From left to right: Bartlett, Dunne, Markowitz, Racine and Shumlin
The five Democratic candidates for governor who talked to voters in Jericho yesterday were united by one unequivocal message: It’s the economy, stupid.
Roughly 200 locals came to hear the primary opponents — Secretary of State Deborah Markowitz, Senate President Pro Tempore Peter Shumlin, State Sens. Susan Bartlett and Douglas Racine and former State Sen. Matt Dunne — speak at a meet and greet forum held in Browns River Middle School.
The candidates agreed to agree on the particulars of nearly every topic they discussed: the economy, broadband, property taxes and Vermont Yankee. The state’s $151 million deficit was one of the few subjects on which their opinions diverged.
Moderator Bill Wilson asked each candidate what their would-be administrations would tackle first. The discussion immediately turned to the economy and jobs.
“The top priority for me, and I think for the State of Vermont, needs to be the economy,” Bartlett said.
Dunne, Markowitz and Shumlin agreed that their No. 1 priorities are righting the state’s fiscal situation and creating more jobs.
As he talked about Vermonters losing homes, jobs and health insurance, Racine bluntly pointed out that as a group their views on the economy will inevitably be unanimous. “We’re all going to say the same thing,” he said, “because it’s so obvious.”
All five candidates said investing in Vermont’s small businesses and attracting out-of-state companies is the key to economic recovery and job creation.
“I’m going to be the chief marketing officer for the state,” explained Markowitz. “My development focus is going to be on Vermont businesses first. What do they need? What support do they need to grow and expand?”
“Working with and having faith in all of our small businesses is really important,” added Bartlett. “They have a big track record of creating jobs.”
Dunne, who currently works for the search engine corporation Google, says businesses first and foremost need fiber optic high speed Internet access throughout Vermont. Without that technological foundation, “you do not have an entrepreneurial start-up.”
Shumlin and Racine also cited Internet upgrades as a necessary ingredient for Vermont’s economic recovery, as well investments in education that will ensure Vermonters are prepared to enter the workforce.
“(These investments) will allow us to leave a legacy to our children, which is more than just a (credit card) bill; it will be a stronger economy,” said Racine.
Turning to the state budget, the candidates began to diverge in their answers about how to best tackle the $151 million General Fund shortfall Montpelier is facing in fiscal year 2011.
Shumlin reminded the audience about last year’s fight over raising taxes and declared that Vermonters “are taxed and maxed out.”
The candidates expressed firm opposition to the governor’s plans to impose increases in school funding costs on local property taxpayers.”
Racine said the fiscal year 2011 budget gap is worse than last year’s.
“I’ve been in state government, off and on now, for 20 years,” said Racine, “and this is by far the toughest budget I have seen and I think Vermonters have seen.” He insisted that the next governor must strive to create efficiencies.
Dunne proposed that the state eliminate the deficit through health care reform.
Bartlett and Markowitz focused on restructuring the prison system.
Bartlett said that locking away nonviolent offenders is counterproductive as it doesn’t help offenders with their problems once they’re released.
“To keep a person in prison for a year costs as much as sending them to Harvard University,” said Markowitz.
As the forum moved onto education, the candidates expressed firm opposition to the governor’s plans to impose increases in school funding costs on local property taxpayers.
“I don’t believe it’s right for the state to continue shifting costs onto local school districts,” Racine said.
Bartlett agreed and said the General Fund needs to cover services that are being paid for through property taxes.
It’s wrong to “shove” teacher retirement plans onto taxpayers, Dunne declared. He said the number of superintendents should be cut by two-thirds.
While Shumlin agreed, saying struggling property taxpayers should not be straddled by Montpelier’s economic problems, he brought the discussion full circle, connecting education to the larger economic picture.
“In a civilized society our most important obligations are to educate our children,” Shumlin said, “and if we don’t do it successfully we will certainly not create jobs that get the economy moving.”
The candidates rounded out the discussion with the environment, and all five candidates attacked Vermont Yankee, the nuclear plant located in Vernon. Dunne said the tritium leak is unacceptable.
“We do not need to study whether or not a company that is leaking nuclear waste into the ground water of the State of Vermont should stick around any longer,” he said. His opponents concurred.
