VTDigger » Brian Dubie

Court finds Republican Governors Association, Brian Dubie violated campaign finance law

Press Release — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 20:00:56 +0000

For Immediate Release
October 6, 2011

Contact
William H. Sorrell
Attorney General
or
Megan Shafritz
Assistant Attorney General
(802) 828-3173

The Vermont Superior Court, Washington Unit, issued a decision on Tuesday in favor of the State in its campaign finance law enforcement action brought against the Republican Governors Association (“RGA”). The Court found that the RGA ran two political advertisements from August to October 2010, one promoting candidate Brian Dubie and the other attacking candidate Peter Shumlin, but did not register with the Secretary of State’s Office or file required disclosure reports. The Court also found that the RGA accepted contributions in excess of $2,000, in violation of Vermont’s limit on contributions to political committees. The RGA advertisements were in addition to others that it broadcast in the name of its Vermont PAC, Green Mountain Prosperity PAC (“GMP”). The RGA’s total spending on the Vermont gubernatorial race in 2010, both directly and through GMP, was over $900,000.
The Court rejected the RGA’s argument that national organizations such as itself cannot be regulated under Vermont’s campaign finance law. It ruled that if a PAC raises and spends more than $500 to support or oppose a candidate for Vermont office, it must follow Vermont law, regardless of whether it is also involved in political work in other states.

In addition, just as it did in the State’s other enforcement action against a PAC run by the Democratic Governors Association (“DGA”), the Court ruled that the RGA’s advertisements were clearly intended to advocate for or against a candidate. Dismissing the idea that these were issue ads, the Court said that the ads “can be understood only as a call to vote for one man and to vote against the other.” The Court found that it was “obviously Senator Shumlin’s role as a candidate for statewide office which explains the decision of a national political organization to buy airtime in Vermont in order to criticize his record on the local property tax.” Further, “no other communication except a campaign ad or a stump speech is likely to describe Lt. Governor Dubie with such focused warmth and approval” as the RGA’s “Vision for Vermont” advertisement. The Court observed that “it takes no sophistication to understand these messages.”

Ruling that the reporting requirement and the limit on contributions to PACs are constitutional, the Court held that the “RGA’s perceived problem” of compliance was “one of its own creation.” It explained that the RGA had set up a Vermont PAC which appeared to accept only contributions under $2,000, but “nevertheless chose not to use it for these advertisements.” Rather, the Court noted, the RGA “attempted to skirt state regulation” and ended up violating Vermont law.

The court has yet to impose penalties in either the DGA or RGA cases. “We are pleased with Judge Crawford’s decisions,” Attorney General William Sorrell said. “This Office will continue to even handedly enforce Vermont’s campaign finance laws.”

VTDigger

Salmon drops back from Senate, gubernatorial races; Vermont GOP in wait-and-see mode for 2012

Anne Galloway — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 01:25:56 +0000

Tom Salmon, Vermont State Auditor.

Tom Salmon won’t be running for governor – or a U.S. Senate seat – after all. The two-term state auditor has decided to carry on with his duties as the state’s chief CPA because, as he put it in the subject line of his email announcement, “Irene is a game changer.”

Salmon said leaving the auditor’s office would be disruptive at a time when the state faces fiscal challenges in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Irene. The floodwaters caused hundreds of millions of dollars in damage to the state in a 24-hour period. Vermont officials are still tallying the total cost of rebuilding the state office complex, more than 1,000 homes, hundreds of businesses, and dozens of roads, bridges and municipal buildings.

Salmon said he is worried about the “audit challenges” his office will confront. He recently held a meeting with the state’s audit contractor KPMG and Jim Reardon, commissioner of the Department of Finance and Management, to discuss the state’s options, given the damage to documents at the state office complex. State workers, who would be involved in the audit, have been displaced, and that complicates matters further, he said.

As a result of these factors, the timing of the audit, which affects the state’s bond rating, is at risk, Salmon said. His office is taking an inventory of the paperwork at the office complex, which housed the biggest agencies in state government – human services and natural resources.

“It’s (Irene’s aftermath) going to be part of my work for the next two years,” Salmon said in an interview. “I was humbled by devastation I saw firsthand — that really was what drove it (his decision).”

Salmon had been exploring both a run for the U.S. Senate against incumbent Bernie Sanders,I-Vt., and a race against Gov. Peter Shumlin.

The Republican Party has not yet fielded a candidate in either 2012 race. No other potential contenders have emerged for the Senate seat. Three GOPers, on the other hand, have made noises about the gubernatorial race – Salmon, State Sen. Randy Brock, R-Grand Isle-Franklin, and former Lt. Gov. Brian Dubie, who lost to Shumlin in 2010.

Prominent GOP members had said that a decision about who would run for what would be announced by Labor Day, but the holiday deadline passed without announcements in the midst of the Irene recovery efforts.

Maybe Columbus Day weekend? Don’t count on it.

Dubie is mum on the subject and won’t return phone calls. He has, however, started a political consulting firm, “Dubie Solutions,” according to a report by Peter Hirschfeld of the Vermont Press Bureau.

A recent “robo” poll shows that Dubie would lose in a second set-to with Shumlin by 8 percentage points. http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/main/2011/08/shumlin-in-strong-shape-for-second-term-as-vt-gov.html

The other potential GOP contenders would also be left in the dust. Shumlin would beat Brock, for example, by 20 percentage points, according to Public Policy Polling.

Brock says it’s still early, and he has “no decisions to report.”

“I haven’t reached any decisions yet,” Brock said. “We still have over a year. I don’t know that there’s as much urgency as some would suggest.”

Even party insiders have said, however, that the sooner a candidate announces, the easier it will be for the GOP to raise money and broaden its political assault on the Shumlin administration.

Meanwhile, it’s up to party chair Pat MacDonald to serve as the standard-bearer. McDonald, a longtime leader in the state bureaucracy (she was a state representative and served as commissioner of Labor, Employment and Training, Motor Vehicles, Human Resources and secretary of Transportation), is no stranger to one of the most effective catapults at hand – the email blast.

McDonald sent out one such email on Friday, alleging that the governor is considering new taxes to pay for impending Irene costs (though Shumlin has said publicly that tax increases would be a last resort). She urged the governor to call a special session of the Legislature to “re-prioritize” the current budget year. In addition, McDonald says Shumlin should freeze all “non-essential” spending and “implement education finance reforms,” and lower staffing levels in school districts across the state.

McDonald calls into question the governor’s leadership and asserts that Vermont was on a “fiscally imprudent trajectory” before the storm.

Whether or not this is an effective strategy for sowing doubt about Shumlin’s handling of the Irene crisis remains to be seen.

Eric Davis, a retired Middlebury College political science professor, told Vermont Public Radio on Friday that a change in administration would set back the recovery effort by three to six months.

Listen to the VPR interview.

VTDigger

Margolis: Vermont GOP gubernatorial lineup takes shape

Jon Margolis — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 03:38:07 +0000

Brian Dubie. VTD/Josh Larkin

Guess who’s feeling a little less gloomy these days: Vermont Republicans.

A few actually profess optimism. Party Chair Patricia McDonald said she felt downright excited about the party’s prospects next year.

This from the party that lost the governorship last year, that holds but two of the six statewide offices and not even a third of either house of the State Legislature. Is it kidding itself?

Not necessarily. Two developments in recent weeks have improved the collective disposition of Republican leaders and their supporters. One is that former Lt. Gov. Brian Dubie is seriously thinking about a rematch with Gov. Peter Shumlin, the Democrat who narrowly beat him last year. The other is that if Dubie doesn’t run for governor, State Sen. Randy Brock probably will.

Not that either man has said this. Dubie, deployed on hurricane duty with the Air Force, was not in a position to discuss politics late last week. Brock would only say that running for governor if Dubie does not was “certainly something that’s been discussed.”

But Auditor Tom Salmon, who said he has been in contact with both men and other GOP officials, said the general understanding was that the nomination was Dubie’s if he wants it and that “Brock is the second guy, and I feel I’m the third guy.”

Other Republicans clearly and dearly hope that they end up with one of the first two. It’s not that Republican insiders are confident that either man could beat Shumlin. It’s just that they are confident that neither one would get blown away.

“Brian Dubie,” one of them said, “gets at least 45 percent.”

A recent poll gave Shumlin a healthy (if by no means commanding) eight-point lead over Dubie.”

Even though it’s too early for firm political predictions (The election is more than 430 days away), this prediction makes sense. Dubie got 48 percent of the vote last year, just one point behind Shumlin. Dubie remains well-known and well-liked. Brock isn’t as well known. But he served one term in statewide office as auditor, so his name at least rings a bell with many voters. He’s articulate, and he can help finance his own campaign, so he could probably run a credible race.

Republicans insist that either man could do better than just run a credible race. “We think we have a real shot to take back the fifth floor,” said Tayt Brooks, executive director of the Vermont GOP.

That, of course, is what party executive directors say, but Republican optimism here may not be entirely delusional. Statewide unemployment is creeping up, which is never good news for incumbents. Shumlin has angered some voters by his health care proposal and his recent continuing criticism of the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant.

But most of those offended voters were Republicans to begin with. A recent poll gave Shumlin a healthy (if by no means commanding) eight-point lead over Dubie.

Besides, next year’s electorate will be different from last year’s, and while Republicans are feeling reasonably optimistic now, they also face a potential nightmare – a top-of-the-ticket debacle that could ruin any chances they have to win more statewide races or pick up seats in the Legislature.

Dubie came close last year, but that was a mid-year election when only 241,605 Vermonters voted. Next year is a Presidential year, as was 2008, when 325,046 voted. About the same number can be expected next year, and no matter what happens in the rest of the country, there’s not much doubt that Barack Obama will carry Vermont again.

Some of those 80,000 or so “extra” voters will just vote for president and go home. Some will split their tickets. But if history is any guide (and it’s the only guide), some are going to feel in a Democratic mood that day, and vote accordingly.

Adding to the GOP’s worries is that Sen. Bernie Sanders, an Independent who caucuses with the Democrats in Washington, appears poised to demolish any Republican who takes him on.

That helps explain why some party big-wigs have urged Salmon to run for re-election. They hope he can hold that seat for the GOP. They hope even more that he does not run against Sanders. Salmon is affable but mercurial, with a history of making statements that are impenetrable and impolitic. He would appear to be no match for Sanders.

But running against Sanders seems to be his preference. Under no circumstances, he said, would he seek re-election as auditor, an office he first won as a Democrat before switching parties in 2009. He said he would run for governor or for the senate, “or get out and go get a master’s in mediation.”

Right now, the only Republicans holding statewide office are Salmon and Lt. Gov. Phil Scott, who plans to seek re-election and is likely to win. But Tayt Brooks said the GOP has “a solid opportunity to pick up one statewide office,” specifically mentioning the State Treasurer’s office.

The Treasurer is Beth Pearce, appointed by Shumlin to replace Jeb Spaulding, who quit to become Shumlin’s Secretary of Administration. Pearce is little-known and has never run for office. But she’s a highly regarded public finance professional, and while anyone who runs for office becomes – by definition – a politician, she’s better positioned than most candidates to use the “I’m not really a politician” line so appealing to some voters.

