To the Editor,
My name is Clayton Thompson, and I am writing to support the reelection of Tom Charlton to the Vermont House of Representatives.
As a younger resident of Grafton who serves on the planning commission and the development review board, I hear the concern: It is becoming harder for young families and longtime residents to afford to stay here. Those problems are directly tied to the decisions being made in Montpelier, especially on housing and education spending.
That is why I have followed the work of Rep. Tom Charlton. Affordability in rural Vermont was a central focus of his last term. Serving on the House Committee on General and Housing, he has a direct role in housing policy and the challenges facing small communities like ours.
If we cannot house the people who wish to live here, businesses cannot find employees, young families cannot stay, and towns like Grafton cannot maintain a healthy population. That is why Tom sponsored H.775, to give municipalities additional resources for the financing infrastructure needed for housing development.
He also understands the connection between housing and education. Grafton’s elementary school system is struggling because fewer young families can afford to live here. As a resident who was enrolled at our elementary school, this issue is especially important to me. During the 2026 session on the House floor, Tom did not waver in his commitment to fix the underlying issues rather than just another year of adjusting tax rates.
He approaches these issues from a rural perspective. Policies written for Burlington do not always work in towns like Grafton. At the local level, we try to balance housing and development while protecting the character of our town. That balance is harder when state policy is made without understanding towns like ours.
Tom Charlton has shown a willingness to take on those issues and focus on the affordability challenges facing Grafton.
Sincerely,
Clayton Thompson
Grafton, Vt.
Paid for by Chester Republican Committee
P.O. Box 16
Chester, VT 05143