During their eight years serving together in Vermont’s top elected offices, former governor Jim Douglas often referred to his lieutenant governor, Brian Dubie — a commercial airline captain — as his copilot.
Last night, during the latest of his regular Vermont Public Radio commentaries, Douglas flew to Dubie’s rescue, arguing that his copilot should not be held personally liable for misdeeds allegedly committed by his 2010 gubernatorial campaign.
“The cost to Brian and his family of defending himself has become steep,” Douglas told VPR listerners. “And I can only assume that a protracted lawsuit such as this one — years after the campaign is over — will only discourage other decent and hardworking people from running.”
In December, the Vermont attorney general’s office sued Dubie and the Republican Governors Association for allegedly violating campaign finance laws by illegally coordinating campaign activities with one another. According to the complaint, Dubie’s campaign shared $93,000 worth of polling information with the RGA, which then used the data to produce $242,000 worth of television commercials on Dubie’s behalf. Those figures, if counted as in-kind contributions between the two entities, exceed legal limits.
Reached at his Middlebury office Wednesday, where he is serving as an "executive in residence," Douglas elaborated on his commentary, arguing that it’s fine for the attorney general to sue a political committee, but it shouldn’t sue a former candidate unless he or she personally broke the law.
“There’s lots of criminal and civil actions against candidates and parties and political entities, but targeting someone personally is what’s different here,” Douglas said. “Targeting an individual and putting them through a very emotionally and financially draining experience isn’t fair. The state has unlimited resources. It’s out of your pockets and mine.”
But according to Assistant Attorney General Megan Shafritz, whose civil division filed the suit against Dubie and the RGA, candidates are, in fact, legally responsible for the actions of their campaigns. Shafritz’s office made the same case on Wednesday when it filed its response to Dubie’s motion to dismiss the suit.
“The plain language and structure of the statutes make clear that it is the candidate who bears responsibility for compliance with campaign finance laws,” the A.G.’s office says in its memo. “The statutes themselves provide that a ‘contribution’ and a ‘related expenditure’ may be based on actions of either the candidate or the candidate’s committee. Therefore, it is not necessary to allege that Dubie himself shared polling or filed the faulty campaign reports.”
Shafritz elaborated that, “Really, the campaign committee is not a legal entity. It doesn’t exist beyond the campaign and so it’s the candidate that ultimately bears the responsibility for the actions and for ensuring that his campaign is in compliance with the campaign finance laws.”
Neither Dubie nor his lawyer, Brady Toensing, immediately responded for comment, but Toensing told the Vermont Press Bureau’s Thatcher Moats in February that, “there must be proof of a candidate’s knowledge and personal involvement in the misconduct to charge him with a violation.”
Vermont Democratic Party executive director Jesse Bragg, whose organization filed the initial complaint that prompted the attorney general’s action, said that to let Dubie off the hook would encourage candidates to break the law.
“That would put us in a situation where someone can create a campaign, violate the law, dissolve the campaign and then absolve themselves of wrongdoing,” Bragg said. “I don’t think anyone would disagree that that’s not a direction we want to be going in.”
Douglas’ commentary was not the first time the former guv came to Dubie’s rescue. Douglas says he has twice leant his name to fundraising letters sent to potential contributors by the “Friends of Brian Dubie Legal Defense Fund,” which was established to help defray the former lite guv’s legal fees. According to VTDigger’s Anne Galloway, those fees had already reached $75,000 as of last July.
Douglas would not estimate how much money Dubie owes in legal fees, but he did offer a means of sending in additional air support for his copilot.
“I don’t want to estimate how far he’s in the hole or what the current status is, but he’s still in the hole,” Douglas said. “Tell your readers to send a check. Box 1075, St. Albans, 05478.”
Illustration by Marc Nadel.
For the second time this year, a Vermont judge has ruled against an out-of-state political action committee — saying the PAC's spending in the 2010 election violated state law.
Today, Superior Court Judge Geoffrey Crawford ruled that political ads run by the Republican Governors Association last year violated the state's campaign finance laws because the group failed to register with the Secretary of State's office and failed to adhere to Vermont's campaign contribution limits.