If Brock does not run for governor, he seems likely to try to reclaim the auditor’s position, and would probably be considered the early favorite. Doug Hoffer, the policy analyst who lost to Salmon last year, said (by email), “I remain interested in serving as State Auditor but have made no decisions and will not do so until next year.”

Brocks’ optimism about the Treasurer’s spot did not really mean that Republicans have little hope of defeating Secretary of State Jim Condos or Attorney General William Sorrell. But in fact they have little hope in either race.

One Republican said there was some chance that Northeast Kingdom Sen. Vincent Illuzzi would take on Sorrell. Illuzzi, who is well-known and lively, might be competitive against Sorrell, who was appointed attorney general in 1979 and has never faced a tough opponent.

But while Illuzzi did not rule out running for attorney general, he did not seem enthusiastic about the possibility, either.

“I don’t know how serious I am about it,” he said.

Next year, like last year, Vermont politics is likely to be mostly about the governor’s race. Few first-term governors lose, as if voters understand that two years is a short tenure, and that unless the governor really stumbles, he deserves at least two more. So far, Peter Shumlin hasn’t stumbled, and remains the favorite. But at least for the moment, the Republicans seem ready to make him work for his second term.

VTDigger

‘Friends of Dubie’ seek funds to help fight campaign financing case

Anne Galloway — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 20:11:19 +0000

Brian Dubie. VTD/Josh Larkin

It has been eight months since former Republican Lt. Gov. Brian Dubie and Peter Shumlin went head to head in a historic battle for the governor’s office. Though the outcome has been long decided, and we are well into Gov. Peter Shumlin’s first term, the legacy of the campaign lingers on – in the form of legal bills.

Last September, the Vermont Democratic Party petitioned the attorney general’s office to investigate whether Dubie and the Republican Governors Association broke campaign finance laws.

Paul Tencher, former manager of the Vermont Democratic Party’s coordinated campaign, alleged that Dubie and the RGA coordinated efforts to create “Vision for Vermont,” an ad that began airing on local television stations on Aug. 19, 2010. Gov. Jim Douglas narrated the ad, which featured clips of Dubie talking with Vermont constituents and business owners.

Under state law, groups that support a candidate through advertising cannot coordinate efforts with that candidate, if the group wants to count those advertising dollars as independent expenditures. Otherwise, the advertising can be viewed as direct support for the candidate, and the candidate must report the expenditures as donations.

The Dubie campaign flatly denied that it coordinated efforts with the RGA to produce the ad.

The allegations are still under investigation, and since last fall Dubie has been obliged to answer queries from the Attorney General’s office. In the interim, he has chalked up tens of thousands of dollars in attorneys’ fees.

Though the Republican Governors Association has paid for some of the costs associated with the legal investigation, sources say, Dubie is personally liable for $75,000 worth of the legal costs – so far.

Earlier this month, a group of Republican stalwarts stepped up to help Dubie cover his legal costs. Gov. Jim Douglas, Skip Vallee and Barre Mayor Thom Lauzon formed the Friends of Brian Dubie Legal Defense Fund, and a few weeks ago, they sent a letter to GOP supporters asking for contributions to the cause.

The letter asks donors to help cover legal expenses in “this battle for freedom.”

“He will incur more before the battle is over,” the authors wrote. “Brian continues to fight against an investigation that was based on a false complaint brought against him by the Democrats during the campaign.”

“Brian, in his decent, honest way, is standing up against these meritless attacks,” the letter continues. “Now it’s time for you – for us – to stand with Brian.”

Douglas said Dubie spent all the money he raised for the campaign, “which was the right thing to do.” He said: “It’s a real disappointment that Brian, having lost the election has this hanging over his head. You always expect some bills after a campaign, but you don’t expect a protracted legal battle. It’s just a real shame.”

Lauzon said the letter is about “helping a friend.”

The Dubie campaign flatly denied that it coordinated efforts with the RGA to produce the ad.

“Brian ran a great campaign,” Lauzon said. “I still admire Brian’s past and future service to Vermont; I was only happy to help out.”

Douglas, who stepped down last January after eight years in the governor’s office, said he hopes the attorney general will resolve the issue expeditiously. “The meter runs every time the attorney general asks for more information or asks another question, and it seems to me the matter ought to be put to bed,” Douglas said.

“The attorney general has unlimited resources from the taxpayers, and Brian doesn’t,” Douglas said. I think he feels some of the inquiries he’s getting are redundant … and costing him more.”

Mayor Lauzon said the attorney general’s office, which has had “other cases that are perhaps more important,” is trying to be fair and thorough.

Megan Shafritz, the chief of the Civil Division, said, “The office is diligently pursuing the investigation, and sometimes the investigations take time.”

The civil division recently brought a separate campaign finance complaint to Washington Superior Court involving Green Mountain Future, a political action committee, largely funded by the Democratic Governors Association. The Attorney General’s office alleged that Green Mountain Future was acting as a political committee in Vermont, but “failed to file proper disclosure reports and failed to put proper identification on ads.” The organization spent $429,186 on negative ads associating Dubie with the tritium leak issues at Vermont Yankee.

Last month, Judge Geoffrey Crawford ruled in the state’s favor. The case is now in the remedy phase, Shafritz said, and the court will decide what the appropriate penalty is. The statute provides for fines of up to $10,000 for each violation.

Read the Green Mountain Future Decision on Cross-Motions for Summary Judgment

The letter from Douglas, Lauzon and Vallee cites the the judge’s decision as a major victory.

