Quotes in Press

RUTLAND HERALD 12/23/20 By Keith Whitcomb Jr. Staff Writer  PITTSFORD — Police, climate change and LGBTQ issues were the topics that the winners of the first Brandon Writes contest chose to focus their essays on. Brandon Writes is a contest put on by Michael Shank, of Brandon, who was behind […]

RUTLAND HERALD 10/28/20 By Keith Whitcomb Jr.  Two local leaders are offering to teach Rutland County board chairs some conflict resolution skills for free. Michael Shank, of Brandon, and Lisa Ryan, of Rutland City, said Tuesday they got the idea to offer this free training after learning about each other’s […]

RUTLAND HERALD 10/21/20 By Keith Whitcomb Jr.  A federal energy regulator, nominated to his position by President Donald Trump, told those attending a virtual renewable energy conference Wednesday that America needs to listen to scientists on man-made climate change. “We’ve got to stop having these disagreements as to whether greenhouse […]

LET’S GROW KIDS 10/08/20 1. What steps would you take to quickly address the immediate emergency need facing households without sufficient internet access, while also planning for a future that will require increasingly faster internet speeds? We need broadband for all. At the Rutland Regional Planning Commission (RRPC), where I […]

THE HERALD 10/01/20 Rutland County District (Three Seats) The Rutland Senate District covers the White River Valley town of Pittsfield. The Herald sent out questionnaires to area candidates running for state representative and state senator. Each was given space to respond to the following questions: As a result of the […]

RUTLAND HERALD 10/07/20 Michael Shank Independent, Brandon Why are you running this year? I love this community and I want to give back and serve the community in every way I can. I see a need to strengthen our ties and bonds so that we’re more resilient and more protected […]

VT DIGGER 10/06/20 By Emma Cotton With three Democrats, three Republicans and four independents vying for three seats in the Vermont Senate, possibilities abound in Rutland County, which has been a Republican stronghold in recent decades. Incumbents Cheryl Hooker, a Democrat, and Brian Collamore, a Republican, say they aren’t taking […]

RUTLAND HERALD 09/22/20 By Keith Whitcomb Jr. BRANDON — An environmental film contest that awarded cash prizes to local students is going countywide this year. Michael Shank, an adjunct faculty member at New York University Center for Global Affairs, of Brandon, contributor to a number of national publications, said Tuesday […]

RUTLAND HERALD 09/15/20 By Jim Sabataso CASTLETON — A new speaker series aims to share professional career advice for navigating the coronavirus pandemic. The Rutland Rising Job Talk series is being organized by Brandon resident Michael Shank in partnership with Castleton University. The free series, which launches at noon Friday, […]

RUTLAND HERALD 09/11/20 By Gordon Dritschilo  It is a crowded field in the race for Rutland County’s three State Senate seats. Here is a breakdown of the candidates appearing on this year’s ballot: RepublicansRutland County’s senior senator is leading the Republican ticket as he seeks a fourth term. Brian Collamore, […]