HI! It's nice to meet you!
The Story of a Troy/Jay Native.....
As a proud multi-generational native of the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont, Sam has deep connections to the region, our communities, and our culture. He understands the problems that we're facing, because he faces them too.
Sam grew up in Troy and Jay as a child of divorced parents. As a single mother, his Mom fought hard to make sure he had every opportunity available. She often worked two or more jobs and often went without - just to ensure that her children had enough. From this upbringing, Sam has an intimate insight into the trauma and challenges often faced by our lower income and middle-income families.
He attended North Troy Elementary, North Country Union Junior High School, and attended North Country Union High School before leaving to attend Johnson State College in Johnson VT.
Coming from a family that has long worked in social services and mental health, it was natural to continue that legacy; and since 2019, Sam has worked as a Suicide Counselor/Crisis Interventionist. Sam also works as a real estate agent for Great Northern Land Company in Jay and as a Parliamentary Consultant.
Besides his work in Mental Health and Real Estate, Sam has held a variety of jobs, including working at Jay Peak, the Stoweflake Resort, a pizzeria, and also making the donuts at 4am at North Country Donuts. He also served as a Lister for the Town of Troy. Sam is a working Vermonter, who represents our working Vermonters.
At home in North Troy, he manages an organic family farm, manages a business with online and retail sales, and oversees a farmstand selling the products they grow and make on the property.
Actively engaged in his local community, Sam is a staunch advocate for volunteerism and charitable work, and actively works with community groups and local charities. He currently serves on a local committee aiming to bring back life, energy, and safety to the town of Troy. He volunteers weekly for Meals on Wheel with the Northeast Kingdom Council on Aging. In addition to running a campaign, Sam is also organizing a new neighborhood watch in his town.
Sam is a member of the Calvin Coolidge Presidential Foundation, the National Association of Parliamentarians, the National Association of Realtors, the Vermont Association of Realtors, the Orleans County Board of Realtors, and the Orleans County Farm Bureau.
Sam has the full confidence and support of Governor Phil Scott, Governor Jim Douglas, and the vast majority of the Northeast Kingdom legislators.
To see where Sam stands on the issues, click HERE
To read Sam's posts and announcements, click HERE
Why am i running?
Running a race for elected office is hard work. There is no such thing as "9-5 hours". Early mornings, late nights, stress, phone calls at all hours, while juggling a full life: jobs, a small business, nonprofit work, and countless other demands. So why am I running?
I'm running because I have lived my whole life in the Northeast Kingdom, and I've never found a place or a people that I could call my own more than right here in our rural corner of Vermont. My family has lived here for generations and the connection that I have to this land is etched into my bones. There are fewer and fewer legislators in Montpelier that feel this way and understand the culture and living of rural life. I love Vermont and I want to serve Vermont.
I'm running because I take it personally when members of our communities have to decide between heating oil and groceries. I'm running because families that I grew up with are unable to purchase a house in the town they grew up in, and I won't stand for it.
I care about people. I always have and it's what drives me. Serving my community in Montpelier is a high degree of service, and it's also work that doesn't believe in "9-5 hours". As any legislator can attest, the job doesn't end when you leave the statehouse or when session ends each spring. Countless emails, constant phone calls, public events, meetings, and endless responsibilities and obligations. The salary is not commensurate to the duties, but that's a good thing. It's a role of service, not of gaining wealth.
I want voters to know that if they elect me, they will have someone who will advocate for them, fight for them, and work tirelessly for them. This is why my website is rigorously researched and updated, and why I have policy drafted and ready to introduce in 2025. Other candidates and their websites are just fluff: nice pretty words and sentiments but lacking in any substance. I don't deal with fluff. And it's also why I do most of my campaigning door-to-door, even in the rain. There's a good chance that the majority of voters reading these words have had me come to their door.
I miss the feeling of community that I remember from my childhood. Showing up to community events even when you don't feel like it and talking to people face-to-face. For legislators, this is of the utmost importance, as you have to actually talk to and listen to the people you represent - shocking, I know.
I see the NEK getting forgotten in legislation. The cost of living in Vermont is rising, taxes are rising, the price of heating fuels are slated to rise, and all while the legislature votes to raise their own salaries. Many families in my region struggle to afford basic necessities or childcare. It's heartbreaking when I go door-to-door and hear stories of families choosing between food and heating. I will not be voting to raise my own salary or benefits when the people of the NEK struggle to afford groceries or fuel.
My candidacy is about bringing more voices to the table, and not just the loudest voices, but the ones who are most often silent and deserve to be heard. My love for the NEK and its people and culture is the foundation of my candidacy. I was born here, raised here, and I have no intention of leaving.
To see where Sam stands on the issues, click HERE
To read Sam's posts and announcements, click HERE
Welcome!
Meet Sam Douglass!
A Northeast Kingdom native endorsed by Governor Phil Scott who's standing up for a region often forgotten!