the Candidates
Running for Office in Lamoille County
Have you ever considered running for office? No special training or education is required to serve in the Vermont statehouse. As a matter of fact, candidates who lead normal, relatable lives are exactly the types of people Vermont needs in Montpelier. No Republican candidate should have to run alone. The Lamoille County Republican Committee is here to help! We have experience in running campaigns and we have resources available to help our candidates. Please don't hesitate to reach out and we'll be happy to answer all of your questions.
Incumbent State Representative, Orleans-Lamoille District
​
Mark Higley of Lowell, Orleans County, Republican, was born in Brattleboro, Vermont, and became a resident of present town in 1990. He was educated at the Guilford Central School and Brattleboro Union High School. After graduation he served in the USN Seabees as a builder. In 1978 he became a self-employed general contractor and in 1980 married his wife. They have four children, two daughters and two sons. Board appointments include Solid Waste Committee and Agricultural Advisory Committee. Elected positions include two one-year terms on the Brattleboro Selectboard, 1986 & 1987, and lister in Lowell since 1994. He worked for five winters for the Town of Lowell, plowing roads and running a grader. He's a current member of the Vermont Beef Producers Association, VT Farm Bureau, and Vermont Sugar Makers Association. Member of the House: 2009-2010, 2011-2012, 2013-2014, 2015-2016, 2017-2018, 2019-2020, 2021-2022, 2023-2024.​
VT General Assembly Information found here​
Email: mhigley@leg.state.vt.us
​
Mark Higley
Richard Westman
Incumbent State Senator, Lamoille County District
​
Richard Westman of Cambridge, Lamoille County, Republican, was born in Burlington, Vermont, on March 13, 1959, and became a resident of Cambridge in March 1959. He was educated at the elementary school in Cambridge, Vermont, and at Lamoille Union High School, Hyde Park, Vermont. He graduated from Johnson State College with a BA in 1982. He was a member of the Vermont House of Representatives from 1983 to 2009, serving on various committees as well as being Chair of Appropriations and Chair of Transportation. He served for four years as the Assistant Republican Leader and four years as the Republican Leader. He served as Tax Commissioner from 2009-2010. He lives with Joan Nagy. He is employed at Vermont Student Assistance Corporation (VSAC) and oversees the Vermont Higher Education Investment Plan, a 529 College Saving Program. He has been a member of various nonprofit boards, including the Vermont Campaign to End Childhood Hunger, Vermont Center for the Book, and the University of Vermont Board of Trustees. He is presently on the Board of Copley Hospital and Vermont Electric Cooperative. He has been a member of the Senate from 2011 to present.​
VT General Assembly Information found here​
Email: rwestman@leg.state.vt.us
​
Richard Bailey
Running for Vermont House of Representatives, Lamoille-2 County District (includes Johnson, Hyde Park, Belvidere, and Wolcott)​​
​
Richard attended Northeastern University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration. Recently retired, his career included working for a wide range of Vermont companies. Most included the energy field, transport services and wholesale supply companies.
​
Richard believes in public service. He has served as Director from Hyde Park, Lamoille County Planning Commission, (13 years), Elected Justice of the Peace, Morristown, and now Hyde Park. He was the Hyde Park School Board Director for 4 years. The Governor appointed him to the Lottery Commission, 2004 to 2011, and Vermont Transportation Board, 2015 to present.
A lifelong Vermont resident, Richard and wife Jan have lived in Hyde Park since 1994. They share their home with three rescued dogs.
​
Bailey believes the Legislature should be focusing on keeping Vermont affordable, not trying to change the world. He intends to work cooperatively with Gov. Phil Scott on his stated agenda: Growing the economy, making Vermont more affordable, protecting the most vulnerable and cherishing our natural resources.
​
Why does Chittenden County get all the attention? Lamoille County seems to get ignored and treated like country bumpkins, which is wrong and unfair. Lamoille is a county filled with hardworking individuals who love their rural culture, friendly ways and love of freedom.
​
Keeping Vermont’s economy strong with thoughtful economic growth can be done while also maintaining our natural assets. They are a major part of the Vermont economy, and include skiing, tourism and the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail
​
Endorsement(s): VT Lt. Governor Brian Dubie
Email: rjbaileyvt@yahoo.com
​
Mac Teale
Running for Vermont House of Representatives, Lamoille-2 County District (includes Johnson, Hyde Park, Belvidere, and Wolcott)
​
I would be honored to serve the citizens of these four communities and the State of Vermont in the Legislature. The Legislature should focus on doing a few things well as opposed to doing a lot of things not so well. In order to serve a community well, you need to know a community well. And that means knowing the history, customs and especially the people of that community.
