Editor’s note: This article is by Lisa McCormack, a reporter for the Stowe Reporter, in which it was first published on Nov. 14.
One of the most popular Republicans in the country will be in Vermont next month to help rally the state’s GOP.
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie will speak at the Vermont Republican Party’s Welcome Winter Gala on Wednesday, Dec. 11, at the Champlain Valley Expo in Essex Junction.
Christie, a potential presidential candidate in 2016, was elected to a second term as governor earlier this month after winning 61 percent of the vote in the heavily Democratic state.
Rep. Heidi Scheuermann, R-Stowe, worked with Lt. Gov. Phil Scott to bring Christie to Vermont to help reignite interest in the Republican Party.
“He’s excited to come to Vermont,” Scheuermann said. “We contacted him to see if he would be willing to come here to help the Republican Party. I was pleased when he said yes.”
Christie’s successful gubernatorial campaign, which won over larger numbers of independent and moderate Democrats, offers insight on how a Republican could take the governor’s seat in Vermont, according to Scheuermann.
“I think it will depend on how things are going and who would want to run for governor,” said Scheuermann of the 2014 gubernatorial race. “We have a very popular Republican lieutenant governor.”
The key will be changing perceptions of the party, she said.
“We haven’t been successful in recent years,” Scheuermann said. “What we can do is re-engage people of all stripes in the Republican Party — both people who in the past have considered themselves Republicans and have been on the sidelines with participation and donations, and independents. I don’t think we can win without independents. That’s what we can learn from Chris Christie.”
It’s difficult to gauge how many Vermonters are independents because the state does not require registered voters to declare their political affiliation. Scheuermann estimates at least 50 percent of voters consider themselves independents.
“This gala is attracting them,” Scheuermann said. “When they’re RSVPing, they’re saying that they’re independent. We’re excited about getting their attention.”
As of last Friday, 160 tickets had been purchased for the gala. Tickets are $50 per person or $1,000 per couple for a private reception with Christie.
While the event is a fundraiser, the real goal is to draw a large attendance.
“We want to not just attract Republicans but independents to get a good crowd to re-launch our party,” Scheuermann said. “That’s our main objective. We’re looking forward to hearing and learning from Gov. Christie about how he’s been able to do it in a blue state. We have a lot of similarities. We’re excited to hear his message.”
Vermont GOP
Scheuermann said she supports the election of former Rutland Rep. David Sutherland last weekend as Vermont Republican Party chairman.
“I’ve supported him from the beginning,” Scheuermann said. “I’m very excited. He’s not only a capable leader and policy maker, but he can bring people together. He knows the challenges facing Vermonters. That’s what we need at this point.”
John MacGovern, who ran against Sutherland for the position, has accused the state’s Republican Party of becoming too moderate and of shying away from social issues such as abortion.
Scheuermann believes the party has done a good job of finding common ground.
“The media has advanced the theme of moderate versus conservative because it’s easy to do, but this is more complex than that,” Scheuermann said. “This is not about conservative versus moderate. This is about governing. It’s about selling your message and making sure Vermonters understand your message.”
She said the state GOP shares the core principles of the national party: less invasive government, lower taxes, a business-friendly environment, and protection of personal liberties.
“We should focus on things that unite us and not divide us,” Scheuermann said. “It’s about leadership. It’s about tone. It’s too simple to say it’s moderate versus conservative.”
Spring session
It’s too early to predict what the Vermont Legislature will focus on when it reconvenes in January, Scheuermann said.
Much depends on the implementation of Vermont Health Connect, the state’s health care exchange, she said.
“It’s been a disastrous rollout,” Scheuermann said. “We’re the only state in which the exchange is mandatory. It’s a mess for Vermonters to figure out how to sign up. It’s taking a lot of time out of very busy days for business owners. We need to make sure people have insurance as of Jan. 1.”
The concerns about the exchange are nonpartisan, with both Democratic and Republican lawmakers receiving complaints from their constituents, she said.
Scheuermann, who sits on the Economic Development Committee, is also working on a comprehensive proposal for economic growth that would spark certain areas of the economy.
Scheuermann has long advocated for changes to the statewide education funding system and will continue to do so.
“Education funding reform is still my No. 1 priority,” she said.
She supports consolidating the state’s number of supervisory unions rather than closing schools as a way to save money.
If no changes are made to the existing funding system and statewide education spending increases by 3 percent, the statewide education property tax could rise by as much as 6 cents, she said.
“When you have the system in place we have where budgeting is done at the local level and spending is done at a statewide level, cost containment is not there,” Scheuermann said.
It’s a complaint she hears frequently when talking with her constituents.
“It’s problematic for property owners in this town,” Scheuermann said. “It’s also sad, because a lot of people have given up. Too many of them move out of the state once they’re able to do that.”
