Directory of Burlington Vermont
area Web Sites and Information

Jan Backus Kicks Off Campaign
For U.S. Senate
Winooski Woman to challenge Senator Jeffords
By Matthew Farrauto

[BRATTLEBORO and WINOOSKI, VT] - US Senate Candidate and State Senator, Jan Backus celebrated her candidacy with supporters in each of two Senate districts she has represented during her ten-year legislative career. Both events highlighted her dedication to healthcare, to families, to seniors and to livable wages for all.

"I am honored to have been your state Senator," Backus began, surrounded by friends and family in Windham County. "Now I am hoping to be your senator again - only this time in a different Senate." Backus mounted an impressive grassroots bid for US Senate in 1994. With two more terms of legislative experience, another county she's served, and a broad base of support from ordinary Vermonters, she is back to finish the job.

At the Gibson-Aiken Senior Center in Brattleboro, Backus was introduced by Timothy O'Connor, former Speaker of the Vermont House. She decried budget cuts passed by Congress in 1997, which seriously impacted senior citizens. "We need a universal health care system, cradle to grave," she said. "We need it now."

There is an audio clip of Jan's Brattleboro speech available courtesy of WTSA radio in Brattleboro.

Backus, addressing her Chittenden County constituency at the Winooski Heritage Museum, recounted a conversation she had had with an attendant at an all night gas station along Vermont's Route 7. Referring to the woman as "Diane," Backus said, "she had worked three jobs that day - 18 hours. None of her jobs paid any benefits. None paid more than $9.00 an hour. None had a future." Backus continued, "Wages, taxes, benefits, health care - these things matter to real people. Our country is rich but Diane is left out."

In Winooski Mayor Clem Bissonette introduced Senator Backus. "Representing both Windham and Chittenden Counties, Jan understands the diverse differences around the state and has fought hard for ten solid years for all of Vermont," he said. Click here to read Jan Backus' Winooski speech. Most of the photos are on the speach page.

Search this category for: -- OR -- Search the Entire BurlingtonVT.org WebSite for: