Voters in Rutland and Washington counties have voted out incumbent Republican State’s Attorneys and elected Democratic challengers.
In Rutland County, Democrat Rose Kennedy took 9,506 votes to Republican Mark Brierre’s 9,006. And in Washington County, Democrat Scott Williams handily defeated Republican Tom Kelly, winning 9,973 votes to Kelly’s 8,654.
Three other counties had already seen incumbent State’s Attorneys depart, so a total of five Vermont counties will install a new top prosecutor.
State’s Attorneys have broad discretion in charging, prosecuting, and disposing of criminal cases. It’s rare to see so much turnover in a single election.
In Orleans County, Republican Jennifer Barrett defeated Democrat James Lillicrap and independent Ben Luna. Barrett had ousted incumbent Alan Franklin in the Republican primary.
In Grand Isle County, Democrat/Republican Doug Disabito easily won the election. He had beaten 12-year incumbent David Miller in the primary; Miller mounted a write-in campaign in the general election, but fell far short.
Lamoille County incumbent Joel Page is retiring; Paul Finnerty was unopposed in the general election and won with 99 percent of the vote.