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Elections: State Rep Chittenden-21 (Winooski) Democratic Candidate Primary Forum - 6/26/2026
Published: Jun 26, 2026
Candidates Propose Solutions for Housing Crisis: Rent Stabilization, State Investment, and Community Engagement
Candidates discussed strategies for addressing Vermont's housing crisis, particularly the low rental vacancy rate. Al Turcos emphasized the need for three- and four-bedroom housing in Winooski, referencing the Armory Project and learning from Act 250 reforms. Matt Guill advocated for ending 'no-cause' evictions, implementing rent stabilization, and increasing state-level investment in housing through entities like the Champlain Housing Trust and Vermont Housing Authority, also suggesting incentives for new construction firms. Daisy Berbecco agreed with Matt Guill's points and proposed increasing public check-ins with housing committee members and agencies to better inform Winooski constituents.
Candidates Launch Campaigns with Focus on Community Needs, Systemic Change, and Proven Legislative Experience
Candidates Al Turcos, Matt Guill, and Daisy Berbecco provided their opening statements, outlining their reasons for running and their platforms. Al Turcos, a Winooski City Council member, emphasized his background in national/federal politics and his commitment to addressing Winooski residents' daily needs, from sidewalks to bike lanes, leveraging his experience navigating bureaucratic systems. Matt Guill, a librarian and former union president, focused on the need for fundamental change to address intersecting crises and highlighted his involvement in legislative action, union advocacy, and planning commission work. Daisy Berbecco, an incumbent, emphasized her four years of work on issues like prescription drug costs, mental healthcare, and physician pathways, and stressed her role in protecting people from harmful federal actions and helping families navigate complex systems.
Candidates Conclude Campaigns with Focus on Systemic Change, Collaboration, and Support for Constituents
Candidates presented their closing statements, summarizing their campaign platforms and vision for Winooski. Matt Guill emphasized the interconnectedness of crises like housing, healthcare, and education, stressing that systemic change, including taxing the rich and wealth, is vital for an affordable Vermont. Daisy Berbecco highlighted that a legislator's role extends beyond voting to problem-solving, navigating systems, and fostering collaboration, and expressed her commitment to working with others to serve Winooski. Al Turcos shared his extensive experience in navigating bureaucratic systems, particularly for victims and survivors, and his motivation to ensure no one faces these challenges alone, aiming to make systems more accessible for Winooski families.
Candidates Address Healthcare Costs: Focus on Primary Care Investment, Universal Coverage, and Systemic Reform
Candidates discussed healthcare costs and hospital viability. Daisy Berbecco argued against further hospital cuts, advocating for increased investment in primary and community care, referencing Act 68 and S-197 which aim to shift care to community settings and reform payments to reward health. Al Turcos acknowledged the crisis and the tension between affordability and hospital viability, emphasizing the need for systemic, 'relentless incrementalism' to address healthcare access, particularly for rural Vermonters, and drawing on his experience to facilitate progress across party lines. Matt Guill supported universal primary care and Act 48 for universal healthcare coverage, stating that blunt legislative tools are insufficient and that decisions should be democratic and transparent, with universal healthcare being the only way to achieve this.
Candidates Outline Strategies for Budgetary Challenges and Taxation Debates
Candidates Al Turcos, Matt Guill, and Daisy Berbecco discussed their approaches to managing potential federal funding reductions and setting budget priorities. Daisy Berbecco identified housing, education, and Medicaid as priorities, emphasizing efficiency and creative agency collaboration. Al Turcos echoed the importance of Medicaid, food assistance, and housing vouchers, highlighting that a budget reflects values and stressing fair taxation of the wealthy. Matt Guill expressed concern over federal cuts to programs like the Vermont Asylum Assistance program and vaccine access, advocating for a refusal to concede to threats and prioritizing immediate needs like housing and food security, stating that these are not easily fixed in two years. The candidates also discussed revenue and taxation, with Al Turcos and Matt Guill supporting increased taxes on high earners and wealth, while Daisy Berbecco expressed strong support for taxing the rich, referencing past legislative efforts and the need for collaboration to pass such measures.
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