Candidate Statement – Mike Rice, Vermont State Representative

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[00:00:19] Speaker 1: I'm Mike Rice, former state representative and candidate to
[00:00:22] represent Dorset, Peru,
[00:00:24] Landgrove, Danby, and Mount Tabor in the Vermont House.
[00:00:27] I have a basic core belief.
[00:00:29] Our government should help make our lives better.
[00:00:32] It should help make life more affordable and give us all a
[00:00:36] fair shake when it comes to
[00:00:37] accessing the housing, health care, energy, childcare, and
[00:00:40] education our families deserve.
[00:00:43] But right now, life here is still too expensive
[00:00:46] for too many of us.
[00:00:48] And state and local solutions are more important than ever.
[00:00:52] Our community deserves a state representative who leads with
[00:00:55] values, shows up with solutions,
[00:00:58] works hard to make progress, and communicates directly and
[00:01:02] effectively with you about what's
[00:01:05] happening up in Montpelier.
[00:01:06] That's exactly what I've done before and what I'll do
[00:01:09] as your representative.
[00:01:12] Four years ago, I took a leap and ran for office because I
[00:01:15] know firsthand how hard it
[00:01:16] can be to make a life here, whether your Vermont roots go
[00:01:19] back generations or you got
[00:01:21] here more recently.
[00:01:23] We're all aware of the challenges,
[00:01:25] finding meaningful work that pays what you need to
[00:01:28] get by, affording a house to call home,
[00:01:31] accessing health care providers when you need them.
[00:01:34] The list goes on.
[00:01:35] I first moved to Vermont to work as an apprentice on a farm.
[00:01:39] I helped with the harvest, learned to make value -added
[00:01:42] products to support the farm's
[00:01:43] viability and witnessed Vermonters coming together
[00:01:46] across generations and backgrounds
[00:01:48] to steward the land and help feed their neighbors.
[00:01:52] That's when I fell in love with Vermont.
[00:01:54] It's also when I started to learn that choosing to stay
[00:01:57] here can be hard to do.
[00:01:59] I've done it and I know so many of you have done it because we
[00:02:02] love our community here
[00:02:03] and we know it's worth fighting for.
[00:02:06] My journey from falling for this place as a farm apprentice to
[00:02:10] putting down roots here
[00:02:12] included earning my policy master's degree from Vermont Law
[00:02:15] School while working full -time,
[00:02:17] managing operations for a small local dairy farm and creamery,
[00:02:21] leading development and
[00:02:22] advocacy efforts with a statewide organization,
[00:02:25] working to raise funds for a local historic
[00:02:27] site and community institution,
[00:02:29] and organizing for stronger, more resilient food systems
[00:02:32] and rural economies with national
[00:02:34] nonprofit organizations.
[00:02:36] I was honored when you put your trust in me to serve as your
[00:02:40] state representative four
[00:02:41] years ago.
[00:02:42] And when I got to Montpelier, I fought for us.
[00:02:46] I stood up for our region's unique and effective education
[00:02:49] system and the schools that we know
[00:02:51] serve our kids and families so well.
[00:02:54] I helped pass legislation that provides access to quality,
[00:02:58] affordable childcare for thousands
[00:02:59] of Vermont families who couldn't find it or afford it before.
[00:03:03] I prioritized real solutions to our housing crisis, pairing
[00:03:07] significant investment with
[00:03:08] regulatory reform to make sure we build the housing we need
[00:03:12] in the right places.
[00:03:14] I helped eliminate prior authorization requirements that
[00:03:17] put insurance companies over people and
[00:03:19] fought for a path toward affordable universal healthcare.
[00:03:23] I led the way to make our universal school meals program
[00:03:26] permanent so that no Vermont
[00:03:28] kid goes hungry while they're trying to learn.
[00:03:30] And I helped create new programs that support our small farms and
[00:03:34] build our rural economy
[00:03:36] while leading the fight to ban toxic pesticides, to protect our
[00:03:39] land and our health.
[00:03:41] While serving the house, I was selected as a national
[00:03:44] bipartisan policy fellow working
[00:03:47] across political divides to strengthen democracy.
[00:03:50] And I was named rising star legislator of 2023 and 2024.
[00:03:55] And through all of that, I held over a dozen constituent coffee
[00:03:59] hours and listening sessions
[00:04:01] and sent regular newsletters and updates
[00:04:03] to help keep you informed.
[00:04:05] I believe giving constituents regular opportunities to share
[00:04:09] their views and hear updates from the
[00:04:11] State House is one of the most crucial tasks for a part -time
[00:04:14] citizen legislator.
[00:04:16] Since leaving office after the last election, I've
[00:04:19] continued to fight alongside you.
[00:04:21] Because it's clear, our work is far from over.
[00:04:25] We're facing big and complicated challenges.
[00:04:28] But I believe we can overcome them together.
[00:04:31] We can build a state where folks can afford to live in dignity
[00:04:35] and our small rural communities can thrive.
[00:04:38] I'll never stop loving this place
[00:04:40] and the people who make it home.
[00:04:42] And I'll never stop fighting for our future here.
[00:04:46] I hope you'll join me.
[00:04:48] I'm Mike Rice, candidate for Vermont House, in Dorset, Peru,
[00:04:52] Landgrove, Danby, and Mount Tabor.
[00:04:54] Head to mikericevt.com to learn more or get in touch.
[00:04:58] Thank you.