Tom Blakely

Want to subscribe to Tom's Newsletter? Click here

Previous Newsletters:

Newsletter for September 16: Brace Yourselves!

Tom addresses a recent postcard attacking Senator Seth Bongartz,"Dark Money", Citizens United and states his position on corporate and PAC donations.

Newsletter for September 10: Why Are We Doing This?

Tom explains why he is running and what he hopes to accomplish. The goal is to make government more responsive, and his guiding principles are to listen to voters, use their input as a guide, and keep constituents informed.

Newsletter for August 29: Pledges and Bridges.

Tom proposes "Pledges & Bridges," a community-based microloan fund for people facing a temporary financial crisis, using small contributions with flexible repayable. The idea is to interrupt small financial crises before they become critical.

Newsletter for August 22: Healthcare #3.

Tom explores the Battenkill Valley Community Health Center in Arlington as a model for health care in Vermont, and argues that Medicare for All would result in reduced overall health care spending in Vermont and nationally.

Newsletter for August 13: 525.

The primary results showed a close two-candidate Democratic race and suggests the focus for the November election should be voter turnout and encouraging voters to support both Democratic candidates.

Newsletter for August 7: Public Banks.

Tom argues that Vermont could use a state-owned bank to keep more financial returns within the state, expand lending capacity, support local financial institutions, and respond more quickly to emergencies—but acknowledges that establishing one would require significant upfront work and careful, politically independent governance.

Newsletter for July 31: Healthcare #2.

Healthcare costs don’t stop at the doctor’s office—they drive up school budgets, municipal costs, business expenses, taxes, and the prices Vermonters pay every day. Tom argues for pursuing universal healthcare, such as Medicare for All, while also expanding community-based care and access to health services.

Newsletter for July 23: Data Centers.

Tom notes that the rapid expansion of AI data centers could drive up electricity costs and environmental impacts, urging Vermont to require renewable energy for new facilities and proceed cautiously with AI development.

Newsletter for July 15: Healthcare.

Tom points out that health care is different from ordinary consumer goods and services: when you are sick or injured, you cannot simply wait for prices to fall or shop around for a better deal. Meaningful reform will require thoughtful government planning, responsible regulation, and sustained investment to expand access while keeping costs under control.

Newsletter for July 9: Energy.

Renewable energy—especially solar, wind, and geothermal—is now cheaper and faster to deploy than fossil-fuel generation, even when battery storage is included. Vermont can expand solar without sacrificing farmland or scenic landscapes by prioritizing rooftops, parking lots, canals, rail corridors, floating solar, and agrivoltaics.

Newsletter for June 4: Issues Overview.

Tom introduces his top priorities: healthcare affordability and access, energy costs, and education/property taxes. High healthcare and energy costs ripple through the broader economy, while education costs are complicated by healthcare expenses, staffing needs, and Vermont’s declining student population. He argues for local input and state support rather than top-down mandates, and asks residents of Bennington and Pownal to share their priorities so he can better represent them.

Newsletter for March 30: Failure to Communicate.

Tom focuses on Act 181, saying that the parts supporting infill development in cities and towns are reasonable, while questioning provisions such as the “road rule” and the added burdens on some rural landowners. While Vermont needs to balance environmental protection with economic growth, housing, and jobs, his main concern is how poorly the provisions of the law were communicated to constiutents.

Sign Up for Tom's Newsletter Here: