Melissa Battah
Melissa Battah is a Democratic candidate for the Vermont House of Representatives in the Washington-Orange district in the November 3, 2026 general election, residing in Barre Town, Vermont.
· Vermont Secretary of State (2026 Qualified Candidate Listing)
Campaign site
“With decades in the nonprofit sector, I bring experience in budget management, conflict resolution, public relations, and collaboration. Beginning my career in college, I created an after-school program for college students to tutor kids.”
(Ballotpedia (secondary source)) “The WAS-ORA district is a place to live: From granite quarries, to hiking and biking trails, to sledding hills to playgrounds to VAST, the WAS-ORA district provides a myriad of outdoor opportunities to connect us to nature. I commit to bringing fresh ideas for future generations while preserving the beauty which has been entrusted to us to pass along to them.”
(Ballotpedia (secondary source)) “Central Vermont and especially our district needs more affordable, quality childcare. Working families are unduly burdened by the lack of childcare in general, let alone places that are affordable.”
(Ballotpedia (secondary source))Gina Galfetti
Gina Galfetti (Republican) of Barre Town is an incumbent Vermont Representative representing the Washington-Orange district in the 2025-2026 General Assembly, and works as G Force Painting Inc Owner/Operator.
Campaign site
What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?: “The Rural Ecomony is in trouble and we need to provide incentives for Agricultural and Forest Products processors to maintain capacity right here in Vermont.”
“I think it is still too soon to tell if consolidation is working or will provide financial relief. What I do know is we can't sustain or even maintain this level of spending and cuts will have to be made elsewhere in the state budget until we find a solution.”
“I think some degree of oversight regarding school budgets is in order because under the current system local budget votes effect the actual tax rate in that district to a very limited degree. I think we need to address high speeding districts that pass large budget increases with little regard for the effect it will have on poorer districts that spend less to keep taxes down.”
David Soucy
David Soucy (Republican) of Barre Town is an incumbent Vermont Representative representing the Washington-Orange district in the 2025-2026 General Assembly.
Rural Health Care: “As a member of the Vermont House Committee on Health Care, I believe our responsibility is to make sure every Vermonter can get the care they need, wherever they live. That is why I strongly oppose the committee chair's call to return Vermont's rural health transformation funding.”
(Vermont Business Magazine) Emily Wheeler-Reynolds
Emily Wheeler-Reynolds is a Democratic candidate for the Vermont House of Representatives in the Washington-Orange district in the November 3, 2026 general election, residing in Barre Town, Vermont, where Emily's background includes work in Small Business Owner, School Board Director, Justice of the Peace.
Campaign site
What is one part of Vermont’s economy or cost of living that needs greater attention from elected officials?: “Our Property Tax structure needs reform. As costs rise for municipalities and schools, more and more pressure is put on our working families, small businesses and homeowners to absorb the bulk of the tax burden.”
“There is no data to suggest that consolidation improves student outcomes or reduces costs. Many communities, mine included, are still resentful of the forced mergers of Act 46.”
“I am responding to this questionnaire the day after the BUUSD school budget was voted down for the third time. The proposed budget represented a 2.11% increase.”