Early Years: 

I was born in New York City, the oldest of four children, to Irish immigrant parents who came to the U.S. after WW II.   After completing my degree at the Rochester Institute of Technology in the late '70s, I  settled in Morrisville.  Even with a college degree, good paying jobs were scarce in Vermont, so it was a “paycheck to paycheck” life.  I found financial stability when I was hired to direct Johnson State College's External Degree Program and earned my master's in education administration. 

 

Move to the NEK: 

At JSC I met my husband, Don Bredes, and moved to Wheelock in 1989 to the homestead he created in the mid-70s.  Our two children are St. Johnsbury Academy graduates.  They are both happily married and successful adults; one lives in Craftsbury, the other in Rhode Island.   We all enjoy the Vermont outdoors in every season with biking, snowshoeing and skiing, hiking, and taking photos.

 

Work Life:

As a member of management teams in public and private non-profits, I have focused on a life of public service and gained valuable experience along the way.  It has been an honor to work in programs and institutions in Vermont state government (Commissioner of Human Resources) and our K-16 school system (JSC, both Orleans school districts, and St. Johnsbury Academy). 

 

Volunteering:

Over the years I have served long terms with statewide and local entities (Vermont Commission on Women, St. Johnsbury Athenaeum).  Since retiring in 2019, my time and energy is focused on my Wheelock community; as a justice of the peace and the town's representative to the Northern Vermont Development Association (NVDA) and NEK Broadband.  As a member of the Wheelock Community Initiative team I write the monthly newsletter and participate in our efforts to improve community life.  

 

I think my ability to work cooperatively with a wide range of individuals who have different points of view will benefit our district and all Vermonters.

 

As your representative for Caledonia 3, I will focus on those issues that will attract and increase economic development for our region:

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• Building quality housing stock; rentals and home ownership

• Ensuring an equitable and more sustainable education funding system

• Completing the “last mile” of high-speed broadband

• Expanding our early childhood education and workforce training 

• Providing affordable “Green Energy” initiatives

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Eileen M. Boland