Jeff Haylon

Jeff Haylon earned a high school diploma from Newtown High School. He earned a bachelor's degree from Emory University in 2018. His career experience includes working as a salesman.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

My name is Jeff Haylon, and I am a businessman and woodworker running to be Brandon and Forest Dale’s next representative in the Vermont State House. I’m a two-term Selectboard member, and I’ve also served as a library trustee and on several other boards and committees in town. I also have hosted a regular trivia night for several years and restored the historical blacksmith shop on my property to save it from ruin.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Affordability: The rising cost of living in Vermont–including property taxes, health care costs, and home prices–has grown to unsustainable levels. People born here can’t afford to stay. The state government needs to take aggressive action to reduce these costs and invest in community-driven plans, emphasizing local control of expenses.Healthcare: Three years ago, I had brain surgery to remove a growth in my occipital lobe. This was a life-threatening problem that I had no way of predicting. Even with health insurance, it cost me nearly $20,000 dollars (without insurance, the bill would have been nearly half a million).

This model of pay-to-survive healthcare is ridiculous and indefensible in a state and country that can do better. Year-over-year increases in healthcare premiums have been the biggest driver of increased property taxes in Vermont, and that added cost is not translating to better medical care for Vermonters. Our taxes should be paying for services that help us, not lining out-of-state insurance executives' pockets.Education: We need to be willing to make some hard decisions about education in our state. Outcomes don’t justify high costs. This is not just about funding, but about families having the time, energy, and resources to support learning.

I oppose closing local schools. There’s no data to suggest that will be effective at saving money or improving outcomes. I am open to the idea of decreasing the number of school districts in Vermont, to cut down on redundant administration.

Schools are the only safety net for kids in many communities, and we should be considering ways to take that burden off of them. When kids thrive, communities thrive.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Education, healthcare, and disaster resilience.