In July, Crawford ruled that a Democratic Governors Association PAC — Green Mountain Future — violated state law by running ads that attacked GOP candidate Brian Dubie, and failed to register with the Vermont Secretary of State's Office. The group argued that it was legally set up as a so-called 527 group and therefore didn't need to register with the state. Crawford rejected that argument. (Read both judicial decisions below.*)
The DGA-financed group spent more than $500,000 attacking Dubie. The RGA and an affiliated committee shelled out a cool $900,000 in the ad wars.
Similarly, Crawford ruled that the RGA ran two political advertisements from August to October 2010, one promoting candidate Brian Dubie and the other attacking Democratic candidate Peter Shumlin, but did not register with the Secretary of State’s Office or file required disclosure reports. The judge also found that the RGA accepted contributions in excess of $2,000, in violation of Vermont’s limit on contributions to political committees. The RGA ran its own advertisements plus others under its Vermont political action committee, Green Mountain Prosperity PAC. The RGA’s total spending on the Vermont gubernatorial race in 2010, both directly and through that PAC, was more than $900,000.
Crawford rejected the RGA’s argument that national organizations such as itself cannot be regulated under Vermont’s campaign finance law. It ruled that if a PAC raises and spends more than $500 to support or oppose a candidate for Vermont office, it must follow Vermont law, regardless of whether it is also involved in political work in other states.
"The RGA's perceived problem is one of its own creation," Crawford wrote in his ruling. "It set up a Vermont PAC which apparently was prepared to operate within the state in complete compliance with the Vermont statute—the RGA nevertheless chose not to use it for these advertisements. Alternatively, it could limit its advertising to genuine issue ads which are constitutionally exempt from regulation. It did neither.
"Instead, the record shows that it attempted to skirt state regulation by running advertisements which functioned as campaign ads but lacked explicit language such as 'Vote for Lt. Governor Dubie,'" Crawford went on. "This strategy was employed by both national governors' associations and carried the risk as we have seen that both associations would be found in violation."
Attorney General Bill Sorrell said he was pleased with Crawford's latest decision. The judge has not yet issued fines or penalties in either case.
“We are pleased with Judge Crawford’s decisions,” said Sorrell. “This office will continue to evenhandedly enforce Vermont’s campaign finance laws.”
Sorrell filed suit against both parties last fall.
A third legal loose end — whether Dubie's campaign illegally shared polling information with the RGA — is still pending, Sorrell told Seven Days.
Read the full RGA decision: Green Mountain Prosperity Decision on Cross Motions for Summary Judgment
Read the full DGA decision: Green Mountain Future Decision on Cross Motions for Summary Judgment
* This post has been updated with links to Judge Geoffrey Crawford's decisions.
An independent candidate who last year challenged the constitutionality of Vermont's campaign filing deadlines received some good news Wednesday from Washington Superior Court Judge Geoffrey Crawford.
Crawford ruled there are enough open questions — and little legal precedent on the books to answer them — to necessitate a hearing on whether Vermont's newly-adopted election filing deadlines hamper access to the ballot by independent candidates.
Two days of hearings will be held after mid-May, Crawford stated in his ruling.
Last year independent candidate for U.S. House Jerry Trudell (pictured right) sued the state for denying him access to the general election ballot.
The Secretary of State's office has asked Crawford to dismiss the case, but he refused. Assistant Attorney General Megan Shafritz told Seven Days the state was still reviewing Crawford's ruling and was unsure if it would try to appeal it — or simply press forward and prepare its case.
"We just got the opinion in this morning and we're still digesting it and have to review it with the Secretary of State's office before we decide our next steps," said Shafritz. "The court did appear to indicate that the factual record needs to be filled out a bit more before it could prepare for a decision."
Trudell's attorney, Charles Merriman, was thrilled by the ruling. Merriman was a Democratic candidate for Secretary of State last year, but lost in the primary to the current officeholder, Jim Condos. The case was brought during the tenure of the previous Secretary of State Deb Markowitz.
"I was extremely thrilled with the ruling," said Merriman. "The argument that there could be a constitutional infirmity is a very difficult argument to make. I'm glad that Judge Crawford appeared to agree with us that there are some key questions that need to be answered."
