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Harvey Smith Campaigns For Fifth Term In Vermont House

Tuesday October 31, 2006

By Mike Cameron

   Harvey Smith, (R) Addison 5, (Bridport, New Haven, Weybridge), has served the county and state under three governors. The New Haven resident and life long dairy farmer is a senior member of the Vermont House Agriculture Committee.

   Smith has observed a progression of three administrations and how they have managed the state’s agricultural assets.  “We will continue to need good by-partisan support systems for our farmers.  They make a huge contribution to the Vermont economy,” he explained in a recent interview.

   Smith has a unique point of reference for making these observations, having been a part of the Kunin Administration’s “Pathways for Progress” initiative, the Dean Administration’s, “Center for Sustainable Agriculture” and the Douglas Administration’s on-going “Dairy Policy Task Force.”  “Farms will continue to be a critical key for the Vermont economy in the future.  The Agricultural Economic Development Bill will continue to lead us towards development of clean, renewable energy from alternative sources like solar, wind, biomass and other areas.  It will continue to be the fastest growing segment of our economy in Vermont and across the country.”

   To further his point, Smith explains  a recent venture now underway here in Addison County and not long on the drawing board, that is being developed to create a fuel pellet made of grasses and crop waste that can be used to create energy through a clean burning process.  “The beauty of this type of a system is that the source of the pellets will not be prime hay and forage. It can be done with a lower grade crop source and still be very effective.  The processing center will create jobs and the farmers who contribute the  fuel crops will have another alternative source of income to sustain their farm property,” he explained.

   “Jobs are what it’s all about”, Smith continues. “Good paying jobs has to be the top priority.”

   Smith says that his constituents are very concerned about the property tax burden and that Act 60 and Act 68 only made the problem worse.

   Smith has said that he strongly believes that property tax increases are likely to continue unless we can create more jobs by Vermont becoming more business friendly.  Discouraging this process will make matters even worse in the future.

   In the area of Health Care, Smith says that he is worried about the way  Catamount Health Care will eventually drive up taxes.  “Currently about half of those Vermonters who are not insured qualify for Medicare.  But many are not using the program.  Some simply choose not to.  Another 50% are under the age of 45 and they  have chosen not to make health insurance a part of their economic situation at this point in their lives,” he explained.

   Smith said that he will remain a tireless advocate for Addison County Dairy Farmers and his resume and track record in the legislature point this out.

   As President of the Addison County Farm Bureau he has remained involved with agricultural issues throughout his four terms in the house.  He has also served on the Addison County Planning Commission including the Executive Committee and was a past Chairman of the Executive Committee.

   Smith has served on the UVM Extension Advisory Board, Addison County Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy Committee and serves on the Governor’s Dairy Policy Task Force a key organization involved in the future viability of Vermont’s dairy farms.  He is also a justice of the peace in his hometown.
Smith holds a Degree in Animal Science from the University of New Hampshire.

   Asked about his main priorities for his next term in the legislature, Smith says that “We need to support a stronger economy and create more good paying jobs.  We have to continue to give our family farmers the support they deserve.  The cost of health care needs to be lowered.  Our children deserve a good education and it needs to be affordable.  Maintaining our roads and bridges has to be looked at now for our future safety and we need to support the production of Biofuels technology which is  now underway in Vermont and is rapidly becoming the fastest growing segment of our economy,” he explained.  Representative Smith

   Representative Smith and his family live and work on their farm in New Haven.  

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