ERICKA REDIC – RIGOROUS HONESTY

I was born and raised in Vermont and from a very young age I knew my purpose was to make a difference in my community. I successfully convinced my parents to start recycling years before it became mandatory. I remember sitting in my dad’s lap watching Dan Rather and Peter Jennings talking about the Iran Contra affair. I even interviewed the President of Rowley Fuels after an oil spill in the Lamoille River in my hometown of Milton – in elementary school. I’ve always had a heart to fight for the underdog. In a Democracy it is our duty to hold each other accountable and take care of one another. I have volunteered or donated money to more causes than I can count. My husband Benjamin says I’m the original SJW. Locally I have worked with Women Helping Battered Women, Women’s Rape Crisis Center, Vermont Freedom to Marry, and served on the Board of the Vermont Victim/Survivor of Crime Council. Through this work, I had the opportunity to make a difference in my community as well as influence policy changes at the local and state level.

I graduated from Champlain College with a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting when they still had the two plus two program and like many people raised in Vermont, I learned Values like tolerance, hard work, personal responsibility and a real acceptance of people for who or whatever they want to be. Especially in Burlington you could let your freak flag fly and no one ought to say a thing about it. Assuming you aren’t hurting others or yourself then you ought to be judged based on the content of your character.

I’ve taken those Vermont Values with me as I’ve traveled and lived around the country. I met my amazing husband Benjamin in Austin Texas seven years ago. With his love and encouragement I started my own business(s), and began pursuing my childhood dream of being involved in politics.

That is the beauty of liberalism, and offense is its cost. That is why I believe the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States are two of the most important documents ever written. They establish the framework for a society where this redneck from rural Vermont can be anything she wants to be…even President.