Editor’s note: This story is by Susan Youngwood, a freelance reporter who lives in Montpelier.
Republican Tom Salmon held onto his state auditor job tonight, defeating Democrat Doug Hoffer.
With almost 95 percent of the precincts reporting in, according to numbers on the WCAX Web site, Salmon had 109,248 to Hoffer’s 91,088, 53 to 44 percent.
Salmon’s solid victory ran counter to the prediction of two Vermont political pundits, who thought Hoffer would win in a close race.
Hoffer was not available for comment after the results were announced.
While incumbent Salmon had the early edge, Middlebury College’s Eric Davis and UVM’s Garrison Nelson felt Hoffer would claim a narrow victory.
Salmon has gotten some negative press lately. Last year he was arrested for and pleaded guilty to drunk driving; sent an e-mail about his campaign from his state account; used a state-owned video camera to film campaign events; gave his staff pay raises while others in state government saw pay cuts; and didn’t catch a $500,000 embezzlement case. He has been both criticized and praised for intervening in events outside the purview of the auditor’s job.
Last week, a judge ordered a tape of Salmon’s DUI arrest released.
“Obstacles make you stronger,” said Salmon last night, referring to the video.
“People I talked to around the state said the tape was a low blow, but it also reminded people how I handled the issue — swiftly and responsibly,” Salmon said. That reaction may have solidified his support among voters, Salmon said.
Salmon has been upfront about his interest in challenging Bernie Sanders for U.S. Senate in 2012. He said he will announce his intentions on March 5, 2011 — the birthday of the Navy Seabees.
Salmon, whose father was Vermont governor in the 1970s, grew up in Vermont and earned his degree in accounting from Boston College. He moved to Los Angeles, quit the accounting profession to become a teacher, eventually moving back to Vermont. Now 47, he ran for auditor in 2006, ousting the incumbent after a recount. As a member of the US Naval Reserves, Salmon spent most of 2008 serving in Iraq. Two years ago, he switched parties.
Switching parties, Salmon said, could have cost him the election.
Hoffer, who also ran on the Progressive ticket, grew up in Connecticut and Florida, graduated from Williams College and earned a law degree from SUNY Buffalo. A job in Burlington brought him to Vermont in 1988. According to his Web site, he’s been a self-employed policy analyst for 17 years, after working for Burlington’s Community & Economic Development Office. He was a private consultant for the auditor’s office under Flanagan, and has researched and written numerous reports — such as the Vermont Job Gap Study for the Peace & Justice Center — and testified frequently before the state Legislature.
Salmon said with the campaign over, he can focus on the auditor’s job. He plans to be at his desk first thing Wednesday morning.
“I’m going to review my notes related to the feedback from a (school) superintendent in southwest Vermont, on an audit we did last week,” he said.
