As a former Professor of Human Services at Lyndon State College, (now Vermont State University), I have had the privilege of knowing and working with Amanda since 2018, when she became the Executive Director at Umbrella in St. Johnsbury.
As the Executive Director at Umbrella, and in her role as a volunteer board member for a number of community nonprofits, Amanda works tirelessly to help our communities flourish. Serving a s a state representative would provide Amanda an even greater opportunity to help our communities thrive.
Patricia Shine
Concord, VT
Read full endorsement letter here.
Amanda has a record of practical, inclusive leadership. Guided by her values, she listens to people who are working hard, struggling to get by, and looking for practical solutions that improve daily life. She consistently upholds the dignity of every person and believes government works best when it hears from all citizens, not just a select few.
In her current role as director of Umbrella, and through her service as Moderator for the United Church of Christ in St. Johnsbury, Amanda has worked with people of diverse beliefs to implement policies and programs that create positive outcomes for the broader community.
Amanda represents the kind of practical, community-centered leadership that voters across our county are seeking. She brings experience outside of politics, a commitment to improving the lives of everyday Vermonters, and a focus on service rather than political point-scoring or personal gain.
Amanda Cochrane is exactly who we need to represent us in Montpelier.
Steven Isham
St. Johnsbury, VT
Read full endorsement letter here.
Amanda is a talented and down-to-earth problem solver. When faced with an issue she takes the time to gather all the information and directly involve others in strategizing “next steps” and developing immediate and long-term goals...Equally impressive is Amanda’s ability to bring people with diverse opinions together to find consensus. She’s a sensitive and skilled communicator dedicated to enhancing people’s lives. Her life’s work to date has been serving the local community and the community’s families...When she is elected Amanda will amplify the voices of NEK Vermont residents in Montpelier. She will advocate for practical community based solutions.
Linda Wacholder
St. Johnsbury, Vt
Read full endorsement letter here.
I am a resident of St Johnsbury, a retired faculty member of St Johnsbury Academy, a mother of three grown children, two of whom have taught in the Vermont school districts, a grandmother, a volunteer for local organizations, a voter, and your neighbor. All of us have watched property taxes rise, food prices and health care costs rise, fuel and heating oil and home prices rise. The issues behind these increases are complex and some of them are beyond our control but their effects are community wide.
What is in our control is how we vote in the next election. I have read the various candidates’ platforms, listened to them, met a few. What I want this time around is a willingness to try new approaches with the recognition that many of our concerns are bigger than just Vermont but that the impact is local. I will vote for Amanda Cochrane as the Democratic candidate for the Vermont House of Representatives. She identifies the issues affecting the Northeast Kingdom; more importantly she sees how they are interconnected – that healthcare costs impact our school system which is funded by property taxes which increase the cost of housing which contributes to homelessness which comes back to healthcare – on and on and on.
The challenge here is considerable – I vote for change.
Mary Shepley
St Johnsbury, Vt.
Read full endorsement letter here