A week before the election, Vermont Leads dives into the political fray — the pro-single-payer 501(c)4 organization formed a political action committee that has spent about $35,000 since Oct. 25. The money went to phone calls and postcards sent out in support of 19 state House and Senate candidates and four statewide candidates.
“We wanted to push back against a lot of the misinformation that’s been sent around,” said Vermont Leads’ executive director Peter Sterling.
Sterling identified conservative super PAC Vermonters First and Republican gubernatorial candidate Randy Brock as particularly prolific sources of misinformation about Vermont’s health care system.
Along with 19 state House and Senate candidates, the Vermont Leads PAC has mailed political postcards on behalf of Gov. Peter Shumlin, lieutenant governor candidate Cassandra Gekas, state auditor candidate Doug Hoffer, and state treasurer incumbent Beth Pearce.
Vermont Leads formed last June and is funded by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU).
Sterling said the board has not yet decided whether the PAC will remain active after the election, but he assures that Vermont Leads will stay on the scene.
