Deb Nevil
Democratic Candidate for Vermont House of Representatives in the Lamoille-3 District
What do you believe is the role of state government, if any, in ensuring that everyone living in Vermont has the food they need to thrive?
I believe as a community oriented person and advocate for the most vulnerable, everyone has a right to feed their children and themselves. SNAP is based on income eligibility and is a safety net in times of need for many Vermont households. As a state we have always cared for those less fortunate and I believe that is an asset for Vermont.
What would be your policy priorities to move Vermont toward food security for all?
As a candidate, my priorities have and always will be to support programs to help people have access to healthy foods. I support programs like crop cash at farmers markets, free nutritious meals for children in school and Farm to School.
What do you believe are the root causes of hunger, and what should the state do to address those underlying factors?
Poverty is the root cause of hunger, lack of opportunity and the high cost of living. We need to have a comprehensive approach to address the costs of basic needs for all Vermonters.
How would you help strengthen the state’s agriculture and food economy to ensure Vermont farms can continue to grow the food we all need?
I believe we all need to support the reason why we live here. Land protection, open spaces, and address affordable housing shortages in urban areas. We need to support our farms and their workers. Act 250 needs to be valued for its foresight but streamlined to help address these challenges.