Dubie, who is weighing a second run for the governor’s office, did not respond to a call for comment. He referred the matter to Brady Toensing, a Washington, D.C.-based attorney who owns a home in Charlotte. Toensing declined to say how much Dubie had racked up in legal bills.

Toensing wrote in a statement: “The Vermont Democratic Party filed two complaints during the campaign, one of which has been dismissed. The complaints involve complex First Amendment issues. And the funds being raised are to help deal with the legal expenses tied to those important Freedom of Speech issues.”

Under Vermont law, an organization can spend unlimited amounts of money on behalf of a candidate as long as the activities are independent of a candidate’s campaign. In order for an expenditure to be independent, it “must not have been intentionally facilitated, solicited or approved by the candidate” or by an “agent” of the candidate (a staffer or volunteer.) Candidates and agents of their campaigns cannot communicate with outside organizations about expenditures that exceed $3,000.

The complaint alleges that the Dubie campaign directly aided in the production of an advertisement sponsored by the RGA. Tencher claimed the two organizations made arrangements for filming several campaign events, and the expenditure cannot be considered independent. Instead, he argues, the ad, which he estimates cost more than $30,000, is an in-kind donation, subject to the $3,000 campaign finance law limit.

Tencher also names Gov. Jim Douglas in the complaint, who he said, “acted as an agent of both the Republican Governors Association and ‘Friends of Brian Dubie.’”

Here is a breakdown of the Vermont Democratic Party’s complaint:

1. Some of the footage in the film comes from private campaign events, according to the two-page complaint. Because the lieutenant governor does not publish a public schedule, Tencher claims the only way RGA could have known about the events was through communication with the Dubie campaign. Scheduling a film crew to meet Dubie at a campaign stop constitutes collusion, Tencher writes.

2. Witnesses say Dubie was transported by “agents” of the RGA to an event used in a filming sequence for the ad, according to Tencher.

3. The video footage includes “fully staged interactions” between Dubie and private citizens.

4. The RGA has spent more than $30,000 on the ad, not including production costs.

5. Tencher cites the voiceover and fund-raising events sponsored by Douglas as examples of his role as a double “agent” – for the Dubie campaign and the RGA, of which he is a member.

VTDigger

Shumlin raises $187,380 for 2012 campaign

Anne Galloway — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 22:26:59 +0000

From left, Sen. Ann Cummings, Sen. Anthony Pollina, Gov. Peter Shumlin and Special Assistant to the Governor Susan Bartlett wave to parade-goers during Montpelier's Fourth of July celebration. VTD/Josh Larkin

Editor’s note: Taylor Dobbs contributed to this report.

Gov. Peter Shumlin told reporters on Thursday it was too early to say whether he was running for a second term, but if intent can be measured in dollars, Shumlin’s campaign finance report is an indication that the governor is well on his way to raising the money he’ll need to fend off any contenders – from the right or left.

With no declared Progressive or Republican in the race, Shumlin, as the incumbent, is miles ahead politically, and his July 15 filings show he is also putting distance between himself and any rivals financially as well.

Shumlin has started out the two year, long-distance fundraising race with a mad dash. Shumlin’s campaign reported $187,380 in contributions, including at least $84,365 in out-of-state donations. About 450 donors gave Shumlin money, and the governor has $170,000 in cash on hand. The governor also carried forward $25,600 from his previous campaign. He raised about $12,398 in donations of less than $100.

Among the heavy hitting donors ($2,000 each) first out in this round are some familiar names: Arthur Berndt, who is Shumlin’s finance chair, Tom Bombardier, a supporter of the National Gay and Lesbian Taskforce, Sen. Bill Carris, Barbarina and Aaron Heyerdahl of The Sustainability Group, Charlotte Metcalf and Rep. Maxine Jo Grad.

Shumlin has also attracted some new entities to his campaign, namely: the AFSCME ($1,000), the Distilled Spirits Council ($1,000), the Generic Pharmaceutical Association ($2,000), Main Street Landing Company ($2,000) and the MPP Medical Marijuana PAC ($2,500).

Shumlin has spent about $40,000 already, and the largest expenditures are for travel expenses, social media marketing services, personal security and political consulting. He spent $9,000 on advisors — $4,000 for consulting by his former campaign manager Alex MacLean, who is now his secretary of civil and military affairs, and $5,000 for consulting by Bill Lofy, who is his chief of staff. In addition, the governor has paid $9,000 to Theseus Advisors, a Burlington based-company that is providing political consulting services to Shumlin, Rep. Peter Welch, Sen. Philip Baruth, T.J. Donovan and the Vermont Democratic Party.

Unlike reporting periods last year, when Shumlin gave his campaign several hundred thousand dollars at a time as he lagged in the polls and on the fundraising front, this time, he didn’t have to pull money out of his own pocket to refill his war chest.

On Thursday, Shumlin told reporters he wasn’t paying attention to how much money his campaign was raising. “When I took on this job, I took on a heap of locally grown problems,” Shumlin said. “I am focused six to seven days a week on solving problems in real ways. … I’m more interested in the revenue forecast than the campaign.”

If Shumlin isn’t interested in how much he’s raising, his treasurer, Kate O’Connor, is.

“Gov. Shumlin is incredibly grateful for the strong financial support that he has received,” Kate O’Connor said in a statement. “This overwhelming financial support is a clear indication that Vermonters are behind the governor’s efforts to create good paying jobs, make our health care more affordable, and put Vermont on the path towards a clean, reliable, energy future.”