Merriman said he was impressed that Crawford took time to spell out the importance that independent candidates, and independent political thought, have on Vermont's political process. In one footnote, Crawford identified independents like former Sen. Jim Jeffords and current Sen. Bernie Sanders as politicians who have made a difference in Vermont politics.
Crawford noted that Sanders' own ascension in politics is owed to another independent — Richard Bove. Bove failed to defeat incumbent Burlington Mayor Gordon Paquette in a primary and ran as an independent in the general election, splitting the vote, and giving Sanders a 10-vote victory.
"Independents — and the views they express — are not taken lightly in this state," Crawford noted.
Doing away with so-called "sore loser" candidates was one impact of last year's campaign filing date changes, because independent candidates were forced to file their petitions for office at the same time that party candidates involved in a primary had to file — several months earlier than had been the case in previous elections.
Vermont lawmakers rushed through a bill last year to change the date of the general election primary from the second week of September to the third week of August. Supporters said the change was necessary to ensure overseas and military ballots could be mailed to voters at least 45 days in advance of the general election. Vermont had run afoul of this federal provision in previous years.
Critics of the change said it was being done solely to allow for more time between the primary and general election for one of the five Democratic gubernatorial hopefuls to have a better chance to recoup after the primary and go toe-to-toe with the sole Republican in the race during the general election. Democrats controlled the legislature by commanding margins but the bill won widespread support. Though he considered vetoing the measure, Gov. Jim Douglas eventually allowed the bill to become law.
The changes forced independents to gather and present signatures to get on the November ballot at the same time that primary candidates had to file to get on the August primary ballot.
The law went into effect on April 7 and the deadline to submit petition signatures to get on the ballot was mid-June — too short a timeframe argued Trudell and other independent candidates. For statewide office, you need to gather 500 signatures. Prior to 2010, candidates for the November election had until 60 days prior to the election — early September — to file their petitions.
Trudell attempted to file his 600 petition signatures in September, after a recount in the Democratic primary stalled the final wording of the November ballot.
In his ruling, Crawford said the change raises plenty of questions — on both sides — with few answers at hand in legal filings to answer them.
Before determining if the law change was necessary to prevent "sore loser" candidates, Crawford said a number of questions deserved firm answers, including: "Do any of the independent candidates who have run for state-wide office in Vermont of the last 20 years fit that description? Do the majority parties actually need or desire this type of protection? Is there an alternative, less burdensome way to provide 'sore loser' protection to the major parties such as a prohibition against appearing on the general election ballot after losing a primary election?'
Another reason for the law change was to ensure that the voting public was adequately educated about all the candidates — and making sure those candidates were identified early in the process. To that point, Crawford said these questions arose: "I there any substance to this concern? Have independent candidates received any additional exposure between the filing deadline and the primary as a result of Act 73? When do voters actually pay attention to elections? How do we weigh the costs of exclusion from the ballot against the benefits of two additional months of public identification for all candidates?"
Crawford said his questions are not intended to be exhaustive, but indicative of the need to have "a real hearing with testimony from both sides" rather than simply paper briefs. Expert witnesses on both sides need to be identified by April 1, and any depositions should be completed by May 15.
Download a copy of Judge Crawford's decision: Download Decision on motion to dismiss
*UPDATED BELOW WITH COMMENT FROM VPIRG'S PAUL BURNS*
*UPDATE #2 BELOW WITH HIGHLIGHTS OF SEN. JEANETTE WHITE'S COMPREHENSIVE CAMPAIGN FINANCE BILL*
Last fall, Seven Days told you about the flood of secret campaign donations collected by the candidates running for governor. Vermont law permits small-dollar donors — those contributing $100 or less to a candidate — to remain anonymous. And the five Democrats and one Republican running for Vermont's top job raked in small fortunes from unnamed donors.
As of August 25, 2010, five candidates (four Dems and the sole Republican) had collectively raised $423,812 from 7759 donors who gave $100 or less — meaning that fully 14 percent of the $2.9 million raised in the governor's race up until that point came from unnamed individuals.
