Amanda Janoo

Why they say you should vote for them

The candidate's own case to voters, summarized from their campaign and public statements.

• Says Vermont can choose a different path from "managed decline" by putting power back in the hands of people and communities.[1]
• Says too much of the wealth Vermonters create is "extracted" through health care costs, housing speculation and profits flowing out of state, and wants to invest in the people and businesses already here.[10]
• Listed rejecting forced school consolidation first among her priorities at her campaign launch and says there would be no "forced school closures" under her leadership.[4],[13]
• Says her populist economic message can "resonate across political spectrums."[11]
• Presents herself as an economist raised in a working-class family in Strafford who now rents in Burlington after being priced out of buying a home where she grew up.[2]

Background

• Economics and Policy Lead, Wellbeing Economy Alliance (global network), advising governments including Scotland, Wales, Finland, New Zealand and Canada · Current (per campaign)[2],[6]
• Founder, Wellbeing Economy Alliance of Vermont · After returning to Vermont in 2018[4],[6]
• Justice of the peace (her only public office), City of Burlington · Before 2026[5]
• Board member (campaign says she has served on both boards), ACLU of Vermont; Rights & Democracy Vermont · Not stated[2],[4]
• Industrial policy and structural transformation expert, United Nations · Early career[2],[5]
• Economics policy expert, African Development Bank · Not stated[5]

Education

• B.A., Political Science, Macalester College (2010)[6]
• MPhil, Development Studies, University of Cambridge[2]
• Fulbright Scholar (research with India's Self-Employed Women's Association), Fulbright Program[2]

Where they stand

• Taxes
  Proposes a 2% surcharge on personal income over $250,000 and an 8% surcharge on income over $500,000, plus higher taxes on some second homes and on large technology companies' digital advertising revenue. Says "Taxes are one of the levers, or tools" to improve affordability.[8],[7]
• Health Care
  Proposes free, universal primary and preventive care for every Vermonter with no copays or deductibles for primary care, supported by local community health teams and funded by a "fair share" tax on the wealthiest residents. Estimates savings of up to $300 million a year and describes it as a step toward universal health care.[3],[9],[10]
• Education
  Opposes the Legislature's recent steps toward consolidating school districts and opposes giving the state power to set school budgets. Would expand community schools that offer child care, health care, food access and adult education.[10],[3]
• Housing
  Would change property tax classifications so resident homeowners, affordable housing and small Vermont landlords pay less while luxury second homes, commercial vacation rentals, vacant investment properties and corporate or private-equity owners pay more. Supports expanding cooperatives, land trusts and shared-equity ownership.[3],[10]
• Economy & Jobs
  Proposes a Vermont Public Bank, partnering with local credit unions and community lenders, to finance small businesses, farms, cooperatives, housing and other investments, and would redirect state economic development subsidies from recruiting large corporations toward Vermont businesses, workers and communities.[3]
• Energy & Environment
  Supports a moratorium on AI data centers and opposes new nuclear infrastructure built to power them. Says Vermont should cut emissions by building a circular economy with local food, repair and reuse, and community-owned renewable energy.[3],[10]
• Elections & Democracy
  Proposes citizens' assemblies that bring representative groups of Vermonters together to deliberate on major statewide issues and make recommendations to the Legislature and governor, and expanded participatory budgeting giving communities more direct authority over public spending.[3]
• Agriculture
  Would expand in-state food processing and distribution, increase purchasing of Vermont food by schools, hospitals and state agencies, and create a Vermont Food Security Reserve.[3]

Voting record

Amanda Janoo has not held an office with a recorded voting record. See Background and Where they stand.

In their words