Wednesday, November 12, 2014
The changes are not dramatic and largely involve a shuffling of responsibilities and titles.
Shumlin appointed his spokeswoman and deputy chief of staff, Sue Allen, secretary of civil and military affairs. In that position, she will oversee the governor’s legislative agenda and serve as his chief lobbyist during the coming legislative session.
A former journalist, Allen previously served as spokeswoman to former governor Howard Dean. She replaces Louis Porter, who left last spring to become commissioner of the Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Tags: Scott Coriell , Sue Allen , Liz Miller , Image , Web Only
Republican gubernatorial candidate Scott Milne confirmed Wednesday afternoon that he will not seek a recount of ballots cast in last week’s razor-thin election.
Milne’s decision came hours after the statewide election canvassing committee met in Montpelier to certify the results. The group, which consists of Secretary of State Jim Condos and representatives of Vermont’s four major parties, confirmed that two-term Democratic Gov. Peter Shumlin won 89,509 votes, Milne won 87,075 and Libertarian Dan Feliciano won 8,428.
“The certified numbers are in from the secretary of state, and I trust the canvassing committee performed this function competently,” Milne said in a written statement. “I trust that Peter Shumlin won the plurality.”
Tags: 2014 Vermont gubernatorial election , Scott Milne , Peter Shumlin , Image , Web Only
Tuesday, November 11, 2014
That decision, made public on October 24, left the board 16 days to find someone willing to take their place. The backdrop to all this: For months, the district has been under significant financial stress, aggravated by a series of deficits and budgeting errors.
Against the odds, the board emerged after a 1 hour and 40 minute executive session on Tuesday evening to announce that they'd found a seasoned candidate to fill the role — Howard Smith, who recently retired after 24 years as a superintendent. Smith spent the last 12 years at the Tarrytown schools in Westchester County, N.Y., which have faced fiscal struggles of their own.
Commissioner Kyle Dodson cited Smith's experience making "tough budget decisions" and his "even-keeled temperament" when explaining the board's selection. Commissioner Stephanie Seguino, who along with Dodson and Commissioner Mark Porter was tasked with finding interim superintendent candidates, said they received 40 nominations, including people who offered up their own names, and interviewed 10 of them. "We were not looking for a caretaker," Seguino added.
Tags: Burlington school board , superintendent , New York , Image , Web Only
While he will not make a formal announcement until tomorrow, Milne, who won 45.1 percent to Shumlin's 46.4 percent, said in an interview that he would need a "miracle" to overcome his current deficit of 2,400 votes. And he noted that, even if he pulled ahead, neither he nor Shumlin would clear a 50 percent total, which is legally required to avoid sending the decision to the legislature.
"We're leaning toward 'probably not' with that," Milne said. "It probably won't work. Taxpayers would spend $60,000 for a recount where, even if by some miracle it worked, it's still going to the legislature."
Milne said he has not yet decided whether to contest the vote in the legislature. He has previously indicated he might ask legislators who represent districts that he carried on Election Day to vote for him. A Rutland Herald analysis concluded that, if lawmakers were to vote along those lines, the result would be a 90-90 tie.
Traditionally, lawmakers have rubber-stamped the winner of the popular vote, with some exceptions. Vermont Public Radio reported that former governor Jim Douglas, one of the few Vermont Republicans whom Milne relied on for counsel during his campaign, has advised against contesting the vote.
But Milne, who had scant political experience before this race and received little help, said he will continue to trust his own judgment. He believes his strong showing on Election Day validated that.
"I think I've done a good job of using my intuition as a starting point and combining that with talking to people, particularly people who aren't in media or political elite circles," Milne said. "I think that's served me pretty well."
Tags: Scott Milne , Peter Shumlin , legislature , Jim Douglas , gubernatorial race , Vermont , Image , Web Only
Following last week's Democratic rout, Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) is set to lose his ceremonial position as Senate president pro tempore and his chairmanship of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
According to Politico, those might not be the only changes afoot.
Under normal circumstances, Leahy would become ranking member of the Judiciary Committee when the new Senate is sworn in next January. But Politico, citing "four sources familiar with his discussions with Senate Democrats," says Leahy is considering trading up to become ranking member of the Senate Appropriations Committee instead:
With Democrats now returning to the minority and the GOP vowing to restore the beleaguered appropriations process, Leahy may view the post as more influential in the next Congress.Though Leahy is the senior-most member of the Senate — and of the Appropriations, Judiciary and Agriculture committees — Democrats elect leadership positions by secret ballot. To take the gavel at Appropriations, he would have to displace its current chairwoman, Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.). And, according to Politico, "Some Democratic insiders predict Mikulski would defeat Leahy in a one-on-one race."