Republican Brian Dubie had the most ($147,263), followed by Democrats Deb Markowitz ($123,792), Doug Racine ($73,696) and Matt Dunne ($51,142). Peter Shumlin, the eventual big winner, had grossed $27,919 from 479 low-dollar contributors. Susan Bartlett's campaign couldn't supply the data.
For Democrats in a crowded primary, the law proved especially helpful: rank-and-file Dems leery of taking sides publicly could donate small amounts discreetly to their favored candidate, or candidates, without pissing off the others by having their name appear on a public report.
Now a second-term state representative from Manchester, Democrat Jeff Wilson (pictured), has proposed a bill that would change that rule — and require any donor who gives more than $10 to a candidate to be named in public disclosure reports. Introduced yesterday, H.199 would lower the disclosure limit from $100 to $10 — meaning anyone donating $9.99 or less could still remain anonymous.
Calling the issue a "no brainer," Wilson tells Seven Days he can't think of a single good reason not to require names and addresses for low-dollar campaign donors.
"There's no reason these days — with Excel spreadsheets — that one can't keep track and report this," Wilson says. "I mean, if you can't figure how to use an Excel spreadsheet, you shouldn't run for office, basically."
Wilson doesn't believe there's a whole lot of money-bundling in Vermont campaigns, and so doesn't think his bill will prevent that kind of behavior. However, during his own campaign in 2008, Wilson says he received unsolicited donations — all in the amount of $100 — from several special-interest groups, which he returned. He wouldn't name those groups.
Are his legislative colleagues behind the idea?
"I got a little ribbing today," he says. "In good fun. I haven't had any real serious discussion with colleagues about it. We'll see if there's any traction behind this or not."
When we wrote the story during the campaign, watchdog groups were split about the importance of identifying small-dollar donors. Paul Burns of Vermont Public Interest Research Group and Allen Gilbert of the ACLU-VT both said nameless small donors wasn't a huge deal in their view. A more urgent reform in Vermont, they said, is requiring big-dollar donors — who can give up to $2000 to candidates — to disclose their occupation and employer. Currently, the law doesn't mandate that.
However, Gail Zatz of Common Cause Vermont was troubled by the anonymity, calling it one more reason Vermont deserves the 'F' it received in campaign-finance transparency in a 2008 survey of states by the Campaign Disclosure Project.
"The secrecy makes it impossible for the public, journalists and watchdog groups to know who or what may be influencing a campaign," Zatz told Seven Days at the time.
Wilson's bill wouldn't address identifying employers and occupations for individual large donors. "I was trying to keep it as simple as possible," he says. "Sometimes incremental change is easier than the comprehensive, holistic approach."
State Sen. Jeanette White (D-Windham) has introduced a comprehensive campaign-finance reform bill — S.20 — which I will address in a future post.
***UPDATE***
VPIRG's Paul Burns tells me he hasn't seen Wilson's bill but that it probably is not something VPIRG would support. Excerpts from Burns' email to me, which includes some info about S.20, the comprehensive campaign finance bill:
As I said to you last fall, very small contributions to candidates are not the problem when it comes to money in politics. In fact, VPIRG believes that as a public policy matter we should encourage candidates to reach out to as many voters as possible seeking small gifts of support. The idea that a candidate is funding his or her race through the small gifts of many people is a good thing for democracy.
This legislation would add a record-keeping burden to campaigns and provide a possible disincentive to giving (some folks don’t want it known that they have given) with no clear justification.
Meantime, S.20 is the bill I would encourage you to take a look at. Among other things, it would reestablish commonsense limits on contributions to candidates from individuals, corporations, PACs and political parties. Also, it would (as currently written) require disclosure of a donor’s occupation and employer. This is important information for the media and the public. It’s the only way one could begin to determine whether a particular company or industry sector is trying to influence legislators in a concerted way.
Senate Gov’t Ops has already started taking testimony on S.20. I testified last week. It’s a major priority for them (and legislative leadership too I think) this year. It’s similar to legislation twice vetoed by Gov. Douglas (where the overrides each fell one vote short in the House).
