Former Gov. Jim Douglas is the narrator for Republican candidate for state treasurer Wendy Wilton’s latest campaign ad. Douglas, a Republican who served as Vermont’s state treasurer for eight years prior to his four terms as governor, assures voters that Wilton is “looking out for you.” He recites one of Wilton’s major talking points — that she turned Rutland’s $5 million deficit into a $3.8 million surplus — and touts her record as a “professional, non-political fiscal leader.”
Douglas, who had high popularity ratings when he stepped down in 2010, says he got to know Wilton through her involvement in local politics. (Wilton is the Rutland city treasurer and a former state senator.) The two politicians developed a longstanding personal friendship over the years. “I’ve known them [Wilton and her husband] for quite a long time. Her kids used to helped me out in parades.”
Throughout his time in office, both as governor and as state treasurer, these two positions were filled by people from different parties, Douglas said, and he thinks this arrangement works best. Current Secretary of Administration Jeb Spaulding, a Democrat, was treasurer during Douglas’ tenure as governor. When Douglas served as state treasurer, Democrat Howard Dean was governor.
Douglas said the contentiousness of the treasurer’s race could have a positive effect. “It’s been more spirited, but the upside of that is that it’s made people more aware of the importance of the office,” he said.
Wilton also appears in the ad engaging in conversation with Douglas and with a mother holding a baby. The ad concludes with Wilton saying, “I’ll provide total transparency for all our state finances online.”
In the first week of October, Wilton spent about $14,000 on TV ads with WPTZ and WCAX. It’s not clear whether the expenditures are for this ad.
