TJ Donovan Not Running for Lt. Governor

Chittenden County State’s Attorney T.J. Donovan said today he will not be a candidate for lieutenant governor.

Donovan was one of several Democrats considering a run for the office, given the current officeholder Lt. Gov. Brian Dubie, a Republican, is running for governor.

"As I have traveled across our state over the past few months I have been humbled by the many Vermonters that have enthusiastically encouraged me to run for lieutenant governor," said Donovan in a statement. (Note to Donovan: You shouldn't use your government email address to send out political statements - just sayin'.)

"After much thought, I have concluded that it is not the right time for me to run," added Donovan. "At this point in my life, my focus will be on my work as state’s attorney and most importantly on my family as my wife and I welcome our first child in the near future.”   

Donovan was first elected as Chittenden County State’s Attorney in 2006 and he's up for reelection in 2010. He told Seven Days that he's inclined to run for a second term.

"It was a tough decision, but I need to put my family first," Donovan told Seven Days.

With Donovan out of the picture, it may free up other Democrats to make their intentions known. Several Democrats, as well as one Progressive, are mulling a bid for lieutenant governor.

Progressive Rep. David Zuckerman will decide by month’s end if he’ll run for the post — as a Democrat. He may opt to run for state senate, given that only one of the five Democratic Chittenden County senators is seeking reelection — the rest are either mulling a run for higher office, thinking of stepping down, or already a candidate for another race.

The one Dem staying put is Sen. Tim Ashe, who was also elected on the Progressive Party label. Also likely to stay put from the county's six-member caucus is Republican Diane Snelling.

Here's how the rest of the contingent squares up:

Sen. Doug Racine (D-Chittenden) is running for governor while Sens. Virginia Lyons and Ed Flanagan are considering bids for lieutenant governor.

There are persistent rumors that Sen. Hinda Miller will not seek reelection, though she has told Seven Days she has not yet made up her mind.

Some political observers wonder if Flanagan will even seek reelection let alone run for higher office given the recent allegations that he masturbated in front of two patrons at  the Greater Burlington YMCA. The state's attorney decided not to file criminal charges against the senator.