Editor’s note: This story is by Susan Youngwood, a freelance reporter who lives in Montpelier.
Democrat Jim Condos will be Vermont’s next secretary of state, decisively defeating Republican Jason Gibbs last night, 52 to 45 percent.
Condos, 59, garnered 106,865 votes to Gibbs’ 92,002.
In an interview early on election night, Gibbs had an explanation for the vote, which was leaning Condos’ way from the start. It was tough getting media attention, he said.
“People who listened to us voted for me,” he said, saying that most of the media attention was on the gubernatorial race. “If (voters) were not focused on this campaign then they voted the party ticket or based on name recognition.”
A member of the Douglas administration for eight years, Gibbs, 34, held several positions: policy analyst, press secretary and commissioner of forests, parks and recreation.
Condos, 59, served 18 years on the South Burlington city council and eight as state senator. He’s worked at Vermont Gas Systems for 12 years; for the past two, he has been managing government and community relations.
“I feel good about the campaign I ran,” Gibbs said. “I listened to Vermonters — I talked to thousands. From a personal point of view, this was an educational experience.”
During the campaign, both candidates promised to provide more information to citizens through the secretary of state’s web portal.
Gibbs questioned Condos’ financial acumen when problems with the South Burlington pension fund become public. Gibbs also highlighted the secrecy of the council meetings while Condos was a member.
Condos responded that pension issues were part of contract negotiations that are routinely and legitimately conducted in executive session at all levels of government. He described Gibbs as being a member of the Tea Party movement, holding conservative positions.
