to the table to speak to each piece of legislation and the specific ways that what we consider and propose will affect their respective communities. We will also take a hard look at our current statutes and address areas where it subtly or blatantly encourages discrimination, violence, and “otherism” for minority groups. We must also recognize that violence and discrimination is not inherent but is taught. Our school curricula should reveal truths to our students to ensure that we recognize where our country and our state has created systemic inequities and injustices and to ensure that we work not to make the same mistakes again. That is why I supported the ethnic and social equity studies bill (H.3/ Act 1) which became law last year that created a task force working on education standards to fully recognize the history, contributions, and perspectives of ethnic and social groups. We must actualize this for minority communities across the state.

The Vermont Network is deeply committed to finding solutions to poverty. Economic security assists victims/survivors in building a future that includes sustainable, life-long safety. For sexual and domestic violence victims, the lack of economic resources is the number one barrier impeding the victims’ access to safety. Victims without access to adequate financial resources to relocate are often forced into the untenable choice between violence or homelessness for themselves and their children. Individuals who lack sufficient economic resources to meet their basic needs are at greater risk of victimization and vulnerable to sexual exploitation and trafficking. Statistics show that people who live in poverty are twice as likely to experience sexual assault. If elected, how could your office contribute towards creating an economic safety net for Vermonters who experience violence?

We must raise the minimum wage to a livable wage of $15 an hour. We must pass paid family leave. We must build more affordable housing. We need more, affordable, high quality child care. And we must build continuums in service to make sure that our most vulnerable families have access to the help they need. All of these efforts will help victims and survivors of domestic violence and exploitation. Hopefully they will also reduce the number of instances of violence and exploitation. Far too many Vermonters were living too close to the edge before the pandemic and the pandemic has only exacerbated those hardships and has made life more difficult and dangerous for many. We have an opportunity to build our economy and our Vermont out of this pandemic. As governor, I will make sure the future of Vermont is better and stronger for all Vermonters.

Domestic and sexual violence are complex issues which have major impacts on the individual, community and societal levels. What do you believe are the roots of domestic and sexual violence, and – if elected – how could you use your office to uproot these causes in Vermont?

I can see three factors that allow abuse to continue in the long term. The first being lack of access to reliable, safe and stable housing. Not being able to escape your abuser because you are or feel like you are financially bound to them can be paralyzing. My administration would handle this issue as well as homelessness in Vermont by creating a task force dedicated to affordable housing. Their first task would be to build or purchase a fleet of tiny homes and deploy them in an area suitable for a small village, seeking to create a sustainable and resilient community. I would like to have a rent to own option available to the occupants. A fully equipped tiny home would provide a solid foundation for a person to get back to a stable life, no matter what caused the instability, even if they only use it as a temporary solution. Secondly, my administration would reinvest heavily in our mental health institutions both to prevent abuse and to help the abused. Mental health issues in our state and country have been exacerbated by the pandemic and even before that a divestment in these vital institutions. It’s sad that we spend more on our prison system than on mental health services. My administration would flip and reverse this skewed spending agenda. The last factor is a distrust in the system. Those who would and should speak out against their abusers do not because the system fails to protect so many that do. My platform has an extensive plan for justice reforms to hopefully restore trust in the system to protect AND serve, not just one or the other.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had significant impacts on victims of domestic and sexual violence and the systems that they rely on for safety and support. The pandemic has exacerbated the isolation, economic hardship and displacement that many victims experience. If elected, how would your pandemic response plan address the needs of Vermont’s victims of domestic and sexual violence?

My plan for handling the virus is as follows: Statewide moratorium on evictions until the virus is contained; a continuation of the mask mandate at least through the winter; a continuation of the health and cleaning policies set by the current administration; statewide rent freeze for the next 3 months, possibly longer; mortgage freeze for vulnerable landlords; increase support for schools in distributing food to families in need; a reconciliation of the state measures for daycares and school (schools are open part time in person but daycares are open full time which defeats any attempt to limit the number of kids coming into contact with one another); provide short term financial relief to parents struggling to pay for daycare via a coupon system or cash payments; hazard pay for anyone working directly with people, in stores, hospitals and otherwise. I’m hoping this will help carry our most vulnerable Vermonters to a time when the threat from the virus has subsided, and to when my administration would begin to tackle reforms that will lift many from the clutches of systemic poverty.

