I will be voting for Michael Ricci for Deputy Judge in the next election and urge all voters in Windsor County to consider doing the same. Ricci was nominated by Governor Scott 14 months ago to fill the remainder of a vacant term and he now deserves to be elected in his own right.
There are several reasons for choosing Ricci, but perhaps the most important is how responsible he has been in immersing himself so deeply in the position. The research and time he devoted to preparing for the cases is second to none. It is very important to families in Vermont that the assistant judges are fully aware of all issues relating to upcoming (and equally relevant) cases and Ricci has spent hours doing just that.
It should also be noted that two assistant judges work side by side in each county. Windsor County’s other assistant judge, Ellen Terie, is retiring after two terms, making the experience Ricci has gained over the past year even more valuable. Windsor County will be well served by having a returning judge rather than a pair of new ones.
Deputy judges are also responsible for the financial management of the courthouse and the county. Ricci’s past experiences in management and nonprofit business make him ideal to take on these responsibilities.
Ricci comes from a working class background here in New England. He has served his local community as a justice of the peace, village administrator and volunteer. He knows New England, Vermont and Windsor County inside out.
Voting for Ricci is the right choice for Windsor County. Please join me in supporting him.
David Miles
Woodstock
Vote to send a message
So let’s talk about the 2020 election and how the Republican Party has since gone into the Big Lie. Admittedly, fraud is committed in every election, but it has always involved a very small number of votes. The highly respected Brennan Center for Justice concluded in its 2007 study on voter fraud that an American “is more likely to be struck by lightning than impersonate another voter at the ballot box.” Several studies have shown that electoral fraud is extremely rare.
Challenges alleging fraud in 2020 were heard by the courts and quickly dismissed for precisely that reason: the lack of actual evidence of fraud in sufficient numbers to change the outcome. Not even close.
Why then does the Republican Party and many Republican candidates for Governor or Secretary of State (who hold state-level elections) continue to spread the lie of a stolen election? Why do they make statements implying that they will not certify the elections lost by the Republican candidates? A country that does not respect the will of the people expressed by the vote is no longer autonomous. It becomes an authoritarian country. Yet leading Republicans at the state and national level refuse to speak out against this new leadership of their party.
The history of American autonomy under the Constitution begins in 1788 with the election of Washington as the first president and continues for 234 years. These midterm elections are more important than usual, and we invite you to vote. American citizens who value self-reliance must go to the polls and send a clear message to the Republican Party: They must stop promoting the big lie and disavow their opposition to free and fair elections or be removed from office. This is a crucial moment of decision for the future of our country. Vote now for Democrats at all levels.
Bill Schults and Betsy Maislen
Norwich
An honorable candidate
There is only one honorable candidate running for Representative in District 5 Windsor, and that is Tesha Buss.
Tesha is a single mother who respects the people in her community. He is a caring person who demonstrates humility, honesty and compassion. Tesha is a smart businesswoman who has achieved everything she has through hard work. Tesha is articulate and will be a voice for her constituents in Reading, Plymouth and Woodstock.
I vote for Tesha Buss, and I hope you do too.
Kenneth Cooper
Plymouth, Vermont