***UPDATE #2***
After a quick read through, here are some highlights of S.20, the comprehensive campaign finance reform bill introduced by state Sen. Jeanette White (D-Windham, pictured). Click the link above to download the whole bill:
Disclosure:
- Would require candidates to collect and disclose occupation and employer of contributors (currently not required).
Contribution Limits:
- The amount in total contributions that candidates for office could accept from a single source or political committee would be: $250 for state rep.; $500 for state senator; and $1000 for the statewide offices of governor, lt. governor, secretary of state, treasure, auditor and attorney general.
- A single source could not contribute more than $20,000 to all candidates in any two-year election cycle. And a single source could not contribute more than $20,000 to all political committees and political parties in a two-year cycle.
- Candidates could not accept from a political party more than: $30,000 for statewide offices; $2000 for state senator or county offices; and $1000 for state rep. or local offices.
- Contribution limits would be adjusted for inflation every two years (non-election years) based on the Consumer Price Index.
- Political committees could not accept contributions totaling more than $2000 from any single source, political committee or political party.
- Political parties could not accept contributions totaling more than $30,000 from another political party.
ID Requirements for Electioneering Communications
- At the end of any TV or radio ad, an audio statement must provide the following: name of speaker, name of person who paid for the ad, and a statement that the speaker approves of the content of the message.
- For TV ads, the person, candidate or representative of the political party or committee funding the ad would have to appear in a "full-screen, un-obscured view" at the ad for "at least four seconds."
A Vermont businessman has dropped a lawsuit against Republican Brian Dubie and his campaign manager Corry Bliss after the pair wrote letters of apology for statements made during the heat of the gubernatorial campaign.
David Blittersdorf, who founded NRG Systems and AllEarth Renewables, filed a lawsuit in the waning days of the 2010 election, alleging that Dubie and Bliss were defaming his character by repeating unproven allegations that he made campaign contributions in order to receive tax credits.
Blittersdorf was a major supporter of now Governor-Elect Peter Shumlin. He donated thousands of dollars to his campaign personally and through the businesses he controls. Recently, Blittersdorf donated $5000 to underwrite Shumlin's inaugural ball.
In the week before the election, Blittersdorf personally asked Dubie to drop repeated claims that Blittersdorf provided campaIgn contributions to Shumlin in exchange for a seat on a board that eventually provided his firm with $4.3 million in tax credits. Instead, Dubie's campaign released a letter from Blittersdorf's attorney and repeated the accusations. It was then that Blittersdorf filed his lawsuit.
On Tuesday, both Bliss and Dubie submitted letters of apology to Blittersdorf.
"I am sorry that in the heat of the closing days of the campaign I did not find time to sit down with you as you requested to address your concerns," Dubie wrote. "We have known each other for many years and I sincerely hope you understand that it was never my intention to suggest you acted unethically in any way."
In his letter, Bliss noted, "My intent as to those statements was only to raise concerns relating to our opponent as Vermonters decided who would be their next governor, not attack you personally. I appreciate, however, that you are upset with the statements and any inference that you acted unethically. I never intended to suggest that you had done anything unethical and I want you to understand my actions were neither malicious nor aimed at you."
Bliss says that now, but here's what he had to say in one campaign missive in late October 2010: “If David Blittersdorf was able to write himself $4.3 million in tax breaks in exchange for giving $8,000 to his campaign, we can only imagine what Peter Shumlin plans to do for him in exchange for his latest $20,000 contribution."
The $20,000 contribution is reference to money Blittersdorf gave to a 527 political action fund that was running ads against the license extension of Vermont Yankee and highlighting Dubie's support for the nuke plant.
But, Blittersdorf has decided to let bygones be bygones now that he has the apologies. In a statement, Blittersdorf said he was happy with the end result.
"I am pleased with this outcome and to be able to move forward. My hope is that Vermont continues to preserve the type of elections we can all be proud of. I look forward to continue working with Brian on our shared interest in advancing renewable energy and creating jobs in Vermont," said Blittersdorf.
Letter from Brian Dubie: Download 2010-12-23 Dubie to Blittersdorf
Letter from Corry Bliss: Download Corry_Bliss_letter 12-30-10
During the 2010 election, the future of Vermont Yankee, health care reform and expanding broadband were hot debate topics. Now, it's 2011 and judging by the list of top corporate donors to Governor-Elect Peter Shumlin's inaugural ball, those are still issues very much on the minds of regulated companies.