In Vermont, approximately 80% of domestic and sexual violence victims never choose to access the criminal legal system (law enforcement or the courts). According to the National Violence Against Women Survey, among victims who had experienced physical assault from their partner, only 27% of women, and 13.5% of men reported the violence to law enforcement. Similarly, sexual assault is one of the most under-reported crimes according to the Department of Justice. When victims do access the criminal legal system, the response is sometimes insufficient, traumatizing and may actually increase safety risks for victims and their children. One example is the troubling relationship between incarceration and violence – over 90% of the women incarcerated in Vermont have themselves been victims of domestic or sexual violence during their lifetimes. What do you believe are the most urgent reforms needed for our justice system?

I have quite a few plans for our justice system. Unfortunately, many of them do not directly guarantee the specific outcome of a victim of sexual or physical assault once they have chosen to enter the system. However, they will all seek to restore the integrity and credibility of our justice system and hopefully restore faith in the system for those who rely on it for protection. My platform for justice reform is as follows: require much more intensive training for police at every level, state, county, city (Barber training school is 1,000 hours vs 792 for police in VT); condemn the 1033 program and cut funding of police departments that partake in militarization; condemn and legislate against qualified immunity; pardon all non violent offenders and help them reintegrate with society; condemn for profit and out of state prisons and halt funding that supports them; ban quota systems which inflate the need for more police and higher pd budgets by bolstering town and city revenue; remove laws and policy that encroach on the privacy of our citizens (such as facial recognition software); work with legislators to amend the constitution with a provision that sunsets old laws unless a vote is held to keep them (streamlining and clarifying the state code. You should not need a law degree to read and understand the rules that bind you); restore voting rights of felons who have repaid their debt to society (via time served only, unlike Florida). There are times when a social worker would be able to deescalate a domestic situation more effectively than a police officer could. I would push for emergency response teams that have proper training to specifically handle cases of domestic and sexual violence instead of armed police units.

People of color, native communities, people with disabilities and members of the LGBTQ community experience violence at disproportionately higher rates. National studies indicate that Black women are 35% more likely to experience intimate partner violence than white women, and transgender individuals experience much higher rates of domestic and sexual violence, including homicide. Why do you think people of color, native communities and members of the LGBTQ community experience violence at disproportionately higher rates, and what do you think could be done in Vermont to address these inequities?

Much can be said about the cause of the higher rates of violence towards all of the groups mentioned by the question. All those reasons break down to the fact that these people are disproportionately vulnerable to attack. Whether it be because law enforcement turns a blind eye to the violence or that a chunk of society aims hatred in the direction of people that are different and/or a minority. No one has the power to break the baked in prejudices that some people have besides themselves. Ending racism, homophobia and transphobia has to come from within the people that promote and harbor those feelings. What my administration will have the power to do is remove and legislate against any and all policies or laws that directly or indirectly discriminate against these groups. We can and will take on systemic racism and other forms of systemic discrimination starting from day one. We would also work with groups like Vermont Network to inform any new policies that we put into effect. I am willing to admit that I do not have all the answers for what we need to do here, but there are plenty of people who I would count on to lend a hand in crafting policy and legislation that challenges violence with the peaceful progress of reason.

The Vermont Network is deeply committed to finding solutions to poverty. Economic security assists victims/survivors in building a future that includes sustainable, life-long safety. For sexual and domestic violence victims, the lack of economic resources is the number one barrier impeding the victims’ access to safety. Victims without access to adequate financial resources to relocate are often forced into the untenable choice between violence or homelessness for themselves and their children. Individuals who lack sufficient economic resources to meet their basic needs are at greater risk of victimization and vulnerable to sexual exploitation and trafficking. Statistics show that people who live in poverty are twice as likely to experience sexual assault. If elected, how could your office contribute towards creating an economic safety net for Vermonters who experience violence?

My campaign platform is based on starting a War on Poverty. Poverty is rooted in the systems that bear its fruit. Poverty is cyclical; many children raised in poverty will not be able break free of it in adulthood even with the current safety nets we have in Vermont.Therefore poverty is a tool of oppression. Poverty does not need to exist in the wealthiest country in human history. We can afford to do better and so we must. Specifically, my administration would create multiple task forces, one to create affordable housing for Vermonters in need, temporary or otherwise, as I mentioned in an earlier question; one to establish permaculture food systems statewide to build a food forest network to bring fresh foods to those in need, which also seeks to address climate change concerns; and one to tackle tough infrastructure problems related to public transport, health services and education. My platform isn’t specifically tied to helping any one group of people, but it seeks to stop violence and other threats to public safety from happening in the future by eradicating poverty in the present.

Domestic and sexual violence are complex issues which have major impacts on the individual, community and societal levels. What do you believe are the roots of domestic and sexual violence, and – if elected – how could you use your office to uproot these causes in Vermont?

Toxic masculinity that can be triggered and exacerbated by poverty, alcohol/drug abuse, military culture, chauvinistic culture organized religions, etc. – advocate for courses at the primary and secondary school level to combat this societal disease.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had significant impacts on victims of domestic and sexual violence and the systems that they rely on for safety and support. The pandemic has exacerbated the isolation, economic hardship and displacement that many victims experience. If elected, how would your pandemic response plan address the needs of Vermont’s victims of domestic and sexual violence?

Domestic and sexual violence are complex issues which have major impacts on the individual, community and societal levels. What do you believe are the roots of domestic and sexual violence, and – if elected – how could you use your office to uproot these causes in Vermont?

Low self esteem starts in child hood, being left out, being teased, being beaten by a parent, being sexually preyed on as a minor – this leads to adult relationships where the person who was raised in an abused way still has no self esteem and enters relationships in a “needy” way. If I am elected Lt. Governor I will preside over the State Senate and discuss bills with them to help children raise their self esteem and learn what a healthy relationship is, because these children have no clue what a healthy relationship is.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had significant impacts on victims of domestic and sexual violence and the systems that they rely on for safety and support. The pandemic has exacerbated the isolation, economic hardship and displacement that many victims experience. If elected, how would your pandemic response plan address the needs of Vermont’s victims of domestic and sexual violence?

If I am elected Lt. Governor I will preside over the State Senate and discuss Bills with them to create more housing, a different kind of housing development, that would be cost effective and not cost $200,000. a unit like some federally subsidized apartments. I would convince the State Senators to write and pass a bill to use incarcerated Vermont prisoners to do forestry work with supervision, and then take the logs and build log cabins with supervision and training, and build a village in the woods, like a Fort 150 yers ago in the wild west, a tall log fence and community buildings and enough individual log cabins and let the victims have a long time to relax in nature away from risks.

In Vermont, approximately 80% of domestic and sexual violence victims never choose to access the criminal legal system (law enforcement or the courts). According to the National Violence Against Women Survey, among victims who had experienced physical assault from their partner, only 27% of women, and 13.5% of men reported the violence to law enforcement. Similarly, sexual assault is one of the most under-reported crimes according to the Department of Justice. When victims do access the criminal legal system, the response is sometimes insufficient, traumatizing and may actually increase safety risks for victims and their children. One example is the troubling relationship between incarceration and violence – over 90% of the women incarcerated in Vermont have themselves been victims of domestic or sexual violence during their lifetimes. What do you believe are the most urgent reforms needed for our justice system?

Number One is stop sending prisoners to out of state private for profit prisons, that’s the number one reform. Number two, I have been told of abuse at the juvenile detention center, don’t know whether to believe it, but to start, minors should not be tied to a board and made to defecate and urinate upon themselves. Women need to be taught what a health relationship is, and how to identify and unhealthy relationship. Women need to be taught job skills. Women should not be caged in jail cells like animals.

