Update: Terje was kind enough to correct my mistake. The list I have linked to was incomplete and the Secretary of State will have an updated list and should have 2 Democratic candidates represented in Chittenden 6-3. My bad.

Vermont Digger finally has the complete list of candidates who have filed to run for office in Vermont. I happened to notice that for the two seats in Chittenden 6-3, represented now by Jill Krowinski and Jason Lorber, has 4 candidates, 2 Progressives, 1 Independent and 1 Democrat. Krowinski is running for reelection. Lorber is not. It was mentioned in the Seven Days blog, Blurt on June 8th, about a week before the filing deadline.

I was surprised that the Dems hadn't filed two candidates for this district because they pretty much have a lock on it at the state level. However, with Lorber's late announcement, either no one was interested or the local Dems were caught unexpectedly by Lorber's announcement. I would think that Lorber would have had the foresight to tell local Democratic leaders that he wouldn't run again so that they could have time to draft somebody else to run and get the necessary signatures to run for the seat, and would have had a good chance at being elected, considering Obama is at the top of the ticket this November. 

The Democrats aren't in any danger of losing control of the Vermont House this November, but carelessness like this, combined with the not giving a damn about his House seat  Lorber, does them no favors as well. I thinks it is akin to shooting yourself in the foot for no reason whatsoever. One must concede that a Progressive would have a very similar voting record to a Democrat, if not even more leftist at that, but I think this is a stupid mistake to make under any circumstances. It might be more Lorber's fault or the local Dems, I'm not sure, but it would be nice if they paid more attention to such details. The only way to remedy it would be to draft somebody as a write-in, although that would be hard to do. If anyone can shed light on this issue and why such a mistake took place, I would be glad to know and be enlightened about it. 

People from across Vermont, Massachusetts and New Hampshire will declare independence from the Entergy Corporation (ENR) during a July 1st rally and non-violent act of civil disobedience

Contact: Chad Simmons, 262.215.0259 (cell), cbtossin@yahoo.com

Deb Katz, 413.339.5781, deb@nukebusters.org

Debra Stollerof, 802.476.3154, debra@vtlink.net

What:   The People Declare Independence From Entergy Vermont Yankee

When:   Sunday, July 1st

Where: 10:00 AM rally at the Brattleboro Common (Park Pl. between Hwy 5/Putney Rd and Hwy 30/Linden St)

12:00 PM nonviolent direct action at the gates of Vermont Yankee (546 Governor Hunt Rd. in Vernon, VT)

The People Declare Independence From Entergy Vermont Yankee

People from across Vermont, Massachusetts and New Hampshire will declare independence from the Entergy Corporation (ENR) during a July 1st rally and non-violent act of civil disobedience. Organizers plan a 10:00 AM rally with short speeches and performances taking place at the Brattleboro Common, Brattleboro, VT. This will be followed by a bicycle procession to Vernon, VT and nonviolent direct action at the gates of the Vermont Yankee nuclear reactor. The action will involve an elaborate entrance and “gift” presented to the corporation, a sight surely not to be missed. Participants risking arrest will be trained in nonviolence and part of an affinity group. Organized by the SAGE Alliance. For details and updates, go to www.sagealliance.net or www.facebook/shutdownvermontyankee

                                    ##

Or so Vince Illuzzi pictures himself, upon the throne of the Auditor General: A personage of noble rank and file, a dignified and potent officer, whose functions are particularly vital.

Yesterday, I wrote about an Illuzzi comment that seemed to take a rather expansive view of the Auditor’s office: “It really is about looking at programs to see if they are performing as envisioned by the general assembly and as expected by the public…”

That, it seemed to me, outlined a policy-oversight dimension to the job that’s, ahem, missing from the actual job description.

Well, more evidence of the same from the Vermont Press Bureau (behind the Herald/TA paywall, as far as I can tell):

During a news conference at the Secretary of State’s office, the 58-year-old Illuzzi said he would bring to the auditor’s office a legislative track record of challenging establishment policy positions pushed by governors, powerful lawmakers and industry leaders. The most recent example, Illuzzi said, was his fight against aspects of the proposed merger of the state’s two largest electric utilities, Central Vermont Public Service and Green Mountain Power. 



“You need an independent voice who is willing to respectfully and constructively stand up to the establishment and question certain policies and programs, and I think I’ve done that,” said Illuzzi.

He seems to believe that he’d be judge, jury, and Executioner, dispensing his wisdom on questions of finance, policy, and politics alike. Moreover, he seems to see himself as being uniquely qualified to take on this responsibility.

Quite an ego there.

