Christine Hallquist is the former CEO of Vermont Electric Cooperative and the Democratic candidate for governor. She's challenging incumbent Republican Gov. Phil Scott in the Nov. 6 election.

Candidate Hallquist joins Vermont Edition to discuss her platform and priorities should she become governor.

Nobody’s born a rock star.

Making the big time takes practice, commitment and a lot of good luck.

But in Brattleboro an annual youth rock festival is trying to help aspiring artists by giving teenage musicians a place to come together, learn a little bit, and rock out.

Autumn in the Green Mountain State is when tour buses and cars full of out-of-staters trek to Vermont to see that green turn to gold. Even if it's past peak in some regions, John Sinclair with the Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forest says there's still great leaf peeping to be had. And VPR's own Ric Cengeri says a trip to see the foliage is a great excuse to see what Vermont's 251 towns and cities have to offer.

In less than four weeks, Vermonters will choose candidates for statewide and legislative offices. Our panel of political pundits will look at the major issues in the campaigns for governor, lieutenant governor, U.S. Senate and U.S. House.

Discussing how these campaigns have unfolded this year are:

Vermont State Treasurer Beth Pearce was appointed to the job in late 2010, and has been re-elected three times on the Democratic ticket. In all, she's spent more than 40 years working in government finance.

An incumbent Democrat, Pearce spoke with Vermont Edition about why she wants another two-year term.