In 2012, Dubie and Shumlin spent a total of $2.913 million on their campaigns: The former lieutenant governor spent $1.486 million — $59,491 more than Shumlin did. Outside groups, including political action committees and national party organizations made an outlay of $1.99 million. The five candidates for the Democratic nomination spent $1.2 million. The grand total for the 2012 gubernatorial race was $6.1 million.

The GOP candidates who are weighing a 2012 challenge have been left in the dust in this first round of reporting. Former Lt. Gov. Brian Dubie, who lost in the 2010 gubernatorial election, has less than $1,000 in his coffers at the moment, most of which is a carry-forward from last year’s epic money fight.

Sen. Randy Brock, R-Grand Isle-Franklin, is next in line on the GOP side for the gubernatorial race, and received $250 in contributions and has about $7,140 in money left over from last year.

Meanwhile, Republican state auditor Tom Salmon, who has explored a run for the U.S. Senate and has said he may run for governor, has closed out his campaign account for the auditor’s race. Salmon reported $35,976 contributions of over $100 and $15,407 in donations below the $100 threshold. He gave all of his money to the Vermont GOP and issued a statement explaining that his July 15 campaign finance filing was a “de facto final close out report.” The position of auditor, he stated is “not an office sought.” In other words, Salmon may run for governor, he may run for U.S. Senate, but he will not be entering the race for state auditor.

As for the other constitutional officers, there are few surprises. This early in the election cycle, it’s rare for candidates to worry about raising much money. Republican Lt. Gov. Phil Scott, for example, has just $300 in hand. Secretary of State Jim Condos, a Democrat, has about $4,995 on hand.

Vermont Treasurer Beth Pearce, a Democrat who was appointed to her seat when her predecessor Jeb Spaulding won re-election in the last cycle, has raised $7,750. Virtually of the money for her first-ever campaign for office was contributed to her campaign on July 12 and July 13.

In a press release, Pearce said: “I am grateful for the early financial support of friends, family and leaders in Vermont, but I look forward to increasing the grassroots donors and supporters that I know are vital to a successful campaign in our state.”

The July 15 campaign finance reporting deadline will be the last until a year from now. At which point, candidates are required to file on a monthly basis from July 15 through Dec. 15. Candidates can receive no more than $2,000 from individuals. Contributions of $100 to $2,000 are listed by donor. Any contribution of less than $100 is aggregated.

VTDigger

Vermont GOP: Lauzon entertains run against Sanders; Dubie eyes Fifth Floor, again

Anne Galloway — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 01:35:11 +0000

Barre Mayor Thomas Lauzon. VTD/Josh Larkin

Eli Sherman contributed to this report.

Vermont’s Grand Old Party is patiently waiting for candidates to do the dance – the biannual, who-will-run-for-what tango. For the moment, however, the music has stopped.

Unless there is an unanticipated filing that slips in among the campaign finance statements submitted for the July 15 deadline, the GOP candidates, for the moment, are in wallflower wait-and-see mode.

That’s because until several key players make their intentions known, everyone else is in a holding pattern. The Vermont GOP doesn’t want to see a primary in any statewide race, and right now, the key candidates are temporarily stacked up for the big jobs — governor and U.S. Senate. The potential contenders for governor, for example, are, in order: Former Lt. Gov. Brian Dubie, who lost in the last go-round; state auditor Tom Salmon; and state Sen. Randy Brock, R-Franklin-Grand Isle. Salmon would only run for governor if Dubie stepped out and Brock has all but decided against a gubernatorial race, sources say; likewise Barre Mayor Tom Lauzon would likely only campaign against the formidable U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., if Salmon drops his bid. Republican Lt. Gov. Phil Scott is staying put.

Dubie, who lost by about 7,000 votes to now-Gov. Peter Shumlin in 2010, is “seriously thinking” about rejoining Shumlin in a race for the governorship. The former lieutenant governor told Charlie & Ernie on Talk 620 he won’t make an official announcement until Labor Day. Dubie declined to discuss his plans when VTDigger.org reached him for comment. “I’m not able to talk politically right now,” he said.

A prominent member of the Vermont GOP said Dubie is considering a second run at the governorship because the last election was very close and “a lot of the important points and things he felt passionately about he feels have yet to be addressed by current governor.” Dubie, according to this source, says Shumlin has taken the state in a fiscally irresponsible direction, particularly in the realm of health care reform. Party stalwarts complain that Shumlin has done very little about jobs and the local economy. “He (Dubie) feels he could unseat the current governor,” the source said.

In an interview, Dubie said: “I’m not able to talk politically right now.”

After the GOP’s difficult defeats in the last go-round, party stalwarts are gearing up for an early campaign to start for Election Day 2012.

Pat McDonald, chair of the Vermont GOP, is pushing candidates to make decisions by the end of the month. McDonald reasons that an early start will help campaigners raise money and galvanize the base.

“When you have those names associated with positions, it helps to get the momentum going and grassroots efforts solidified,” McDonald said.

One of the contenders, Barre Mayor Thom Lauzon, sidestepped questions about a gubernatorial run in an interview last week – he’s apparently more interested in taking on the apparently invincible Sen. Bernie Sanders.

“People say (Sanders) can’t be beat and I think he can. I absolutely think he can,” Lauzon said.

The Barre accountant says he’s unimpressed with the way the iconoclastic senator from Burlington foments on issues, especially proposed changes to the tax code. Lauzon favors higher taxes for wealthy Americans, too, but he thinks a less antagonistic approach would be more productive.

“He’s got this way of being divisive,” Lauzon said. “I don’t know, it just seems that Bernie just so embitters people. He just creates this class warfare, and you know I just don’t like it.”

