Kick-Off Party Speech

Below is the speech I gave at my campaign kick-off party.

6/19/20264 min read

When I first ran for the legislature, I made a lot of promises. I promised to fight for affordability, public safety, transparency, and to be a strong voice for Barre City. Tonight, I could spend my time talking about bills and votes, and I am sure we can chat about that in our conversations here, but I want to tell you a different story.

I want to tell you what it was actually like to walk into the State House as a freshman legislator from little old Barre, Vermont.

To be completely honest, I started this biennium in a pretty rough place.

I remember sitting in committee wondering what I had gotten myself into. I had hoped to serve on Government Operations. Instead, I ended up on Commerce and Economic Development. Day after day, I sat through hearings listening to people talk for hours on subjects that were honestly outside of my wheelbase. It was grueling.

One of my earliest experiences I had was asking someone to pass a bill. The response was, "What are you going to do for me? That's how it works here."

That is not how I work.

That moment set the tone for my first few weeks. It felt like I was staring up at a mountain that I had absolutely no idea how to climb.

I had no position of power. I was in the minority party. I was a freshman legislator. I didn't know all the rules, all the personalities, or all the unwritten expectations.

But eventually I decided there was only one thing I could do.

I could be who I am. The friendly cuddly person that I can be.

So I started sending birthday cards. Encouragement cards. Notes to people who needed a smile. Little things that served absolutely no legislative purpose.

The first session everyone was wondering who “-Michael” was that kept on sending them stuff. And something interesting happened, people figured it out and relationships started to form, conversations started to happen, doors started to open.

I was able to present bills. I had meaningful conversations not just with Republicans, but with Democrats. I spent hours talking with leadership, including the Speaker of the House, about issues that mattered to Barre City.

Again, let's remember who we're talking about here.

I was a freshman legislator from the minority party with absolutely no position of power. Yet multiple times I had personal office appointments with the speaker of the house. 149 representatives and I spent several hours with her on my issues alone.

It was my mindset that changed and the positivity that I began putting out there that helped make a difference. Ahh and frankly I became very persistent.

Kind of like the widow in the parable who kept showing up and asking the king for something.

Now, not every bill I drafted made it off the wall. In fact, most didn't. That's reality.

But I submitted nearly twenty bills. I worked on amendments. I fought for ideas. Some of those ideas eventually showed up in legislation that passed. Whether it was vehicle inspections, project-specific TIFs, getting rid of COVID-era printed plates, or other concepts, I believe I helped move conversations forward.

These little wins were moments that reminded me why the effort mattered.

One day a Vermont Chamber of Commerce lobbyist walked up to me and simply said, "Thank you for fighting for businesses."

Another day, a constituent leaving a polling place stopped and thanked me for keeping people informed about what I was doing in Montpelier.

Those moments meant a lot.

Because at the end of the day, public service isn't about titles.

It's about making a difference and having an impact.

It's about making sure the people of Barre City have someone willing to show up, ask questions, challenge assumptions, and speak up when something isn't right even if their party disagrees.

Again a freshmen representative, minority party and a nobody, I got a full Seven Days spread and over the last two years, I was interviewed multiple times, on WCAX, Vermont Public, NBC5, WDEV and others. I believe that was a product of the work I did on legislation, building relationships, and fighting for the things I believe matter to our community. I believe that should show to you that I am working for Barre!

And I can tell you this:

I'm just getting started. I now have experience. My second year was far more productive than my first.

I want to take everything I learned during this first term and put it to work during the 2027-2028 biennium.

I want to continue fighting for affordability.

I want to continue supporting public safety.

I want to continue working on education reform.

I want to continue being accessible and transparent to the people I represent.

Tonight is not really about me. It's about all of you.

It's about building momentum.

It's about growing a team.

You showed up and I need your help. Because what I am facing is a very charged group of politically active individuals that are angry that I took this position from them. Frankly in order to keep it, I need your help. Yes, money, sure. But for every dollar raised I would trade for a like on my Facebook page, a sign in someone’s yard, or you saying to your friends and neighbors, we need Michael to go back to Montpelier.

So that was long winded, but thank you for being here, thank you for your encouragement.

Thank you for believing in me.

Contact

Reach out with questions or to get involved

Email

Phone

boutinforbarre@gmail.com

802-272-2858