[R]etired Wall Street executive Bruce Lisman announced he is running for governor, in a press release issued Tuesday at 8:45 a.m.
Sen. Joe Benning, R-Caledonia, and other state leaders said Monday that they had heard of Lisman’s plans to announce as soon as Tuesday that he will run for governor in 2016 as a Republican.
Lisman will make a formal announcement in October, Tuesday’s press release said.
“I told him I’m glad that he’s running in the Republican Party as opposed to a run as an independent,” Benning said at the Vermont GOP summer barbecue in Essex Junction featuring U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky.
Lisman, founder of the policy group Campaign for Vermont, considered running in 2014, but did not.
“Last time I did think about it, but not very seriously and not for very long,” Lisman told VTDigger in a July interview, adding that this time he was giving it more thought.
“This is a moment in which people are suspicious of their political leaders, their political parties, of the same old stuff, and many people think their government at all levels isn’t listening to them,” Lisman said.
Lisman told VTDigger Monday that he “had nothing to announce at this time.” Follow-up calls seeking comment after GOP leaders had publicized Lisman’s intentions were not returned.
Lisman’s announcement could set up a GOP primary race against incumbent Lt. Gov. Phil Scott, who is also considering a run for the open seat left by the retirement of Democratic Gov. Peter Shumlin.
Scott said Monday night that Lisman told him of his intention to run in a meeting Monday morning. Scott said he would not comment on Lisman’s bid until it was formally announced.
House Speaker Shap Smith is running for the Democratic nomination and former state Sen. Matt Dunne is expected to join the race as soon as this week.
