Vermonter.com

Press release:

The Northeast Kingdom—a home-grown country boy by the name of George Aiken coined the phrase in 1949 delineating the rural tri-county region of Orleans, Essex, and Caledonia counties. Born in the hills of southern Vermont in 1892, Aiken worked the soil with his hands growing crops and building a lucrative horticultural business. In time, though, because of his independence, his willingness to study issues, and his ability to see people beyond their titles, the Vermont farmer rose to become the governor of Vermont before transforming himself into one of this country’s most influential United States Senators.

Although a proud member of the Republican Party, he was an independent thinker with a dry Vermont humor that helped him to cut through the political rhetoric. Many politicians form their alliances, and base their votes, along party lines, but Aiken did neither. Aiken built alliances across party lines, and cared little about the party of the bill’s sponsor. Instead he focused on the bill and what it would mean to his constituents, now and in the future. He asked tough questions of both parties. Occasionally some of his fellow Republicans bristled at their colleague’s thoughts and votes, but the congenial, yet plain and straight to the point words of this Vermonter made him a man of few, if any, true enemies.

With these reflections about a man that I never met, yet admire to this day, I announce that I’m running for the Vermont House of Representatives in Orleans 1 (Derby, Charleston, Morgan, and Holland). I am running as a Republican, not just any Republican, but what I call a “George Aiken Republican.” Without a doubt, I’ll be turning to Lola Aiken, Mr. Aiken’s widow, a woman that I am proud to know, for guidance during my pursuit so I can attempt to run an election in the good natured spirit of Senator Aiken.

A 1984 graduate of North Country Union High School, and a graduate of Johnson State College, I am no stranger to the area or the people. My ancestry is firmly rooted in Northeast Kingdom soil. My home in Derby is located a few miles up the road from where my great-great-great-grandparents are buried. Married for more than 20 years to my wife, Penny (Curtis) Wheeler, we are the parents of three children. Curtis and Nicholas attend the University of Southern Maine, while Emily is a freshman at North Country Union High School. Penny and I are employed by North Country Hospital. I work in the Community Relations Department and Penny works in the Pharmacy.

History is a big part of my life. As the publisher of Vermont’s Northland Journal, a publication dedicated to sharing and preserving the history of the Northeast Kingdom, I provide the region’s more seasoned residents with a forum to share their memories. I am also the author of the book Rumrunners and Revenuers: Prohibition in Vermont.

Working with the area’s seniors in my writing has had a mellowing effect on me, forcing me to take a more focused look at life and at what is truly important. Seniors have taught me that the more things in life change, the more they really stay the same, that anger and worry are seldom productive, that laughter and every thing in moderation are keys to a happy life, and that hate only torments the hater. One man I interviewed a few years ago had great insight into the world of hate. A prisoner of war for six years in horrific conditions, he lost many of his friends and comrades to starvation and disease. I asked him if he hated his captors for the suffering they inflicted upon him. I’ll never forget his words.

“No, if I hate, they will have won. Hate is useless.” He credited a long, healthy life with his willingness not to hate people that he could have easily justified hating. If he can avoid hating his captors, I should surely at least try not to hate those who offend me during my daily walk through life.

I agree with Aiken’s premise that to represent the people takes a willingness to listen, and to get along with people, even people on the other side of the political fence or people you might not agree with. This means sometimes trying to find common ground on difficult issues without abandoning personal values. There are other times, though, when one must dig in his or her heels and refuse to budge, especially when lives and liberty are at stake.

While some candidates and politicians might promise you the world, and insist that they have all the answers, I am not one of them. I won’t look you in the face and say one thing, then when you turn your back, say another. If I don’t have the answer for a question, I won’t make up one; instead, I’ll try to find the answer.

I’m not George Aiken, but like the late senator, I am a good, conscientious, home-grown country boy, and a Vermonter without a personal agenda who wants to work for the common good of the region and its people.

I welcome people to contact me at (802) 334-5920 or swheeler@together.net.

The state’s primaries are on September 4 with general elections on November 7.