People of color, native communities, people with disabilities and members of the LGBTQ community experience violence at disproportionately higher rates. National studies indicate that Black women are 35% more likely to experience intimate partner violence than white women, and transgender individuals experience much higher rates of domestic and sexual violence, including homicide. Why do you think people of color, native communities and members of the LGBTQ community experience violence at disproportionately higher rates, and what do you think could be done in Vermont to address these inequities?

Low self esteem, back to that. This starts in childhood. They need education courses in how to identify bad relationships, in how to identify in themselves their “neediness” which makes them susceptible to bad relationships. They need to be taught was is a good relationship. We need to offer free education courses and advertise the free courses so people will know they are available and make certain there is transportation. I live in a town with no public bus route and no taxi. How many people in Vermont have no wifi, no television, no broadband, no taxi, no public bus route?

The Vermont Network is deeply committed to finding solutions to poverty. Economic security assists victims/survivors in building a future that includes sustainable, life-long safety. For sexual and domestic violence victims, the lack of economic resources is the number one barrier impeding the victims’ access to safety. Victims without access to adequate financial resources to relocate are often forced into the untenable choice between violence or homelessness for themselves and their children. Individuals who lack sufficient economic resources to meet their basic needs are at greater risk of victimization and vulnerable to sexual exploitation and trafficking. Statistics show that people who live in poverty are twice as likely to experience sexual assault. If elected, how could your office contribute towards creating an economic safety net for Vermonters who experience violence?

I am 68 years old. My mother fooled around with some guy (whose name I won’t give unless the jerk is still alive) who lived in a tree house in Waitsfield, Vermont in the 1960s. My mother went to Mexico after that with my two youngest brothers, but when she returned, he was back and he wanted me. He didn’t get me. I went to live with Aunt Annie up in West Bolton but she wasn’t home, so I lived alone in her house. I got tired and lonely and hitch hiked to the Woodstock Festival in 1969. Things have changed since then, but not everything, just mostly the surrounding circumstances of modernization. I have no economic security right now, I live on a tiny social security income. I can not afford television, wifi or broadband. There is no taxi and no bus route in this town. I have been running for elected office for 18 years but have lost and lost and lost. I keep trying because I know we need change, and I know my voice counts.

Domestic and sexual violence are complex issues which have major impacts on the individual, community and societal levels. What do you believe are the roots of domestic and sexual violence, and – if elected – how could you use your office to uproot these causes in Vermont?

I currently serve as an Assistant Attorney General, leading statewide investigations and collaborating with law enforcement and victims advocates. Perpetrators of domestic and sexual violence are often exposed to violent behavior in their upbringing, increasing the likelihood that they will act violently in the future. Domestic and sexual violence is often the tragic result of that exposure is paired with poverty, economic insecurity and substance abuse. As Lieutenant Governor, I will work to ensure economic security for all Vermonters by supporting a liveable wage, paid family and medical leave, high-quality child care, and other crucial support systems. We must also reform our criminal justice system and shift funding into substance abuse and mental health support services. I support reforming our criminal justice system toward rehabilitation, reentrance and where appropriate restorative justice, and I am committed to building a safer, more equitable Vermont. We must address the socioeconomic factors that contribute to domestic and sexual violence. However, we must also recognize that the causes of domestic and sexual violence never excuse or justify the actions of the offender, and the safety and wellbeing of victims and survivors must be the shared priority of elected leaders and law enforcement.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had significant impacts on victims of domestic and sexual violence and the systems that they rely on for safety and support. The pandemic has exacerbated the isolation, economic hardship and displacement that many victims experience. If elected, how would your pandemic response plan address the needs of Vermont’s victims of domestic and sexual violence?

This pandemic has exposed many of our vulnerabilities as a state. Top among them, inequity in access to broadband and high-speed internet for 70,000 Vermont homes and residents. This inequity in access has exposed inequity in access to important support services, particularly resources for victims of domestic and sexual violence isolated at home.. As Lieutenant Governor, I will work to close the broadband gap to ensure access to online services that address the needs of Vermonters. Our pandemic response plan must also provide access to childcare, paid family and medical leave and other crucial resources that support survivors’ economic stability, financial security and independence.

