Sen. Vince Illuzzi, R-Orleans, says he plans to file a petition to run for state auditor with the Secretary of State’s office 10:30 a.m. Thursday.
Candidates are technically allowed to file petitions for multiple offices, so Illuzzi could file to run for re-election to his Senate seat while also keeping the option open to run for auditor, but he says he doesn’t plan on it.
“You’ll know for sure on Thursday,” Illuzzi said.
Illuzzi’s announcement got the attention of Democrat John Rodgers of Glover and Republican Rep. Bob Lewis of Derby, who announced their candidacies Monday and Tuesday, respectively.
In an email to VTDigger, Lewis said he plans to officially launch his campaign at a press conference next week.
Rodgers, a former representative, was out collecting signatures Saturday to make another run for the House after he lost by one vote to Rep. Sam Young in 2010.
When he got word that Illuzzi wasn’t planning a Senate run, Rodgers changed his mind and shifted his focus to the Senate. He decided to run Sunday morning, and must now collect 100 signatures by the 5 p.m. Thursday deadline to get on the ballot.
Rodgers will run as a Democrat, though he admits he is doing so more out of habit than dedication to liberal ideals.
“I like to consider myself an old, Vermont-style Democrat,” Rodgers said. Fiscally conservative and moderate on most issues, Rodgers says he aligns well with the Northeast Kingdom he hopes to represent.
“I think in large part, whether they identify with Republican or Democratic party, people here are moderate,” Rodgers said.
As opposed to extreme focus on a small set of issues, Rodgers hopes to work in the Senate as a collaborator and says he would like to help bridge the gap between Republicans and Democrats.
““If you talk with people in Montpelier, there’s people in both parties that I’ve worked with on various issues and I don’t so much see party as I see people,” Rodgers said.
He hopes to continue this, serving as a “voice of moderation” in the Senate. His time in the House showed him Vermont’s government, though not to the same extent as the U.S. Congress, is becoming increasingly partisan. Rodgers said he hopes to cut through this partisanship and get the job done.
“If we could just get rid of some of the left and the right and get people back in the middle and get things done,” he said.
Update: Jim Guyette has announced his candidacy for an Orleans County Senate seat as well. Click here to see his letter to supporters.
