At the last minute, Republican state Sen. Diane Snelling dropped her bid to unseat Senate President Pro Tem John Campbell, as the Statehouse’s upper chamber convened for its first day of the new session.
Snelling, a Burlington Republican first elected in 2002, originally planned to oppose Campbell to express dissatisfaction with dysfunctional Senate proceedings last year, in a largely symbolic move, as a 23-member Democratic caucus stood firmly behind Campbell.
Instead Snelling actually nominated Campbell to his second term as the Senate’s chief, saying in a brief speech that her concerns about the smoothness of Senate proceedings had recently been addressed to her satisfaction.
“This may seem surprising to some,” began Snelling in her nomination speech. “However, I’ve been promised nothing more and nothing less than a fair and accountable process, in a focused and productive Senate.”
Afterward, Snelling told VTDigger that she’d only reached a decision to back down yesterday, partly to ensure that the message behind her bid came across clearly to fellow senators.
“My candidacy was always about making a point: that we must conduct ourselves in the Senate with respect and courtesy, but we have to follow the process, be accountable,” Snelling said.
“That has been a very common conversation in the last few months, among the majority caucus and a variety of people from outside, and I think the point has been made,” she said. “I will remain vigilant to it. … It really does take constant effort to make good laws.”
Later, Campbell embraced Snelling as she left the Senate chambers, saying he appreciated her decision.
Campbell, D-Quechee, said he didn’t persuade her to withdraw, describing any such attempt as a “patently self-serving” tactic he wouldn’t endorse. He said he learned of her decision yesterday. He believed that his meetings with individual senators in past months, along with his pledge to bring legislation to the floor without resorting to political maneuvering, helped change Snelling’s mind.
In his short opening speech as the freshly re-elected President Pro Tem, Campbell emphasized bipartisanship. He said he hoped to inspire public confidence in state politicians, in a climate where voters feel increasingly frustrated with federal politics.
“When people look at what’s happening now down in Washington, everyone kind of thinks that’s what happens here in Montpelier. I’m proud to say that doesn’t happen,” said Campbell. “When we do our work, we do it without concern for what party you’re in, whether you be a Democrat, a Republican, a Progressive, or an independent.”
Last year, senators complained widely about dysfunctional Senate proceedings, which led to a failed attempt by Washington Democratic Senator Ann Cummings to usurp Campbell’s leadership position among Democrats.
The Senate is now made up of 22 Democrats, seven Republicans, and Progressive freshman David Zuckerman of Hinesburg, plus two senators who won on a combined Progressive-Democratic ticket.
Republican Rutland Sen. Kevin Mullin also thanked outgoing former majority leader Bill Carris, a Rutland Democrat, for his years in public service. Retiring for health reasons, Carris will be replaced by a gubernatorial appointee from among three candidates nominated by Rutland County Democrats.
Although Carris’ son ran for the position, he didn’t make the shortlist of three candidates forwarded to Gov. Peter Shumlin, according to Rutland County Democratic Chair Kathy Hall.
Fifty-six Democratic delegates at a Jan. 2 meeting voted to forward Eldred French, Cheryl Mazzariello-Hooker and Bob Baird as candidates to the governor.
It’s unclear when exactly Shumlin will formally decide on Carris’ replacement, but a decision is expected by the end of January.
