This arcticle is by Mike Faher, of the Brattleboro Reformer, in which it was first published Nov. 4, 2014.
BRATTLEBORO — A Windham County legislator was unseated in Tuesday’s voting, as independent Laura Sibilia bested Democratic Rep. John Moran in the Windham-Bennington House District.
Sibilia, of Dover, garnered 577 votes compared with Moran’s 538. Another independent, Phil Gilpin of Dover, finished third with 159.
Moran, a Wardsboro resident, called Sibilia after 10 p.m. Tuesday to concede. Sibilia noted Moran’s accomplishments over eight years in Montpelier, but it seemed that her message — which focused on economic development, tax reform and the need for a Legislature more mindful of business concerns — resonated with voters.
“When I was out on the campaign trail and talking with people, they’re really concerned about what’s going on,” Sibilia said. “I think voters thought it was time to try a few other things.”
She added that “I’m really humbled by the responsibility that voters have given me to go up and represent their interest.”
Moran said he was disappointed, but he thanked his supporters, wished Sibilia luck and said it had been “an honor to serve.” He could not speculate on what issue might have been a factor in his loss.
“As I always do, I put what I’m going to do and what I have done out there, and people can react to that,” Moran said.
The incumbents were easy winners in two other local, contested legislative races of note:
— In the Windham 3 House District, with five of six towns reporting, Democratic Reps. Carolyn Partridge of Windham and Matt Trieber of Rockingham had gained 1,345 and 1,173 votes respectively, besting independent challenger Deb Wright, who had garnered just 400 votes.
— In the race for two Windham County Senate seats, Sen. Jeanette White of Putney and fellow Democrat Becca Balint of Brattleboro cruised to victory over three challengers.
The Windham-Bennington race had drawn the most attention in the general election, as Moran sought a fifth term representing a district that covers Dover, Readsboro, Searsburg, Stamford, Wardsboro and part of Whitingham.
Moran has been known as a progressive Democrat, prominently campaigning for causes including a higher minimum wage, guaranteed sick time and universal health care.
Sibilia and Gilpin touted their economic-development experience, as both previously had led the Mount Snow Valley Chamber of Commerce. Sibilia, who now is director of economic development for Brattleboro Development Credit Corp., was critical of Moran’s focus on workers’ rights — she argued for more “balance” and consideration of the impacts of state policies on small businesses.
Sibilia, who serves on Dover School Board, also argued that the state’s educational-funding system had reached a “boiling point” due to an increasing burden on taxpayers.
Gilpin, known for recently moving the Independent Television and Film Festival from Los Angeles to Dover, acknowledged the state’s education-tax problem but prioritized the importance of economic growth in the district.
The Windham County Senate race — covering all of the county’s towns aside from Wilmington and Londonderry — grabbed headlines in the primary election as Balint and White beat out two other Democrats, Roger Allbee and Joan Bowman. Current Democratic Sen. Peter Galbraith of Townshend decided to not seek another term.
White is a six-term senator who in the past session served as chairwoman of the Government Operations Committee. Balint is a former teacher who now is a writer and consultant; she also has worked on economic-development strategies and has served as a Town Meeting Representative and Development Review Board member in Brattleboro.
For the general election, the two Democrats were joined on the Senate ballot by independent Mary Hasson of Brattleboro and two Liberty Union candidates — Aaron Diamondstone of Marlboro and Jerry Levy of Brattleboro.
Hasson had campaigned unsuccessfully for Senate in 2012 as a Democrat under the name Mary Cain. With 19 of 20 towns reporting Tuesday night, Hasson had gained 1,937 votes. Diamondstone had 1,119, and Levy gained 888.
White was the race’s top vote-getter with 7,721, while Balint had earned 6,344.
The Windham 3 House race pitted Partridge, serving her eighth term as Windham County’s second-most-senior representative, and Trieber as the two incumbents challenged by Wright.
Partridge has served as House Minority Leader and House Majority Leader and is well known for her recent work as chairwoman of the House Agriculture and Forest Products Committee.
Trieber was appointed to the House in 2011 and won a full term in 2012. He is a former Rockingham Selectboard member who runs Atkinson Street Environmental LLC.
Wright, a former Bellows Falls village trustee and Rockingham Free Public Library trustee, owns Green Mountain Traffic Control. She had said she wanted more legislative focus on northern Windham County and more attention paid to the state’s open-meeting law.
CORRECTION: White has not served on the Senate Finance Committee.