It’s Raining Dems

Fair Game by Shay Totten

Last week, the five Democrat candidates for governor spoke to a packed house of environmental supporters at a Burlington forum organized by the Vermont League of Conservation Voters.

On policy, all five sounded about the same. As guv, each would: clean up our waterways, make Act 250 stronger, and fund housing and conservation. All believe Vermont Yankee is not part of the state’s energy future. Rather, they want the state to focus on purchasing more energy from local, or regional, renewable sources, as well as to invest more in energy-efficiency programs.

Only Secretary of State Deb Markowitz mentioned their likely GOP challenger by name — a good move given that every statewide media outlet was on hand to record the event.

It’s always important to remember to speak to the people outside of the room. Markowitz and Sen. Peter Shumlin appear to be the most adept at that; Shumlin continues to prove he’s the best communicator of the quintet.

Sen. Doug Racine continues to rely heavily on his past accolades and achievements as a senator and lieutenant governor. While that may stir up fond memories for some supporters, Racine doesn’t seem to be catching fire with voters.

Former Sen. Matt Dunne arrived just minutes before the event. He had driven in from New York City, and it showed. He did offer an amusing anecdote about his son stripping naked at a wedding and jumping into Lake Champlain. Presumably, it was part of his argument for better wastewater treatment plants.

Sen. Susan Bartlett (Lamoille) continues to benefit from being the only candidate who has not run for statewide office. Expectations are low, and Bartlett exceeds them every time, placing among the forum’s top three perceived “winners.”

She also delivered one of the better lines of the night: “As governor,” she said, “I would dare to do something different.”