Photo: Jordan Heiden with guests Jane Stromberg and Justin Marsh (Feb. 25, 2024), photo by Elijah Kushen, VPIRG
Tomorrow, March 4th, is Town Meeting Day. It’s a day about as identifiably Vermont as things like cheddar cheese on apple pie, maple syrup, or stick season. On the first Tuesday of March, Vermonters across the state pour into their town halls or school gymnasiums, and vote on budgets, appropriations, infrastructure investments, and an array of elected positions from selectboard members to cemetery commissioners.
As a kid, I loved attending Town Meeting with my grandmother. I credit tagging along with my Nana as one of the foundational moments for my interest in democracy and public service. I was able to witness from an early age direct democracy, like two passionate candidates for town clerk being nominated from the floor, then speaking directly to voters as to why they should earn the position, answering questions, and seeing the results of that election in real-time.
Town Meeting Day remained an important part of my life as an adult, so I was honored to be asked to join VPIRG’s new podcast, Vermont’s Voice, to talk with host Jordan Heiden all about Vermont’s day of direct democracy. That conversation, along with fellow guest Jane Stromberg, can be listened to on all major podcast providers (links here), or viewed here. Jordan returned the favor of speaking to me on VCV’s podcast this week.
On this week’s episode of the Democracy Dispatch Podcast, Jordan shares the inspiration behind the new podcast and its dynamic format. She shares insights into VPIRG’s climate-focused campaigns, particularly the Keep Vermont Cool initiative, and emphasizes the significance of grassroots organizing and the successes of that campaign.
Also in the episode, information about the Youth Lobby’s Day of Action on March 13th, national scorecard results from our federal delegation’s environmental voting, and results from the first scored vote of the biennium.
As always, thanks for listening,
Justin Marsh, Political Director
Vermont Conservation Voters
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