To wit, the state's two largest electric utilities — Central Vermont Public Service and Green Mountain Power — and the state's largest health insurer — Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont — have chipped in $5000 each to fund what might as well be dubbed "Pete-a-palooza" since his inaugural festivities will occur over a period of three days at three locations.
In addition, two major phone carriers — AT&T and Fairpoint — have chipped in $5000, as did Vermont-based insurance giant National Life.
Other companies that donated $5000 include Bariatrix Nutrition, based in Vermont, and eSecLending, out of Boston, MA.
In the top tier, major Democratic donors David Blittersdorf and Bill and Jane Stetson also kicked in $5000 each. Jane Stetson is the national finance chairwoman for the Democratic Party.
Blittersdorf's support for Shumlin became a campaign issue with Republican Brian Dubie and his campaign alleging that Blittersdorf made campaign contributions in an effort to secure renewable energy tax credits. Blittersdorf denied the allegations and sued Dubie and Dubie's campaign manager Corry Bliss for defamation of character. That suit is still pending.
As promised, the Shumlin campaign is listing each of its major donors and regularly updating the list. See below for the list — as of noon today — of the major donors to Shumlin's inaugural. Ball proceeds will be donated to the Vermont National Guard Charitable Foundation.
In the two lower tiers — $2500 and $1000 respectively — are several private companies that do business with the Agency of Human Services. They are: Policy Studies, Inc., which specializes in outsourcing human service work and Corrections Corporation of America, which houses Vermont inmates at private, out-of-state prisons. During the campaign, Shumlin said one priority would be to reduce Vermont's corrections budget by $40 million and invest much of that money in early education.
Other top donors include the Vermont Ski Areas Association ($2500), the Vermont Association of Realtors ($2500), Vermont Association of Credit Unions ($2500), and Country Home Products ($2500). Snowboard moguls Jake and Donna Carpenter ponied up $2500, while longtime environmentalists Phil and Crea Lintilhac gave $1000. Lintilhac has been a major proponent of shutting down Vermont Yankee in 2012, if not sooner. As has Blittersdorf.
Also in the $1000 tier are longtime Putney friends George and Laura Heller as well as Barbarina Heyerdahl, a board member of the Vermont Natural Resources Council, and Stratton and Associates, a government relations firm based in Colorado. Michael Stratton, one of its founders, is involved with the finance committee of the Democratic Governors Association.
The first inaugural event will be held in Brattleboro at the Brattleboro Museum and Art Center. Shumlin's southern homecoming event is being held because he's the first governor from Windham County since Gov. Thomas Salmon, a Rockingham Democrat, was elected to the top post in 1974. Red Heart the Ticker will be the special musical guest for the "Homecoming Reception," which begins at 6:30 p.m.
On inauguration day, the Shumlin team will host a "Winter Village on the State House lawn" from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. will include a mix of Vermont products and musicians. Three local musical acts will play during the Winter Village including: Red Hot Juba, Sara Grace and the Suits and Pulse Prophets. The inaugural ceremony will also include performances by the Vermont Youth Orchestra's chorus.
The big bash is Friday night at Sugarbush. The ticketed event costs $50 per person, and is expected to sell out soon. Only 1000 tickets were being offered.
The night will include a collection of Vermont musical acts. The Vermont Inaugural All Stars will include: Dave Grippo, Brian McCarthy, Russ Lawton, Ray Paczowski, Bob Wagner, Lowell Thompson, D Davis and Jon Rogone. Sorry folks, no Phish or Grace Potter and the Nocturnals.
$5,000
Central Vermont Public Service
AT&T
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont
Bariatrix Nutrition
Green Mountain Power
National Life
eSecLending
Fairpoint
Mr. David Blittersdorf
Bill and Jane Stetson
$2,500
Kelliher Samets Volk
Sheehey Furlong & Behm PC
Vermont Ski Areas’ Association
Somalabs
Country Home Products
Vermont Association of Realtors
Jake and Donna Carpenter
Association of Vermont Credit Unions
$1,000
Crea and Phil Lintilhac
Jeff and Evie Shumlin
George and Laura Heller
Mrs. Barbarina Heyerdahl
Mr. John Burt
Stratton and Associates
Main Street Landing
Casella Waste Services
Policy Studies Inc.
