Con Hogan may be many people's favorite (or second-favorite, after Bernie) straight-talking, no-bullshit career public servant in Vermont. This is a guy who started out as a corrections officer and ascended through intelligence and hard work to Commissioner of Corrections and Secretary of the Agency of Human Services. His credentials for fighting crime, knowing how government works, and knowing how to make government work are unassailable.
According to today's Times Argus, here's what he says about Peter Shumlin's plan to reduce Vermont's rate of incarceration:
MONTPELIER – Vermont's former top corrections official stepped into a heated political debate Friday, saying Democrat Peter Shumlin's prison plan is similar to proposals offered six years ago by a bipartisan commission created by GOP Gov. James Douglas.
Con Hogan of Plainfield, who served as Vermont's corrections commissioner in the 1970s and secretary of human services throughout the 1990s, said Shumlin's plan to cut prison costs by releasing nonviolent offenders “can be done.”
“What Peter Shumlin is recommending is pretty much the same thing that we recommended in 2004,” Hogan said Friday. “If this is done right, and phased in over several years, it could work. This plan can be done.”
It’s good to hear someone who was basically a Republican all his life explain why Dubie’s attacks are baseless.
Related
While I greatly admire the abilty of Con Hogan, we must remember to a large degree it was Con who gave us Jim Douglas for 8 years. Perhaps Con is working hard to make sure that no such mistakes happens in 2010. Thanks to
Con for speaking up in support of Peter Shumlin. Let’s hope the voters listen.
I hope you’re right. I hope that the voters do listen.
and somewhat surprised @ the amount of endorsements & well respected familiar faces of VT who have come out w/such sincerity to support Shumlins bid.
I never expected it but awed @ the array& assortment of supporters.