We’ll see how the race plays out — Illuzzi promises specific proposals when he formally launches his campaign — but the way it looks right now, if you want an Auditor, you’d best vote for Doug Hoffer. If you want a loose cannon, then by all means vote for Vince Illuzzi.

Defer, defer,

to the Lord High Executioner!

Bow down, bow down,

to the Lord High Executioner!

Come to North Beach on Saturday July 21 and join Philip Baruth and the cast and crew of Green Mountain Daily for our annual tribute to incinerated food.

In an election year, you’re bound to meet a number of statewide Democratic candidates who know that the Summit is a great place to meet the best informed (and most opinionated) voters in the state!

GMD has experienced some changes over the past year.  We have lost a couple of invaluable front pagers and brought on new talent.

We hope you’ll plan to join us and get re-acquainted.  

Here’s a memory from the 2010 Summit!

As soon as Democrats started talking about the Republican war on women the Republicans trotted out their counter-meme that not only are the Republicans not engaged in a war on women but that is the Democrats, by advocating for women's equality and autonomy, are.

 I know, it's absurd on the face of it, but that's what they claim. But if it's not a war against women, what do you call what happened in Michigan this week?

  Michigan House Republicans blocked a state representative from speaking on the floor on Thursday after she referenced certain parts of female anatomy in a speech on an abortion bill.

 That's right. The House of Representatives in Michigan was debating yet another bill to cut back on women's abortion rights and a woman, Rep. Lisa Brown, dared to say: “Finally, Mr. Speaker, I’m flattered that you’re all so interested in my vagina, but ‘no’ means ‘no,’”

 For that she was barred from speaking on a subsequent piece of legislation.

 Probably my favorite comment in the whole debate was this, from a Republican House member:

  “It was so offensive, I don’t even want to say it in front of women,” one state representative said. “I would not say that in mixed company.”

 So yes, just to recap: we have a Republican dominated legislative body, debating what women can do with their own bodies, punishing a woman for mentioning her own body.

 Is there anything else we need to do to prove that this is a war on women?

This is very unusual.

've sued the government a lot of times, but I've never had this happen.

From the Chicago Tribune:

The Cook County State’s Attorney’s office concedes in a court filing today that the state’s ban on same-sex marriages is unconstitutional, according to a spokeswoman.

Two recent lawsuits against Cook County Clerk David Orr claim that not issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples violates the due process and equal protection clauses of the Illinois Constitution.

The state’s attorney’s response, filed today, agrees with that claim.

The government pretty much always defends its practices. This is a big deal.

Well, the filing deadline has come and gone. And while the Democrats have a ticket full of strong incumbents and worthy contenders — and the Progressives have put together some good quality folks in their bid to maintain ballot status — the Republicans find themselves in a truly dire state.

The topline from deadline day: no heroes came rushing over the hill to save the VTGOP. They’re largely stuck with an array of has-beens and never-wases. Plus Lt. Gov. Phil Scott, by far the best candidate of the lot. And he’s running for a ceremonial office.

Starting at the top: Randy Brock, on the short end of a 2-1 disadvantage in the latest poll with very few undecideds to work with.

Lieutenant Governor: Phil Scott, already discussed.

US Senator: Who-dats John MacGovern and H. Brook Paige will face off in the Republican primary for the right to lose big-time to Bernie Sanders.

US Representative: Who-dat Mark Donka will be Peter Welch’s designated tomato can.

After the jump: a notable vacancy on the ticket, and a gloomy outlook for the VTGOP.

Secretary of State: the most laughable development of the day. No Republican filed petitions. There’s talk of finding a write-in candidate down the road. Why bother?

Attorney General: Yes indeedy, Jack McMullen is coming back for another attempt to avoid electoral embarrassment. The guy who lost to Fred Tuttle, the businessman with a law degree who’s never actually practiced law, wants to be the state’s top lawyer. McMullen’s only advantage is that he can fully fund his own campaign, should he wish to.

Auditor: State Sen. Vince Illuzzi.

Treasurer: Wendy Wilton, Rutland treasurer best known for her highly partisan and inaccurate “study” of Governor Shumlin’s health care plan. Even though Beth Pearce is an untested politician, she does have the advantage of the incumbent label, and that’s a big deal in these low-profile races. (Just ask Tom Salmon.)

The way it looks right now, Phil Scott is the only Republican who’d be the favorite in any of these races. Illuzzi might have an edge in name recognition over Doug Hoffer — but even that is debatable, since he’s never run for office outside his home county, and Hoffer has some familiarity from his 2010 candidacy.