Corrections Corporations of America
Key Bank
GroSolar
Cabot
Ed. Note: During the last week of the year, we asked our writers to reflect on the highs and lows of 2010.
My 2010 political season didn't revolve entirely around the gubernatorial race — not when Burlington City Hall and the three-member Congressional delegation are part of my beat.
Here are some of my most memorable moments from this past year ... in politics.
Get ready folks, 2011 is likely to be even more exciting given a new governor to write about and the 2012 election just around the corner.
Vermont's Governor-elect Peter Shumlin and 1100 of his closest friends and admirers will celebrate his inauguration at Sugarbush, his inaugural committee announced Thursday.
If the $50 ticket price isn't in the budget, not to fret. Shumlin will be at two additional free functions — one on the Statehouse lawn after he's officially sworn in and another in Brattleboro on the eve of his inauguration.
Shumlin is the first governor elected from southern Vermont since Gov. Tom Salmon, a Democrat, was elected in 1972. Salmon hails from Rockingham and Shumlin from nearby Putney.
The $50 tix for the 'Bush bash will go on sale beginning Tuesday through FlynnTix and will offer some inaugural-only ski and stay packages. The headlining musical guest at the Sugarbush event hasn't been booked, but it's rumored event organizers are trying to land Phish or Grace Potter and the Nocturnals.
The event's inaugural committee is being chaired by Mary Powell, president and chief executive officer of Green Mountain Power. Contributions valued at more than $100 from businesses and individuals will be posted publicly online. All proceeds will benefit the Vermont National Guard Charitable Foundation.
“I am happy to chair this unique inauguration that will highlight the value-added products, innovative people and unique places that ensure a strong economic future for Vermont. The governor-elect wants this inauguration to celebrate our state and the great potential we have at the dawning of a new decade,” said Powell. “Vermonters are facing the toughest economy in decades and this event will contribute to our economy by focusing on local products, artists and venues. At the same time, the generosity of Vermonters and our businesses will help support our National Guard members and their families.”
In 2009, then-Sen. Peter Shumlin raised more than $200,000 to bring deployed National Guard men and women back to Vermont to celebrate the holidays.
Proceeds from Gov. Jim Douglas' last inaugural ball, held in early 2009, benefitted the Vermont Foodbank. The event raised more than $42,000 in cash and 800 pounds of food. Douglas' first inaugural ball — held at Norwich University's Plumley Armory — raised more than $32,000 for substance abuse programs funded through the United Way. Guests also brought more than a half-ton of canned food items that were donated to the Vermont Foodbank.
The music that night? The Vermont Jazz Ensemble.
For more information about Shumlin's inaugural ball, the official inaugural website is www.celebratevt.com.
Vermont Senate Democrats converged on the picturesque Three Stallion Inn in Randolph Sunday morning to select their 2011 leadership team.
As expected, Sen. John Campbell (pictured standing), a lawyer from Quechee and the longtime majority leader, was unanimously chosen as the next Senate president pro tem, the top job in the Senate. Sen. Bill Carris of Rutland was elected majority leader and Sen. Hinda Miller of Burlington was elected to the number three leadership post — formerly called majority whip, but now referred to as deputy majority leader.
Would-be challenges to Campbell — including one by Sen. Ginny Lyons of Williston — never materialized and Campbell and the rest of the leadership slate sailed to easy victories. Sen. Tim Ashe, a Progressive/Democrat from Burlington, had considered running for deputy majority leader, but stepped aside to support Miller for the job.
Over coffee and crumbcake, the Democrats also welcomed the newly elected members of their caucus: Sally Fox and Philip Baruth of Chittenden County; Anthony Pollina, a Progressive/Democrat from Washington County; and former ambassador Peter Galbraith of Windham County. One Senate Dem — Claire Ayer of Addison County — did not attend.