Lauzon said Reince Prince, the chair of the Republican National Committee, encouraged him to challenge Sanders. Whether Lauzon, however, would be the senatorial standard-bearer for the Vermont GOP is anyone’s guess – especially since state auditor Salmon has been publicly “exploring” the very same notion for months (but without the express imprimatur of party leaders).

Salmon says he’s still in a “testing the waters phase.”

“I’ve raised an insignificant amount of money and haven’t declared,” Salmon said. As for the Republic lineup, he says, “We have to be strategic not our show cards until September, but somebody may jump out sooner and change the deck. …. We need to put team goals ahead of individual goals.”

In a meeting held at the end of May, the Vermont GOP met with pols who were considering a run for statewide or federal office in the next election: Thom Lauzon, Phil Scott, Tom Salmon, Randy Brock, Mark Snelling and Brian Dubie (who phoned in).

According to McDonald, they talked generally about races at the meeting but did not get into any specifics. McDonald said it could be the end of the month – long after the campaign finance reports are due on July 15 – before official declarations are made.

“Thom is potentially running for something but really there’s nothing definite yet,” MacDonald said. “We have a strong bench of strong viable candidates. We are hoping it all gels together by the end of July.”

The next step for potential candidates is to create an exploratory committee to take the pulse of voters and financial supporters, according to McDonald.

Lauzon, who has been swamped with flood-related cleanup issues in Barre, said: “I’m no closer to making a decision of whether I’ll run or not.”

VTDigger

Vermont GOP’s ordination of a gubernatorial candidate a ways off

Jon Margolis — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 05:19:28 +0000

Sen. Randy Brock. VTD file/Josh Larkin.

Six possible statewide Republican candidates got together at party headquarters in Montpelier last week to start talking about next year’s campaign.

They did not decide who would run for what.

“It was essentially a meeting to talk about 2012, but no decisions were reached,” said Sen. Randy Brock, R-Grand Ise-Franklin, one of the meeting-goers. “No one as far as I can tell reached any firm decisions. People are thinking about various options.”

Neither, despite reports to the contrary, were they trying to anoint one candidate for governor so that the party could avoid a primary.

So, at least, said Republican State Chair Pat McDonald, who should know. She organized the meeting.

“A primary in some cases is a good thing,” said McDonald.

As last year’s election proved. Republican Lt. Gov. Brian Dubie waltzed to the nomination unopposed, only to lose to Peter Shumlin, who barely squeaked to victory in a five-way Democratic primary.

Besides, the state chair and six potential candidates – even if two hold statewide office – lack the power to ordain the party’s nominee or to stop anyone else from running. They seem to know that.

“I wanted to make sure the Republican Party encourages people to be engaged and encourages people who might not have been in that room to consider running for governor or other offices,” said Snelling Center president Mark Snelling, the former candidate who is the least likely of the six to seek office next year.

McDonald also said one topic of discussion was the possibility that other potential candidates might come forward.

“I’m told others have interest,” she said. “We’re reaching out as a party. Our meeting was to make sure we do include everyone.”

But just because the meeting was preliminary does not render it insignificant. The fact that GOP bigwigs felt it necessary to start serious and (sort of) formal discussions about an election 17 months away reveals two facts about Vermont politics right now:

It isn’t too early. And it isn’t too early because money matters, even in Vermont. Perhaps not as much as it does in most other states, but more than it used to matter because campaigns increasingly rely on expensive television advertising;
The Republicans are in bad shape. Bad does not mean hopeless, because in politics, fortunes can turn quickly. But the only Republican likely to give Shumlin a tough fight, Lt. Gov. Phil Scott, is “definitely” not running, said a senior Republican official who knows the lieutenant governor.

Senior, knowledgeable, officials have been wrong before because politicians have been known to change their minds. But it seems highly unlikely that Scott (who was at the meeting, but who could not be reached) would challenge Shumlin next year. Snelling said he had heard the lieutenant governor say he is “happy where he is.”

No incumbent governor has been defeated in this state since 1962, and that was a governor (F. Ray Keyser, Jr.) who made several political mistakes. Shumlin, thus far, has made none, or at least none that matter. Incumbents do well in Vermont, especially running for their second two-year term, as if voters effectively acknowledge that two years isn’t enough time for a governor to make his or her mark.

Besides, next year is a presidential election year, when turnout will be much higher than it was last year. McDonald said she saw that as an opportunity. Noting that almost half of Vermont’s registered voters did not vote last year, she said, “There’s a reason why they didn’t.”

No doubt, but turnout was down all over the country, and higher turnout tends to help Democrats. Whatever happens elsewhere, Barack Obama is likely to carry Vermont, meaning he’ll win the support of most of the 80,000 or so voters who did not show up in 2010 but will vote next year.

Brian Dubie and Tom Lauzon on the campaign trail during the 2010 Gubernatorial election. VTD/Josh Larkin

Some will just vote for president and go home. Some will split their tickets. But if history is any guide (and it’s the only one) some, even those who are not loyal Democrats, will be in a Democratic mood that day and keep voting for Democrats. Popular incumbents like Jim Douglas can often overcome that phenomenon (“surge and decline,” the political scientists call it). Long-shot challengers rarely can.

Of all the potential contenders in the room, the one sending the strongest signals that he might want to challenge Shumlin is Auditor Tom Salmon. On his Facebook page, Salmon said that a race between him and Shumlin would be “thrilla in Montpilla,” playing off the “Thriller in Manila” nickname of the 1975 heavyweight championship fight between Joe Frazier and Mohammed Ali.