​
Endorsement(s): VT Lt. Governor Brian Dubie
Email: TealeConstruction@icloud.com
​
Charles Burnham
Running for Vermont House of Representatives, Lamoille-Washington District (includes Morristown, Elmore, Worcester, Woodbury, and North Stowe)​
​
Charles Burnham has been a resident of Lamoille County for over 45 years. He has served as a Justice of the Peace in three towns over a period of 50 years. He is currently serving as the Zoning Administrator in Elmore and as the elected Chair of the Morristown Board of Listers. He operated a land planning business in Stowe designing and permitting many land development projects such as the Trapp Family Lodge Bier Hall, Villas and Time Share Guest Houses as well as the Stowe Recreation Path. Burnham has served in leadership positions with the Stowe Land Trust, Stowe Rotary Club, the American Legion, the Stowe Community Church and Stowe Fire District #2 Water System. He was a former At-Large member of the Lamoille County Planning Commission and was recently elected as an Alternate Delegate from Vermont at the 2024 Republican National Convention.
​
Burnham is a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design with two degrees in Landscape Architecture and is currently licensed in Vermont. He served as a Line Officer in the US Naval Reserve for 24 years, including a tour in Vietnam and as the Commanding Officer of a Fleet Intelligence Rapid Support Team.
​​
This Legislative district is unusual in that it spans two counties, five towns, 11 zip code addresses, at least five different newspapers, five different Front Porch Forums, three mountain ranges and two Senate Districts It is a formidable task to reach out to all the residents of the district.
​​
Charlie and his wife Susanna live in Morristown. He has a son Chad who lives in Denver with his family.
​
Charlie's many years of experience in business, community organizations and at the national level have established him as an effective leader who is anxious to represent the Lamoille-Washington District in Montpelier and would appreciate your vote!
​
Endorsement(s): VT Lt. Governor Brian Dubie
Email: cburnham1430@gmail.com
​​
Nick Lopez
Running for Vermont House of Representatives, Lamoille-Washington District (includes Morristown, Elmore, Worcester, Woodbury, and North Stowe)​
​
I am a college educated, (first in my family) working class, injured, iron and steel worker. I am
frustrated with all the taxes I am paying. I am a Vermonter watching the young workers leave
the state due to lack of opportunity and affordability. I have been watching criminals become
victims as the real victims are forgotten. I am a blue-collar worker in a wheelchair proud of my heritage and family. I am running to remind the voters that they are the boss and every vote counts. I am here to represent those that have been silenced. It is time to clean house.
I, Nick Lopez, am running for the House of Representatives in Lamoille-Washington district to:
- STOP Segregating Vermonters with labels and anger
- STOP Taxing Vermonters out of state
- STOP the Oppression of The Working Class
- STOP Political Bullying
​
Endorsement(s): VT Lt. Governor Brian Dubie
Email: cburnham1430@gmail.com
​​
Paul Sciortino
Running for Vermont House of Representatives, Lamoille-3 District (includes Cambridge, Waterville)
​​
Endorsed by Brian Dubie, Lt. Governor.
​
Paul Sciortino has lived with his family in Cambridge for over 35 years. He and his wife have two children and two grandchildren. His children attended Cambridge Elementary and graduated from Lamoille H.S. As an involved father, Paul is a past Director of Cambridge Youth Soccer. He was soccer coach for CES, Lamoille Middle and High School, VT ODP and Premier teams.
Paul was a founding member of the Cambridge Rotary. He is a 360 nonprofit council member and volunteer. He is also a Cambridge Community Center supporter and volunteers his time there.
Paul graduated from SUNY @ Oswego, Oswego NY with a Bachelor of Science degree in
Education and put that degree to work as a high school teacher. Paul's other experience includes manager of a restaurant; owner and inventor of soccer company Soccerteer; and 35 years in the medical industry. Paul has been retired for 3 years.
Paul is fed up with the misspending in Montpelier and ready to take your concerns and ideas
and put them to work for you, the people of Lamoille-3. He will support the Governor in his
efforts to maintain affordability and add a common sense approach to leading and legislating.
All of Paul's decisions and leadership in the legislature will be done with the folks he
represents in mind.
Your vote for Paul this November will mean the difference between a future both you and your
children and grandchildren can afford.​
​
Endorsement(s): VT Lt. Governor Brian Dubie
Website: https://www.sciortinoforvthouse.org/
Email: paul@sciortinoforvthouse.org
Kevin Lehoe
Running for High Bailiff
​High bailiff is an elected public office that only exists in Vermont, and there is one in every county. It’s a vestige of English Common Law, and the job description in the Vermont statutes:
“A high bailiff may serve writs which the sheriff is incompetent to serve, and his or her fees shall be the same as those of the sheriff.”
Email: TBD
​