April McCullum

Free Press Staff Writer

COLCHESTER – Republican presidential candidate John Kasich drew hundreds of people to Colchester High School on Saturday morning, and he might have swayed a few Democrats.

A key moment came at the end of Kasich’s leisurely town hall, when Art Rovner of South Burlington stood to ask the final question.

“Given that I’m a scientist, I believe in science, what do you think about the science of climate change?” Rovner asked.

“I know that human beings affect the climate,” Kasich said. "I know it’s an apostasy in the Republican Party to say that. I guess that’s what I’ve always been — being able to challenge some of the status quo.”

Kasich went on to say that “we need to develop all of the renewables,” including battery technology to store solar power.

The answer came as a relief for Rovner, the science-minded Vermonter who asked the question.

“The fact that he even acknowledges that there is science which absolutely, absolutely, without question shows that human activity is degrading our environment, gives me great hope,” Rovner said afterward.

Rovner, a former academic researcher at the University of Vermont College of Medicine, said Kasich’s overall message resonated.

“I’m a lifelong Democrat. I would consider crossing party lines to vote for him,” Rovner said.

Fred Morgan of Shelburne, also a Democrat, also cited climate change as a standout issue in Kasich's town hall.

“That he believes in climate change is very encouraging to me,” Morgan said. “I didn’t actually realize that that was his position.”

Vermont’s own presidential candidate, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, is running for the Democratic nomination. Sanders often uses his stump speech to blast the Republican field for ignoring climate change.

The Vermont Democratic Party slammed Kasich in advance of his visit, calling him a far-right politician and not a moderate. Democratic lieutenant governor candidate Kesha Ram issued a statement accusing Kasich of “stalling progress on Ohio’s renewable energy goals,” among other issues.

But the state’s Republican leaders were grinning as they welcomed the candidate, who also made a campaign stop in Vermont last fall.

Kasich visited Vermont on a Saturday swing through New England rather than campaigning in South Carolina on the day of the Republican primary there.

"We did everything we could do down there, and I felt very comfortable leaving," Kasich said of South Carolina.

Kasich has focused on New England as a way to bolster his candidacy, which has drawn about 9 percent support in national polls, according to a RealClearPolitics average. He won second place in the New Hampshire primary this month after dozens of town hall meetings there.

Vermont’s presidential primaries will be held March 1, offering 16 delegates toward the total 1,237 needed to win the Republican nomination.

“There are a lot of lessons we can learn from Ohio and Gov. Kasich,” said Phil Scott, the lieutenant governor and Republican gubernatorial candidate. “I love his commonsense leadership.”

Scott joined House Minority Leader Don Turner and 2014 Republican gubernatorial candidate Scott Milne among the politicians seated on stage.

Kasich emphasized the importance of balancing the federal budget and investing in mentorship and workforce development programs.

“Economic growth is not an end unto itself. We have to help the people who live in shadows, the mentally ill, the drug addicted, the working poor, the developmentally disabled and the friends in the minority community,” Kasich said. “Everybody in America ought to have a sense that they can rise.”

The candidate also talked at length about regulating and tightening welfare programs, and cited a maxim from his mother — that helping people who should help themselves instead is just as sinful as refusing to help somebody who needs it.

Kasich also poked Sanders, the democratic socialist candidate, without mentioning him by name.

“If we’re going to just give stuff away … I want free Ben & Jerry’s for every single American in this country,” Kasich said to applause and laughter. “Put your money where your mouth is, OK?”

This article was first published online Saturday, Feb. 20, 2016. Contact April Burbank at 802-660-1863 or aburbank@freepressmedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/AprilBurbank