But it’s hard to know what Salmon will do. The Democrat-turned-Republican earlier all but pledged to challenge Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., next year and ruled out running for re-election as auditor. Now he is considering the governorship and another term as auditor.

Mayor Thomas Lauzon of Barre has also pondered running against either Shumlin or Sanders. Lauzon was at the meeting, as (by phone) was Dubie, who has not ruled out a rematch with Shumlin, but does not seem to have done anything to prepare for one.

Brock said he is considering all his options, and he is certainly acting like a candidate for statewide office. But probably not governor nor lieutenant governor, assuming Scott runs for re-election. Brock could seek to reclaim the auditor’s post, which he lost narrowly to Salmon back when (and largely because) Salmon was a Democrat. Brock also could challenge Treasurer Beth Pearce, who has never run for office and who was appointed by Shumlin to replace Jeb Spaulding when Spaulding became Secretary of Administration.

As to those others out there that both Snelling and McDonald mentioned, neither provided any names. It would not be surprising if GOP leaders were hoping for another Jack McMullen or Rich Tarrant, very wealthy businessmen making their first run for public office and willing to finance most of their own campaigns.

At least party bigwigs wouldn’t have to spend a lot of time and energy begging for money for a lost cause.

VTDigger

Dubie's farewell speech to Senate

Press Release — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 09:36:30 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

5 January 2010

CONTACT: Martha Hanson

Farewell Remarks

Lt. Governor Brian Dubie

Vermont State Senate Chamber

5 January 2010

Good Afternoon

Thank you for the opportunity to serve you as your Lt. Governor for the last eight years.

It has been a privilege to have the opportunity to serve our state in elected office.

I would like to recognize a few special people who are here this afternoon.

My wife, Penny and my daughters, Emily and Casey – my brother, Gen. Mike Dubie — Gen. Jon Farnham, who has just returned from a year of service in Afghanistan, and Martha Hanson, my Chief of Staff and Only Staff.

And a special salute to Lt. Governor-elect Phil Scott. Congratulations, Phil.

Some of you have served for many years; others will start your service here in Montpelier today. As I conclude my service as your Lt Governor, I would like to recognize the service of some special Vermonters.

We members of the American Legion have a saying: “many gave some, some gave all”. The mother of a fallen service member is given the title of “Gold Star Mother”

A Gold Star Mother named Marion Gray is with us today. Marion and Steve lost their son, Army Sgt. Jamie Gray, in Iraq , on June 07, 2004. He was 29 years old.

Marion has chosen to serve others.

In May 2006, Vermont ’s Gold Star families chartered a bus together to go to the National Day of Remembrance in Washington DC .

Army Spc. Chris Merchant died in Ar Ramadi, Iraq , on March 1, 2006. His parents, Gary and Janet, wrote at the time, “This weekend we find ourselves on a bus with many people just like us. They know and feel the same things as we do. We see that it is okay to cry, to laugh, to joke, to live.”

From that bus ride the Vermont Fallen Families was born, with Marion Gray as its binding force.

Last November 11, Vermont dedicated a new Vermont Global War on Terror Memorial at the Veterans Cemetery in Randolph, dedicated to all the state’s military who have served in war since the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.

The Grays, the Merchants, Ray DeGiovine , and all the other Gold Star families made the memorial at the Vermont State Cemetery a reality. Ray’s 25-year-old son, Marine Corporal Christopher DeGiovine, was killed in Anbar province in 2007. We must never forget these brave Vermonters and their sacrifice. Marion , thank you for your service. Thank you to all of Vermont ’s Fallen Families.

Another Gold Star Mother that I would like to recognize is Vicky Strong.

Nate and Vicky Strong lost their son, Marine Sgt. Jesse Strong, in Iraq on January 26, 2005. He was 24. Jesse was loved by his community, and by his fellow students at Liberty University . Vicky has chosen to serve her state in a new way. She will serve alongside you here in Montpelier , as a member of the House from Albany , Vermont . She has much to offer. Vicky, we wish you the best of luck as you open a new chapter of service here in Montpelier .

On Monday, Sept. 19, 2005 Army Lt. Mark Dooley was killed in Ar Ramadi, Iraq . Mark was 27 years old.

Mark’s mom, Marion said, “Mark had a unique sense of dedication, care and responsibility toward his family, friends, his military companions and his country. I remember the sensitivity in which he gave me a sealed envelope prior to his deployment to Iraq and his request that I promise not to open it unless he did not return. As promised, this document was only opened after his death and I am confident that sharing it will allow everyone to have the insight into the remarkable person who was my son.”

In that letter, Mark wrote, “Mom, I have no delusions that reading or even hearing this letter read can fill my absence. Please forgive me for not being able to be there; but also remember that my leaving was in the service of something that we loved, and that most people can’t comprehend its scope. Cherish in your heart that it wasn’t done for any abstract reason like a flag or a foreign government’s success, but our sacred honor.”

Friend and fellow Wilmington police officer Greg Murano now organizes an annual 5K race in Wilmington. A portion of this year’s proceeds was donated to help complete the Vermont Global War on Terror Memorial. His service has life and meaning.

Kyle Gilbert was a soldier from Brattleboro . Sadly, Kyle was killed in Iraq on August 6, 2003. He was 20 years old. His mother Regina wrote me a letter that I would like to share with you today.

She wrote: “I want you to hear this, my dream, I really never thought I would have a dream but now I do, I will one day travel to the road my son was on, on 6 Aug 2006, and touch and feel the ground he where he took his last breath, feel his pain and pray for him on that night. When Iraq is free, I will prevail and make my dream come true, please be there with me”.