In Vermont, approximately 80% of domestic and sexual violence victims never choose to access the criminal legal system (law enforcement or the courts). According to the National Violence Against Women Survey, among victims who had experienced physical assault from their partner, only 27% of women, and 13.5% of men reported the violence to law enforcement. Similarly, sexual assault is one of the most under-reported crimes according to the Department of Justice. When victims do access the criminal legal system, the response is sometimes insufficient, traumatizing and may actually increase safety risks for victims and their children. One example is the troubling relationship between incarceration and violence – over 90% of the women incarcerated in Vermont have themselves been victims of domestic or sexual violence during their lifetimes. What do you believe are the most urgent reforms needed for our justice system?

First, we must work to align our budget with our values and greatest needs as a state. Specifically, we must look for further opportunities to invest in prevention and support services. To that end, I would support efforts to increase the number of trained victim advocates and service providers servicing Vermont’s communities. Furthermore, I would support efforts to further train mandatory reporters, as well as employers and professionals such as beauty and wellness professionals, in-home service providers, and others who will continue to interact with colleagues, neighbors and clients despite the pandemic, to help them understand the signs of domestic abuse and sexual violence and local reporting systems and resources. Finally, I would support efforts to strengthen the accessibility of reporting systems at the community-level as well as the absolute privacy and safety of all who report.

People of color, native communities, people with disabilities and members of the LGBTQ community experience violence at disproportionately higher rates. National studies indicate that Black women are 35% more likely to experience intimate partner violence than white women, and transgender individuals experience much higher rates of domestic and sexual violence, including homicide. Why do you think people of color, native communities and members of the LGBTQ community experience violence at disproportionately higher rates, and what do you think could be done in Vermont to address these inequities?

People of color, native communities and members of the LGBTQ community have often been barred from accessing essential resources and opportunities resulting in systemic inequity. Addressing these disparities requires numerous actions simultaneously. First, expanding access to reporting and data collection, strengthening legal tools to hold perpetrators accountable for criminal and civil violations, and mandating further training for law enforcement and service providers in Vermont’s communities.. Second, rooting out discrimination where it persists in equal access to basic human rights, including housing, education, employment and healthcare. Finally, ensuring marginalized communities are guiding reform efforts at every step of the way by elevating the voices of those who are most impacted and bring those voices to the decision making process.

The Vermont Network is deeply committed to finding solutions to poverty. Economic security assists victims/survivors in building a future that includes sustainable, life-long safety. For sexual and domestic violence victims, the lack of economic resources is the number one barrier impeding the victims’ access to safety. Victims without access to adequate financial resources to relocate are often forced into the untenable choice between violence or homelessness for themselves and their children. Individuals who lack sufficient economic resources to meet their basic needs are at greater risk of victimization and vulnerable to sexual exploitation and trafficking. Statistics show that people who live in poverty are twice as likely to experience sexual assault. If elected, how could your office contribute towards creating an economic safety net for Vermonters who experience violence?

No Vermonter should have to choose between safety and economic security. For Vermonters who experience violence, I am committed to reducing the risk of financial dependency on abusers. It is critical to the well-being of our state that all Vermonters have access to affordable childcare and eldercare, paid family and medical leave and a living wage. As Lieutenant Governor, I will also support a statewide housing needs assessment to ensure safe, affordable and accessible housing. We must address poverty not only as a barrier to survivors’ safety but as a root cause of domestic and sexual violence. Implementing these economic protections is critical to the safety and welfare of all Vermonters.

Domestic and sexual violence are complex issues which have major impacts on the individual, community and societal levels. What do you believe are the roots of domestic and sexual violence, and – if elected – how could you use your office to uproot these causes in Vermont?

