Update on Matt Dunne's race for Governor

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Created on Tuesday, 08 March 2016 17:57
Written by Dylan Robichaud

dunneNORTHEAST KINGDOM-With the presidential election heating up, Vermonters will also elect a new governor come November. As of right now there are four candidates running for the Governor’s seat. They include Bruce Lisman, Phil Scott, Sue Minter, and Matt Dunne.

News seven's Tyler Cadorette got an exclusive interview with Businessman Mat Dunne, who says Vermonters need someone whose main focus will be on improving the economy and reducing poverty.

“The biggest issues facing Vermonters in the economy. Right now we’re seeing the number of people in poverty continuing to rise. We’re seeing young families who can’t stay in Vermont because they can’t find the jobs that they need to support their family,” said Matt Dunne, the Gubernational candidate. “If we’re going to have an economy that really improves Vermont to get us into a sustainable place, it can’t be just one area that is doing well economically, and the biggest opportunity is actually in places like the Northeast kingdom,” Dunne said.

Another concern for Dunne is the growing Heroin and opiate problem, and he made it clear that right now we aren’t doing enough to fix the epidemic.

“We can’t arrest our way out of the problem, I think that has been proven across the board and it really is a health epidemic. We need to take a comprehensive approach and that includes doing early intervention, investment’s in prevention, and engaging families that are at risk,” Dunne said.

With Marijuana becoming more of an increasing topic, Dunne has a different perspective then many other politicians.

“My proposal is that we do legalize, we do it in the Vermont way, which means clear labeling, clear controls, making sure we take first dollar and invest it in prevention,” Dunne said.

As of now, twenty-three states, including the District of Columbia, have some laws(s) that legalize the use and/or transport of Marijuana. If Vermont legalizes the drug, it will be the fifth state, including the District of Columbia, to allow recreational use of the drug. However, unlike the other states, Dunne suggests that we don’t put as much of a referendum on it.

“And what we’ve seen in other states in when referendum has been the method for legalization, it’s much more control then myself and other Vermonters would be comfortable with. What I believe we can do is actually charter our own destiny make sure we’re out first with an actual frame work that really works and not be reacting to other states that have referendum,” Dunne said.

Another big topic is higher education. The Vermont State College board (VSC) has proposed a tuition increase for next year.

“To me it is unconscionable that we are near dead last in our investment in higher education and it’s unfortunate on a variety of levels,” Dunne said. “We have proposed right out of the gate the green mountain scholarship, Which would be anyone who dedicates two years of their lives or more in the service, It’s AmeriCorps, peace core, or military service, so that they would be able to graduate from one of our state colleges or the university of Vermont debt free,” Dunne said.

If elected, Dunne also says improving law enforcement as well as adding community organizations would be on his agenda as well. 

P-DUNNE INTERVIEW from NewsLINC on Vimeo.