This article appeared in the Monday, June 14, 2010 Edition Of The St. Albans Messenger:
Santee enters House race in Franklin 1
Republican focuses on spending, lakeBy Leon Thompson - Messenger Staff Reporter
FAIRFAX — When Chris Santee woke today he looked across Lake Champlain to distant New York and thought, "I don't want that to happen here."
The potential and unprecedented government shutdown in New York State is one of the reasons Santee, of Fairfax, is making his second bid for a seat in the Vermont House of Representatives.
Santee, 53, filed his petition as a Republican last week. With a filing deadline of this Thursday, his only, challengers to date are the Franklin-1 incumbents: Rep. Carolyn Branagan, R-Georgia; and Rep. Gary Gilbert, D-Fairfax.
Franklin-1 is a two-seat House district that covers ^Fairfax and Georgia.
"I'm happy the race is the way it is," Santee said during a phone interview today. "I like both of my opponents."
Santee called Gilbert "a tremendous friend," even if they do differ on some political and philosophical views. They are neighbors, and Gilbert coached Santee's son in soccer.
"He's just a great guy," Santee said of Gilbert. Santee finished third behind Branagan and Gilbert when he ran for the House in 2008. No word yet on whether George Bilodeau, a Georgia Democrat, will again make himself a House candidate in Franklin-1.
For 8 1/2 years, Santee has published the Fairfax News, a monthly newspaper that covers Fairfax and parts of Georgia. He also administers a Fairfax-Georgia news site (www. franklinone.com) that is aptly named for his town's House district.
Santee's top priority is state government spending and a "heavy tax burden" on Vermonters.
"I want to try to get them some tax relief," he said.
He also calls himself an environmentalist and wants to work on Lake Champlain clean-up efforts.
Santee is a justice of the peace, a position he has held for about two years. As part of his role in that position he recently went to St. Albans Bay for a wedding rehearsal.
"It's cleaner than it has been in past years," he said of water quality there, "but we've still got some work to do."
Santee has also served the Fairfax Business and Professionals Association and is a former board member of Franklin-Grand Isle Habitat for Humanity.
Santee and his wife, Terri, have two sons: Colin, a 19-year-old Johnson State College student; and Cale, a third-grader at Bellows Free Academy-Fairfax.
All major party candidates that are running for the Vermont House or Senate this year must have their petitions filed with the Secretary of State's Office by 5 p.m. on June 17.