Also Sunday, Sen. Dick Mazza of Colchester was re-elected to serve on the Committee of Committees, the three-member body that assigns senators to working committees and which also includes the Senate president pro tem and the lieutenant governor. Mazza will have to be confirmed by the whole Senate, but with Democrats holding a 22-to-8 majority, he's all but in.
On Saturday, the House Democrats held their caucus at the Statehouse and re-elected Rep. Shap Smith of Morrisville as Speaker of the House. Rep. Lucy Leriche of Hardwick was elected majority leader and Rep. Willem Jewett of Ripton was elected assistant majority leader. Click here to read VtDigger's report of Saturday's meeting, which included a visit from Democratic Governor-elect Peter Shumlin.
Shumlin, who was Senate president pro tem for four years before being elected governor, did not attend Sunday's gathering. Campbell joked that "his security detail wouldn't let him," but provided no actual explanation as to why Shumlin didn't show.
In his speech to colleagues, Campbell sought to assert his independence from Shumlin — Campbell has been the governor-elect's lieutenant for the past four years. Campbell said some have suggested Shumlin will be "running the Senate out of the fifth floor," meaning the governor's office, but Campbell told colleagues that would not happen. Campbell told Democrats he would keep his door open and rely heavily on input from the group.
His job, as Campbell sees it, is to "bring people together."
"There's really a leadership vaccuum," he said. "We've lost a lot of senior senators who had a lot of experience."
The only question for Campbell before his election came from Lyons (pictured), who asked whether he considered the Vermont Yankee issue settled or whether he'd consider revisiting last year's vote to shutter the aging nuclear power plant in 2012.
"As far as I'm concerned, we made our statement," Campbell replied. "It's done."
Senate Democrats went into executive session to discuss hiring a secretary of the Senate to replace David Gibson, who passed away this year. After closed-door discussions, they voted to hire former GOP senator John Bloomer for the job on a temporary basis — a move that will also require formal action by the full Senate when it convenes in January.
Lt. Governor Brian Dubie is leaving his hometown and headed for the woods — literally.
Dubie tells Seven Days he put his Essex Junction home up for sale and is moving onto the family property he owns up in Fairfield.
The Dubies own several pieces of land: a nearly 100-acre piece of land where they operate a maple sugaring business; two acres with a cabin on it and another 25-acre parcel with a farmhouse. The cabin is valued at $112,000 and the house and 25 acres is valued at roughly $300,000. The sugarwoods is valued at more than $515,000.
The race for governor put on hold a long-range plan to relocate to his family’s property in Fairfield, Dubie said.
“Sugarwoods in Fairfield calls,” Dubie told Seven Days.
In late October, Dubie spoke wistfully about the family's cabin in Fairfield during a WCAX interview.
"It's been a great place for our family to be able to recharge our batteries and focus on what's important in life. And that's family time and that is one of the most special places in the world for our family," Dubie told WCAX.
Perhaps Dubie will be inspired to pen a political memoir or a modern day Walden.
For any family looking for a nice set of digs to raise their kids: The Dubie estate in Essex Junction has it all. The four-bedroom, three-bath, 3100-square-foot house is being offered for $299,900 by Chenette Realty. Nice location, too, on Mansfield Avenue — a quick walk to the public pool and Five Corners. It has a nice-sized yard, a wood stove and a walk-out basement.
Makes sense the Dubies would part with their nest now that all four of their kids are out of the house. For Dubie, it means saying goodbye to the community he's called home since childhood: Dubie grew up in Essex Junction, graduated from Essex High School, and started his electoral career by serving on the village school board before running for lieutenant governor.
No word yet on Dubie's political future, but it wouldn't be the first time a losing candidate for statewide office later rejoined politics by running, and winning, a seat in the Vermont Senate.
Governor-elect Peter Shumlin lost the race for lieutenant governor to Dubie in 2002 and returned to the senate in 2006 when he was elected president pro tem. U.S. Rep. Peter Welch (D-VT) lost the race for governor in 1990 and disappeared from elective office until 2002 when he was appointed to the Vermont Senate. In 2003 he was elected president pro tem and in 2006 was elected to Congress.