My name is Amber Thibeault, and I’m running for re-election as your Essex Junction City Councilor.
Those who know me, know that I am not a politician. I grew up in South Burlington and moved to Essex Junction after law school. Shortly after returning, I decided to give back to my community by joining the Planning Commission, where I learned about our community’s development rules and goals.
In 2019, I was asked to run for a seat on the Village Trustees because of my experience and knowledge as both a member of the planning commission, and as an attorney. Even though I lost that race, when there was a resignation later that year, I applied and was appointed to fill the vacancy. I have proudly served as a Trustee, and now City Councilor, since May 2019.
Almost daily, I think back on what I believe was our community’s greatest accomplishment: separation from the Town. I was extremely proud to play an integral part in that difficult process as a member of the Village Trustees. While it meant many late nights and lots of hard work, it was an honor to work alongside that team of dedicated volunteers. And, we could not have achieved it without the hard work of the residents of Essex Junction.
As part of a team with the other Trustees, I used my experience as an attorney to help write our new City Charter. That charter has since been approved by the Legislature and signed into law by Governor Scott. My legal background also came in handy during negotiations with the Town of Essex to ensure a fair and equitable split of the two communities.
In addition to serving on the City Council, I chair the Capital Program Review Committee. That committee examines the capital needs of the City and prioritizes our upcoming capital projects. I supported the implementation of a local option tax and worked to ensure, that the funds from the tax are spent only on capital projects within the City. I think it’s especially important that the Council decided to set aside, at least 25% of those funds each year for sidewalk improvements. I worked with City Councilors to develop this spending policy to reduce the burden on taxpayers while improving Essex Junction’s infrastructure.
In the future, I’m looking forward to implementing the results of the strategic plan for the vision of Essex Junction. I will look to the feedback provided by residents to help guide how the City Council can do a better job engaging with our community. Public engagement is critical. While many are engaged in the community, I know we have many more residents who are not aware of what topics the City Council is covering or even when the meetings occur. I hope to bridge that gap.
I’m also looking forward this year to opening discussions of our governance structure and whether the City residents would like to see voting wards/districts and/or a mayor.
As I said before, I’m not a politician, so I won’t make promises that I know I can’t deliver. I’m a realist. Everything is more expensive. Rising taxes are a huge concern. Our food shelves are too busy. I know many of you are struggling.
What I will promise is, if I am re-elected, I will continue serving this community to the best of my ability. I will focus on two areas: offsetting tax increases with revenue generation elsewhere, such as offering passport services through our Town Clerk’s Office, and stepped-up enforcement of the City’s municipal ordinances and codes.
I humbly ask for one of your two votes on April 9th. I look forward to continuing to serve the community and working hard to make Essex Junction the best place to live, work, and play. I’d be happy to talk to you if you have any questions. Please feel free to reach out to me at amber@amber4ej.org.