Tracy Carris, a son of retiring Vermont Senate majority leader Bill Carris, is seeking to replace his father in the state Senate.
Carris resigned from the state Senate last week, citing health concerns. His seat will be filled in January after Gov. Peter Shumlin appoints a successor from among three nominees put forward by the Rutland County Democratic Committee.
Former majority leader Carris said he only heard about his son’s plans to compete for his seat a few days after his resignation. “It was a surprise to me,” said Carris, who added that he didn’t actively encourage his son to run. “I resigned because of my back and foot, and just wasn’t going to be able to keep up the pace. A few days later, he said he’d like to throw his hat in the ring.”
Carris said he’d “absolutely” back his son’s bid to become one of the three nominees from five Democrats currently competing among Rutland Democrats. “I think he’s capable. I think he’s got the interest and concern for the community, so I’m certainly behind him 100 percent,” said Carris.
Tracy Carris has been an attorney with Poultney firm Debonis, Wright & Carris, since 2009, specializing in real estate and state planning. He worked in real estate development in Honduras from 2005 to 2009, and before that was an assistant public defender in Florida, according to his LinkedIn profile and official company bio.
“I’ve always been kind of a political junkie since I was a kid,” said Tracy, pointing to his involvement in planning and economic development commissions, like the Rutland Regional Planning Commission and the Poultney Planning Commission, as the foundations of his political experience.
Tracy doesn’t think his father’s political career will give his bid too much of a boost, though he adds: “I suppose Carris is a fairly well-known name in Rutland. … My father knows a lot of people, but I know a lot of people that he probably doesn’t know, as well.”
Tracy said he’d previously considered running for a House seat in Poultney this election season, but ultimately decided against it.
Bill Carris said there were five people so far vying for the three nomineeships, with three names picked during a local county caucus in early January. He expects Shumlin will appoint his successor shortly after that caucus forwards him three candidates.
Tracy Carris estimated that about 40 to 60 delegates from various Rutland County towns will vote on the three nominees to go forward.
The four other candidates for the nomineeships weren’t known at the time of publication. Rutland County Democrats chair Kathy Hall didn’t return a request for comment.
Senate President Pro Tem John Campbell said that he’d like to speak with the three nominees to “see where they are coming from,” and that Bill Carris’ recommendations would weigh heavily on his own preferences, but added that in the end, it’s Shumlin’s decision.
