Meet Pat
Born in Vermont, Pat settled down in Colchester in 1985. He and his wife, Mary, have two children, Ryan and Katie, and three grandchildren, Reagan, Denny, and McKay.
30 years ago, Pat became a small business owner. With his dad, he launched Brennan’s Quick Stop and the Bloomin' Onion Concessions which has since become a staple of the Champlain Valley Fairgrounds, attracting the appetites of Vermonters.
Previously, Pat has served Colchester High School as a Key Communicator, building connections between the district and the community. He has also spent over a decade as a coach to the CMS Girls Softball team.
Pat began his public service by serving for 7 years on the Colchester Planning Commission in the early 90’s. Since 2003, Pat has served Colchester in the Vermont General Assembly where he has been on the frontlines of fighting against burdensome tax and fee increases on Vermonters. In that time, Pat has also fostered relationships with members across the aisle in the legislature.
Pat currently serves as chair of the Council of State Government’s Committee on Transportation, and a member of its Executive Council. He served 14 years on the House Transportation Committee, including nine as its chair. Pat also served 4 years on the Ways and Means Committee, and for the last 2 years as ranking member of the Appropriations Committee. He currently serves as a Justice of the Peace and as a member of the Colchester Board of Civil Authority. He is also a past member of the Citizens Advisory on Lake Champlain where he has been a staunch advocate for clean water, the health of our Lake Champlain, as well as all of Vermont’s many waterways.
The Issues
Property Taxes and Education
Vermonters are grappling with record property tax increases due to failures in governance and leadership from Montpelier's supermajority. To rectify this, we must overhaul the education tax system, roll up our sleeves, and get in the work Vermonters expect us to do. Our current legislature neglects direct accountability and drops the ball on critical choices. We must also confront the pressing issue of educational quality. Vermont's youth face unique generational challenges, but our education system is failing them, as evidenced by steadily poor testing results. We need a comprehensive approach to ensure our students are well-equipped for the future, and where every child has the opportunity to thrive.
"Our legislature must take a new direction. It is time we restore accountability, change Montpelier's system of one-party rule, and build a government that is fair and efficient. I would be honored to represent the residents of Grand Isle County”
-Pat Brennan
