[A] debate between the two neck-and-neck candidates for governor turned testy Sunday with charges leveled and complaints swapped about negative advertisements sponsored by outside groups.
Democrat Sue Minter accused Republican Phil Scott of being supported by the Koch brothers and — in one of the sharpest attacks of the campaign — noted he was not present when the Legislature voted to override the governor’s veto of gay marriage.
Scott, who was a state senator at the time, voted in favor of gay marriage, which he has pointed to throughout the campaign as an example of his moderate views.
While praising Scott for supporting marriage equality, Minter charged Scott “walked away from that vote when it really counted” because of his absence the day of the override in 2009. Scott said he had a previous engagement, was assured by Senate President John Campbell that there were enough votes already to override in the upper chamber, and would have cancelled his appointment if needed.
Scott, who became lieutenant governor in 2010, seemed taken aback by the charge. He said he had lost friends and some family members didn’t speak to him for years after he supported the gay marriage bill. Scott initially opposed civil unions when he first ran for the Vermont Senate in 2000, but said he changed his view.
“I think it’s unfair to try to … you know, it’s never enough,” Scott said. “I took the vote and that’s not enough. I do other things, it’s not enough. I’m pro-choice, that’s not enough. I mean it’s just never enough, and I think we’re just better than that.”
Noting the poisonous political atmosphere on the national level, Scott, invoking a Democrat, said: “Hillary Clinton is right. Our children are watching us.”
Just a few weeks ago, Scott announced he would sell his share of his business because it does business with the state. Minter said the state should still not do business with Dubois Construction even if Scott sells his half because it would still be partially owned by Scott’s cousin.
Minter charged the Republican Governor’s Association is backed by the conservatives Charles and David Koch and were intent on defeating her, in part because of her views that climate change is a serious problem. She noted Scott’s previous position on global warming and his questioning of whether it was man-made. Scott has said he “evolved” on the issue.
“I don’t know them,” Scott said of Koch brothers, and added he doubted they would support a moderate Republican. Scott said advertisements backed by the Democratic Governor’s Association mischaracterized his views and were “deceitful.” Minter also complained about the tone of Scott’s Twitter feed but didn’t elaborate.
On global warming, Minter noted that last year “winter never came to Vermont and we just had the hottest summer on record.”
Later in the debate, during a discussion about gun control, Scott charged that Minter’s support for universal background checks was a “political ploy to incite fear for political gain.” He also tried to portray her on several occasions as a supporter of additional taxes, including a tax on carbon and extending the sales tax to services, both of which Minter denied she’d implement if elected.
The 90-minute back and forth also included discussion about economic development, the opiate crisis and a need for better mental health services. The debate was sponsored by the Vermont Press Association and held at St. Michael’s College in Colchester. Liberty Union candidate Bill “Spaceman” Lee did not attend.
A poll by Vermont Public Radio last week showed Scott and Minter in a dead heat to replace Gov. Peter Shumlin, who decided not to seek re-election. Scott had 39 percent in the poll and Minter had 38 percent, with 14 percent undecided.
The two tangled over the redevelopment of downtown Barre, which Minter has highlighted as an example of the public/private partnership she hopes to foster. According to Minter, $19 million in public funds leveraged $45 million in private investment, created hundreds of news jobs and dozens of new businesses. Scott, who grew up in Barre, said the community was hurt by competition in the granite industry and that relocating part of the state Agency of Education to Barre doesn’t solve the problem.
Both said they would work to streamline and simplify the development review process. Both also said they would appoint one official to be in charge of tackling the opiate epidemic, though Minter noted she had the idea first.
On taxes, Scott used his one question for Minter to portray her as a supporter of taxes, including a tax on carbon, expanding the sales tax to services. Minter shot back that she does not support a state carbon tax, that it would have to be part of a national effort, and said she would not support expanding the sales tax unless it were part of a larger overhaul of the tax structure. She also noted Scott supported increasing the sales tax from 5 percent to 6 percent as part of an education reform package when he was in the Senate.
Minter has called for a fee on banks to pay for a college tuition program and has said she would support closing loopholes on the sales tax on limousine rides and other items she said are used by the wealthy. She vowed to not raise income or sales taxes that would hurt the middle class. Scott has said he will restrict the growth of the state budget to help make the state more affordable.
Scott said he would support gun control measures if he thought they would stop murders, but he said those ready to commit violence will use another weapon. Minter cited statistics that fewer women have been killed in states where guns have been restricted.
Both candidates spoke about personal qualities. Scott said he realized he was a role model when a fan at Thunder Road shaved his car number, 14, on his head. Minter spoke of the need for integrity and to be unselfish, and praised the Central Vermont community for coming together after the death of five local students in a car crash. Minter, who lives in Waterbury, near the school where four of the students attended, wore a pin with the names of the students.
Questions have been raised in the crash case about whether the accused driver was seeking mental health treatment. Scott said the state does not have enough beds and may have to build a new central facility. Minter advocated for mental health services in schools to prevent problems later on.
