Category Archives: local/regional

Running under Shumlin’s nose?

local/regional, ,

Vermonters probably wouldn’t fault or be shocked by a politician keeping the next campaign never far from his or her mind. And certainly not many would fault an office holder for wanting to keep their face in the spotlight and their ear to the ground listening to the public mood.

However I am left wondering if Vermont Lieutenant Governor Phil Scott hasn’t crafted a highly visible yet stealthy campaign for higher office that operates right under Governor Shumlin’s nose.

Scott’s “Vermont Everyday Jobs” initiative featuring the required Republican heavy emphasis on listening to businesses is designed to:

promote Vermont businesses and highlight the hard work that Vermonters do every day in all areas of our economy. By finding out firsthand, and in a hands-on manner, what it takes to make Vermont businesses work, the Lt. Governor will gain a better understanding of what state government can do to help those businesses work better. The tour will also help to facilitate relationships and ongoing dialogue between Vermont business leaders and their representatives in state government.

It’s hard to miss the genius of what Republican Lt. Governor Phil Scott, who bears more than a passing resemblance to the Discovery Channels’ “Dirty jobs” host Mike Rowe, hit upon with his “Vermont Everyday Jobs” Initiative. It’s a pre-chewed publicity package for cash strapped local media outlets, Facebook and social media. It is as if the last gubernatorial election’s contrived and awkward listening tours by former Lt.Gov.Brian Dubie had evolved legs or wings to emerge from the primordial ooze of past elections as a higher campaign life form to live among us year round.

Scott has so far spent his “Vermont Everyday Jobs” publicity outings gaining a better understanding of being an emergency department worker at a hospital, a worker on an electric utility power line crew, fast lube franchise oil changer, a solar panel assembler and spelling instructor at a K-2 school.

That’s six “Everyday Jobs” events under his belt (about one every 2 weeks) with more likely to follow in a steady series of press releases.   Maybe the concept came to him while watching TV.

Vermont’s Lark Bunting, Dick Mazza

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In a five year study of the Lark Bunting,  scientists found the birds seemed to select companions for varying traits from year to year. One year they found selections were based on beak size, and the next year this choice was based on plumage. Following years it was smaller body size and the next year the trend might be reversed. Researchers also think this behavior might be found in other species.

Mazza a middle of the road state Senator from Colchester is displaying some of the distinctive traits of the female Lark Bunting, but all in one election year! In September, he let it be known he didn’t expect to weigh in for one gubernatorial candidate or the other.  Eventually, but with no commitment made, he took to displaying a little Shumlin plumage on his lawn in the form of a yard sign.

Now the Free Press observes his behavior takes another turn after a courting visit to Mazza’s General Store:

Mazza agrees to let Dubie plant his own sign in the yard.

While Dubie is outside doing that, back inside the store Mazza says he’ll be supporting Shumlin.

The following field observation might have been made from afar with binoculars.

Dubie heads to the back of the store, where Mazza is in his office. After they chat about the need to extend the Amtrak rail line from St. Albans to Montreal, Mazza gets firm with Dubie about the tone of the governor’s race.

Back in the minivan, asked what he thinks of Mazza’s support for Shumlin, Dubie says, “I’m glad he said I could put a sign out.”

 

Judge in Orange County

local/regional,

Several times Orange county business has been brought to what one newspaper called a near standstill. In December 2007 assistant side Judge Pease filed a complaint against her County clerk and her assistant for alleged assault and unlawful restraint. The clerk and assistant asked for action against Pease for filing false charges against them. Neither the complaint of alleged assault and unlawful restraint during a confrontation in Pease’s office or the false filing issue were pursued after an investigation by the attorney general’s office.

Last month a letter recommending careful investigation signed by eight state legislators was sent to the chairman of the state Judicial Conduct Board listing 13  allegations  involving allegedly  misappropriating funds, acting contrary to specific recommendations made by both the County auditor and the State Auditor of Accounts and engaging in malicious and harassing behavior toward County employees.

The Rutland Herald reports today that assistant side Judge Pease has been ordered   to take a course in judicial ethics. It was unclear from the article if this was related to the May 2009 letter to the Judicial Conduct Board.

Conduct Board disciplines judge

MONTPELIER – The Vermont Judicial Conduct Board is imposing “deferred discipline” against an Orange County judge.

….Robert Keiner, chairman of the Judicial Conduct Board, says the action against Assistant Judge Prudence Pease stems from complaints that she favored a party in a 2007 traffic court case and that she commented publicly about a confidential employee matter.

……Pease, who didn’t admit misconduct, must now take a course in judicial ethics.

http://www.rutlandherald.com/a…

About Vermont side judges: An elected office that in addition to hearing, uncontested divorce cases, small claims and traffic cases are administrators for the county also creates a county budget which is passed along to the county’s 17 towns and taxpayers.