The five Republican candidates for lieutenant governor squared off in their first debate Tuesday night, with the majority proclaiming support for President Donald Trump and his policies.
During the first of four statewide primary election debates hosted by Vermont Public Radio and Vermont PBS, the candidates addressed issues including affordability and the state’s aging demographics.
Three of the five candidates said that they supported the Trump administration. Businessman Scott Milne, the best known of the candidates who narrowly lost a bid for governor in 2014, said he would not vote for Trump this year and would write in former Gov. Jim Douglas instead. Milne also said in 2016 he would not vote for Trump.
In addition to Milne, the Republican lineup includes Meg Hansen, a health care advocate and communications specialist; Dwayne Tucker, a civil engineer who specializes in septic system design who is also running for the state Senate from Washington County; Dana Colson Jr., who owns a welding supply company in Tunbridge; and Jim Hogue, who has been a supporter of the Vermont secessionist movement.
The Democratic Party candidates will square off Thursday night.
Hansen, a political newcomer, said she was fully behind the president because of the economic strength the country has enjoyed over the past four years prior to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Any administration that increases access to work and improves our quality of life should have our 100% support,” Hansen said.
Tucker said he believes Trump “actually cares” about the working class and is a “fighter for their rights from an economic standpoint.” Colson concurred, adding that while he supports the president some of his tweets make him “cringe.”
Hogue said he did not support Trump in 2016. Hogue said he has been struck by how the president has survived the countless scandals during his time in office.
“I have been very much amused and very much impressed at the way Trump has survived the attacks from the media, the DNC, the fake — the Russia hoax, the Mueller hoax — and he came out of those with his head above water and I’m very impressed,” Hogue said.
Milne, who also ran for U.S. Senate in 2016, said he has been disappointed that Trump has not acted more presidential.
When candidates were allowed to ask each other questions, Milne received the most attention with Tucker, at one point, commenting that the Pomfret businessman would be in the “hot seat.”
For Tucker’s part, he admitted early on in the debate that he was more interested in his state Senate bid than the lieutenant governor’s race.
“My heart is really focused on the Washington County Senate seat,” he said.
Hansen pressed Milne to respond about his view on mail-in voting as well as his support for some of the policy proposals put forward by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.
Milne said he agrees with Sanders on international trade issues, and sees similarities between the Republican president and the Vermont independent’s view on this policy.
“I think they have the same strategy and philosophy on trade,” Milne said. “There’s some bad trade deals and President Trump and Sanders are on the same page with that.”
“So thanks for pointing that out,” Milne ended his response to Hansen.
Hansen also faced pointed questions.
Citing a recent VTDigger article about Democrat Molly Gray’s candidacy and whether she met the “residency” requirement to run, Colson asked Hansen if she had recently lived outside of Vermont. Candidates for governor and lieutenant governor are required to reside in Vermont for four years prior to the election.
Hansen was born in India and has lived in Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Italy, the United Kingdom, and Norway.
Hansen said she moved to the Upper Valley region 10 years ago and she resides in Windsor.
“I’ve been a full-time resident of Vermont over the last 10 years,” Hansen said. “I’ve paid my taxes, this is where I have my license.”