A ticket this weak is going to make it even harder for Republicans to gain any ground in the State Legislature. Which, I guess, is why chief House Republican Don Turner has openly confessed that he doesn’t expect to gain ground in legislative elections this year.

One other thing I’ll point out here: the two strongest (relatively speaking) Republican candidates, Scott and Illuzzi, are ideological outliers in an increasingly doctrinaire party. Scott tries his best to maintain a moderate image; he might be secretly conservative, but he sure doesn’t play that way in public. And I doubt that he’s going to pay any visible obeisance to the hard-right tenor of 2012’s VTGOP.

And even as he filed as a Republican, Illuzzi was openly courting moderate and Democratic support. He talked at length to VTDigger about how difficult it was to decide whether to run as a Republican or an Independent. He actively distanced himself from the “very conservative individuals” who represent his party in Congress, and added “I am not one of those Republicans.”

Personally, I think the VTGOP is making a huge mistake by tacking hard right, when the Vermont electorate is clearly moderate-to-liberal. If Scott is the only winner — or if Scott and Illuzzi are the only winners — then where will the party go from there? Can it continue to embrace Paul Ryan Republicanism when its only high-profile figure (or two) is visibly moderate?

In any case, deadline day was nothing but good news for Vermont Democrats, who are well-positioned to cement their dominance of state politics in November.  

Apparently, Vince Illuzzi didn’t pull a last-minute switcheroo — he did actually file petitions as a Republican candidate for Auditor General today. He’ll face Doug Hoffer, who has the endorsements of both the Dems and the Progs.

And Illuzzi said something interesting about the job of auditor (per VTDigger):

“It really is about looking at programs to see if they are performing as envisioned by the general assembly and as expected by the public and not resulting in any unintended consequences,” Illuzzi said. “It can really shine a light on how state government is working.”

Well, yes and no. The auditor oversees the financial accountability of state government. Illuzzi seems to envision a role in overseeing policy outcomes as well. That would be a very broad and political vision of the office.

Not really surprising that a politician would see the office that way, but I don’t think it’s accurate or appropriate. During the campaign, he should be asked to amplify or clarify his perception of the office he seeks.  

According to the Freeps’ Terri Hallenbeck (via Twitter), Cassandra Gekas has filed petitions to run for Lieutenant Governor as a Democrat against incumbent Republican Phil Scott and Progressive Marjorie Power.

Gekas is currently Health Care Advocate at VPIRG. Her bio from the VPIRG website:

Since moving to Vermont in 2005, she has spent time as a national level legislative analyst, an anti-hunger policy advocate and most recently, as a research fellow at UVM’s Transportation Research Center. During her time at the Vermont Campaign to End Childhood Hunger (VTCECH), she played a leading role in several major policy achievements. She has also worked extensively on gender issues, serving as a facilitator for the Domestic Abuse Education Project, volunteering for several domestic violence programs and serving as President of the Vermont Women’s Transportation Seminar. Cass holds a BA in Women’s Studies and Political Science from Pennsylvania State University and MS in Community Development and Applied Economics from the University of Vermont. At VPIRG, Cass conducts policy research and advocacy on health care reform efforts at the state and national levels.

So, a lot of activism on a lot of fronts, and a present focus on Shumlin’s number-one issue. She faces very long odds against Phil Scott. But I’m sure she’ll put up a good fight, and will help carry the banner for health care reform. Might even force Lt. Gov. NiceGuy to take a stand on the issue. Or any issue.  

(Junior Likes This…And She Knows)

today we can hear

the prayers of beasts

caught in the lights

of our passing fancies

saying please please

won’t you stop won’t

you listen to the wind

the trees and the sun?

no we say for we have

no time left before we

are gone into history

no time to stop a single

second of the clock we set

no time for wind or sun

or a heartbeat’s worth

of your tiny timid love

we are going places so

fast we haven’t had time

to remember what we left

behind when we started

and now you ask us to stop?

you cannot be serious

you do not stop fate’s call

more urgent than all of life

but please they pray again

won’t you stop and stay

with us and let this fate

find another road to follow?

when we are all so still

the wind and trees and sun

will whisper us a new life

more urgent than tomorrow

no we will not be stopped

defeated by some doubt we

will never know if we keep

on going and never never

look at what we’ve passed

or take a single breath

of wind and trees and sun

to throw us off our pace

that is all you have to say?

they ask and we answer with

the roar of our machines

until they stop still and go

away forever to the places

we will never know of

even though we always said

we’d go there too someday

when it was finally time to stop

Peter Buknatski

Montpelier, Vt.