I believe that the roots of domestic and sexual violence lie in patriarchy which breed sexism, the oppression of women, and inequality. While domestic and sexual violence are not exclusive to women, these acts are much more likely to occur to women. I believe that toxic masculinity also plays a huge role in violence against women. Domestic and sexual violence is rooted in an individual having power and control over another person and this can be a learned behavior. Educational efforts are necessary to challenge this system of patriarchy. It is crucial that those who need help are able to receive it. If re-elected I will support efforts to make sure that mental, physical, and emotional help would be available to anyone in need from domestic and sexual violence. Organizations like Steps to End Domestic Violence, Spectrum Youth and Family Services, Vermont Center for Resiliency, and UVM Medical Center are crucial to our efforts in Vermont. If re-elected I will continue to support these organizations and their missions to combat domestic violence. It is also important that in these situations we have the appropriately trained individuals/team ready to handle the situation. I would support expanding efforts that help survivors of domestic and sexual violence. I would support efforts to promote survivors’ independence from the violence- this includes housing, jobs, and access to health services. Finally, I will continue to support the enforcement and prosecution against those who commit domestic violence.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had significant impacts on victims of domestic and sexual violence and the systems that they rely on for safety and support. The pandemic has exacerbated the isolation, economic hardship and displacement that many victims experience. If elected, how would your pandemic response plan address the needs of Vermont’s victims of domestic and sexual violence?

Domestic violence has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic and further isolated victims. We need to ensure resources such as emergency housing are available survivors and their children as the pandemic continues. I would continue to utilize and expand our Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) unit to protect children from sexual assault.

In Vermont, approximately 80% of domestic and sexual violence victims never choose to access the criminal legal system (law enforcement or the courts). According to the National Violence Against Women Survey, among victims who had experienced physical assault from their partner, only 27% of women, and 13.5% of men reported the violence to law enforcement. Similarly, sexual assault is one of the most under-reported crimes according to the Department of Justice. When victims do access the criminal legal system, the response is sometimes insufficient, traumatizing and may actually increase safety risks for victims and their children. One example is the troubling relationship between incarceration and violence – over 90% of the women incarcerated in Vermont have themselves been victims of domestic or sexual violence during their lifetimes. What do you believe are the most urgent reforms needed for our justice system?

Our justice system is in need of many urgent reforms. If elected I will continue to fight to build meaningful alternatives to our criminal justice system. These alternatives should be victim centered and be based and informed by best practices, restorative justice principles, and public health strategies.

People of color, native communities, people with disabilities and members of the LGBTQ community experience violence at disproportionately higher rates. National studies indicate that Black women are 35% more likely to experience intimate partner violence than white women, and transgender individuals experience much higher rates of domestic and sexual violence, including homicide. Why do you think people of color, native communities and members of the LGBTQ community experience violence at disproportionately higher rates, and what do you think could be done in Vermont to address these inequities?

First and foremost we need to acknowledge that patriarchy, misogyny, and racism are embedded in our culture and systems. We must continue to educate and train all stakeholders on the issues of implicit bias that negatively impacts all vulnerable populations. These groups have been historically marginalized and it is time to listen to and promote the voices of our BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and Indigenous Peoples to find workable solutions. I look forward to being a collaborative ally to address these issues.

The Vermont Network is deeply committed to finding solutions to poverty. Economic security assists victims/survivors in building a future that includes sustainable, life-long safety. For sexual and domestic violence victims, the lack of economic resources is the number one barrier impeding the victims’ access to safety. Victims without access to adequate financial resources to relocate are often forced into the untenable choice between violence or homelessness for themselves and their children. Individuals who lack sufficient economic resources to meet their basic needs are at greater risk of victimization and vulnerable to sexual exploitation and trafficking. Statistics show that people who live in poverty are twice as likely to experience sexual assault. If elected, how could your office contribute towards creating an economic safety net for Vermonters who experience violence?

If re-elected I will work to ensure that survivors can break the cycle of violence by having access to financial resources such as affordable housing, childcare, education, food, and mental health resources. Victims should not have to choose between being able to support themselves and being stuck in a dangerous situation. I am committed to supporting efforts that provide increased funding and expanded resources to support survivors.