After Kyle’s death, Regina ’s husband Herbert chose to join the Guard and was deployed to Afghanistan for a year. I received a text message from Regina when Herbert landed in the United States after his year in Afghanistan . Please join me in thanking Herbert for his service and Regina for her dream.

We all need a dream to focus our service. What is your dream?

I would also like to recognize another special mother. She lived in Bennington . Her name was Sally Goodrich.

Sally and Don Goodrich lost their son, Peter, on Sept 11, 2001. Peter was a passenger on United Airlines Flight 175, the second plane to crash into the World Trade Center towers in New York City .

Shortly after Peter’s death, Sally learned she had ovarian cancer.

Reflecting on her situation then Sally said, “Everything was destroyed, my life, my faith, my ability to live. I had nothing left.’’

Then in August 2004, a friend of Peter’s who served as a Marine major in Afghanistan sent an e-mail asking the Goodrich family to collect supplies for the children of a village in dire need of assistance.

“That was the beginning,’’ Sally said then. “I call it the moment of grace. I knew Peter would have responded to that e-mail. I knew I had to, in his name. For the first time, I felt Peter’s spirit back in my life.’’

Peter’s father Donald said, “Peter was always searching for a better understanding of the human condition, suddenly it shone upon us, that here is a path that Peter would be on. Because he would be on that path, we were going to take it.’’

To honor his memory, the Sally and Donald created the Peter M. Goodrich Foundation, and conducted fund-raising to build and support three schools and an orphanage in Afghanistan .

Don says, “Sally saw a need or saw something that would be fun, and that big old Irish smile would come out and things would happen.’’

Sally says of her work in Afghanistan , “I wouldn’t say it was a journey of faith, but I would say it was a journey that restored my faith, and it also changed my faith. I think about my faith, and I think about God in more open ways than I did before. I don’t know how to explain it except to say that my faith is now about action to help people. Helping these children with education, which is the future of Afghanistan , gave us our lives back. I’m so lucky to have found that. I don’t know how to thank them.’’ Sally passed away on December 19, 2010.

Thank you, Sally.

We face challenges in our state. You have run for office to serve. The lives of these special Vermonters serve as inspiration to all of us. Each had a dream, like each of you. Each took a first step, like each of you. Each faced setbacks, as you will, and each served in a special way. Each of you can and will serve in a special way.

These Vermonters made a difference. So will you.

The Vermont State Senate lost its guiding beacon last August. David Gibson served as Secretary of the Senate from 2000 till the time of his death.

When I was first elected lieutenant governor, the presiding officer over the Vermont Senate, I must admit I had never been in this Senate chamber.

I met David, and David explained Mason Rules, rules of the Vermont Senate, the unwritten rules, and the traditions of the Vermont Senate.

It has been my privilege for the last eight years to learn the traditions of the Vermont Senate. They were written on the heart of David Gibson.

For the past half-century, Ernest – David’s father; Robert – David’s brother; and David wrote those rules and kept them alive.

David really only had one rule. It ruled his entire life and was the basis for all the rules of the Senate: Do unto others as you have them do unto you.

We serve in a legislature where strongly held beliefs carried by strong-minded people are bound to clash.

David Gibson was a beacon of kindness, grace and integrity.

He made us all better people than we would have been without his friendship. And we all loved him for this.

David, we will miss you.

May God bless you.

I know that David would approve of your choice to succeed him, former state senator John Bloomer. John, I know you will wear the mantle well. Congratulations, and best wishes to you.

I would also like to recognize and thank those others who serve year in year out to keep this chamber working well.

Assistant Senate Secretary Steve Marshall.

Journal Clerk Vanessa Davison.

Calendar Clerk Priscilla Alexander.

Office Assistant Roxy Quero

Cornelius Reed, Theresa Randall, and our Doorkeepers and pages.

Thank you all for your service to our state.

Serving in elected office is a unique way to serve one’s fellow citizens.

But there are many ways to serve. I look forward to assisting Vermont by continuing my work with our friends in Quebec . Next time you are in Quebec City , look in the phonebook; I have a lot of cousins up there.

As I reflect on my service, many have asked me about my post-election thoughts.

Here is my perspective. I have run for office and lost before.

As a matter of fact, one man I lost to will soon be Vermont’s new Secretary of Human Services. In November 2000, I lost to a fine gentleman named Doug Racine.

A few months later, in April 2001, I was on a long run on Miami Beach, training for an upcoming marathon, on a layover with my airline job. I must admit, I was thinking about the election when a frantic boy ran up to me, asking for my help.

I followed this young person to the water’s edge — looked out – and saw three heads in the water a couple of hundreds yards out. Immediately, I headed out into the surf. As I swam out, I thought of the advice of my loving wife Penny — who happens to have been a lifeguard. “Never go in the water without a floatation device”– and I am thinking, “What do I do now honey? Oh well,” I think, as I keep swimming.

Soon, I had reached the first person in the water. It was a school-aged girl, and the look in her eyes confirmed that she was in trouble. Just like my wife predicted, she grabbed me frantically with her arms and legs around my neck. Fortunately, I was able to get her to shore.

Then I headed back into the water, to assist another rescuer who had followed me out to bring the next young girl in.

The short version of this story is my girl made it, and the second girl did not. I was on that beach because I had lost an election.

The way I see it is, there is another person, on another beach for each one of us. Our job is look for the person and do our best in that moment.

Marion, Vicky, Regina and Sally by their service remind us that there are many ways to serve. Thank you all for your service. I wish you the best of luck. God Bless you all.

VTDigger

Dubie’s farewell speech to Senate