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Monday, November 10, 2014
Similar measures have been rejected in recent years; one was vetoed by then-Mayor Bob Kiss in 2012. The Church Street Marketplace, which previously opposed a ban, helped lead the charge this time around, along with public health advocates.
In an uncharacteristically impassioned speech, council president Joan Shannon (D- Ward 5) — who normally moderates the discussion without weighing in — spoke about her struggles with asthma, which is aggravated by secondhand smoke. Shannon said that when people smoke near her on Church Street, "It causes me to panic." Addressing the rest of the council, she continued, "I will ask those who have spoken against this to please reconsider... I really would ask that you give consideration to the rights of people to just breathe air without being impacted by other people's secondhand smoke."
Just three councilors voted against the ban — Kurt Wright (R- Ward 4), Max Tracy (P- Ward 2) and Jane Knodell (P-Ward 2). Knodell said she was concerned it would reduce the diversity of the city's central promenade. "I think it does send a message that smokers are not welcome on the Church Street Marketplace."
Tags: Burlington city council , Church Street , smoking ban , Image , Web Only
Since the midterm election, national journos have lost no time in turning their sights — and their speculation — to the contenders for the 2016 presidential election. And though Vermont’s Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) hasn’t said whether he’ll run, it’s looking likely: High-profile Democratic strategist Tad Devine will jump aboard Sanders' campaign, according to the Washington Post.
Tuesday’s Washington Post features an interview with Devine, a prominent Democratic Party consultant who’s worked on the Al Gore, John Kerry and Michael Dukakis campaigns and who has also worked on Sanders' campaigns.
“If he runs, I’m going to help him,” Devine said in an interview. “He is not only a longtime client but a friend. I believe he could deliver an enormously powerful message that the country is waiting to hear right now and do it in a way that succeeds.”Devine pointed to Sanders’ grassroots popularity and his high profile in the national media as strengths going into a 2016 campaign.
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Saturday, November 8, 2014
Those results constitute a final count of all 275 polling places, but will not be certified by the state canvassing committee until Wednesday at 10 a.m. Statewide candidates within 2 percent of the top vote-getter can request a recount, but must do so by the end of the day Wednesday.
According to the final tally, Shumlin received 89,509 votes, or 46.4 percent of the 193,087 votes cast. Milne collected 87,075 votes, or 45.1 percent. Libertarian Dan Feliciano won 8,428 votes, or 4.4 percent.
Tags: elections , peter shumlin , scott milne , governor's race , vermont , votes , Image , Web Only
Friday, November 7, 2014
Burlington Free Press executive editor Mike Townsend defended the paper's ongoing restructuring Friday afternoon in a story posted to the paper's website.
Townsend began by lashing out at what he called "rumors and speculation" about whether the paper would continue to cover Vermont government and politics.
On Tuesday, veteran Statehouse reporters Terri Hallenbeck and Nancy Remsen said they would leave the Free Press after a collective 35 years at the paper. Both had been offered new jobs covering community news, but declined.
Here's how Townsend addressed the situation:
The first thing I need to do is correct misinformation swirling around on social media as we go through a significant staff reorganization.
The rumors and speculation that we are abandoning coverage in Montpelier are dead wrong.
Of course we will continue to cover the Statehouse. Period.
Now that the air has been cleared of that bit of nonsense, let's move on.
Townsend's note was curious, because he has refused to respond to repeated questions from Seven Days and other news outlets since the Free Press began eliminating positions two months ago through voluntary departures, retirements and layoffs.
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But they acknowledged their plans are in doubt until their nominee for governor, Scott Milne, finishes a campaign that he is threatening to take into January.
Unofficial tallies say Milne lost by 2,000 votes. He has refused to concede the race to Shumlin. He says he may seek a recount or ask legislators — who must elect a governor since neither candidate cleared 50 percent — to select him, despite his second-place finish.
Republican leaders made it clear they will allow their members to vote however they wish if Milne seeks a contested vote. Traditionally, lawmakers have rubber-stamped the candidate with the most votes, regardless of party, but Milne says he may try to rally support, especially from legislators whose districts gave him a plurality of votes. Milne this week said he is "confident," he will find a way to oust Shumlin.
Tags: Scott Milne , Phil Scott , Vermont Health Connect , heath care , Image , Web Only