Wednesday, January 31, 2018
Driscoll posted paid campaign ads on Facebook and Instagram featuring a black-and-white photo of her with Sanders. The ads refer to her as Sanders' "daughter" rather than "stepdaughter," as she has previously referred to herself.
"I am Bernie's daughter, and am one of the thousands of people across this country inspired by Bernie to lead during this challenging time," the ad reads. It lists Driscoll's political experience on the Burlington School Board, on the city council and in the Vermont legislature. "I am also a candidate in my own right," it says.
Tags: Senator , Carina Driscoll , Miro Weinberger , Bernie Sanders , Infinite Culcleasure , Town Meeting Day , Image , Web Only
Ebony Nyoni submitted the necessary signatures to meet the filing requirements, Winooski city manager Jessie Baker confirmed Wednesday morning, ahead of a 4:30 p.m. deadline.
The racial justice activist is unopposed for a seat on the council that serves the 7,100-person city adjacent to Burlington.
Tags: Winooski , Black Lives Matter , Town Meeting Day , Ebony Nyoni , Winooski City Council , Image , Web Only
Tuesday, January 30, 2018
Christine Hallquist is about to make history — or at least give it her best shot.
The CEO of the Johnson-based Vermont Electric Cooperative is poised to announce a run for governor as a Democrat. If she were to win the August primary, she would become the nation’s first openly transgender, major-party candidate for governor.
It was only last November that Danica Roem of Virginia became the first openly transgender person to win a race for a state legislative seat. A potential governorship? Now, that's history.
Hallquist is nationally known in utility circles and is a respected expert on energy matters in the Vermont Statehouse. But she’s never been tempted to enter politics herself — that is, until Donald J. Trump won the presidency. “There are strong headwinds from Washington that threaten [Vermont’s] way of life and finances,” she said, explaining her move toward candidacy.
The 61-year-old Hyde Park resident would face long odds against Gov. Phil Scott, Vermont's popular first-term Republican, but she is undaunted by the challenge. “I’m a strong leader,” she said. “I can handle headwinds. I wouldn’t be running otherwise.”
Tags: Christine Hallquist , Phil Scott , Tim Jerman , Conor Casey , James Ehlers , Ethan Sonneborn , Terri Hallenbeck , Pat Hallquist , Derek Hallquist , Che Guevara , transgender , Image , Web Only
The rock-climbing center finalized a deal Monday to buy 1.7 acres from City Market, said co-owner Andrea Charest. Petra Cliffs will construct a new gym about double the size of its current 6,000-square-foot facility, said Charest. The new gym will have higher climbing walls as well as a childcare facility and space for fitness programs.
Charest would not disclose the purchase price.
Tags: Petra Cliffs , City Market/Onion River Co-op , Image , Web Only
The proposal earned him praise from liberals and conservatives; a Rutland Herald editorial hailed it as an example of Scott’s fiscal discipline.
The only catch? It’s not true.
Each year, the state's independent actuary determines how much money is required for the state to fulfill its pension obligations, but the governor can decide whether to follow that guidance. Scott’s budget this year sets aside precisely the required amount.
Tags: Phil Scott , Susanne Young , 2019 budget , governor , Jane Kitchel , state pension funds , Image , Web Only
During that time, cops had gotten tips that he'd hide out at a house on Thomas Street in Richford. Other leads indicated he'd fled to South Carolina.
But a crucial tip came in recently: Delisle, 47, would successfully use an "obscure hiding spot" to conceal himself whenever cops arrived at the Thomas Street home.
Determined to find their man, police showed up at the house on Monday with an infrared camera they borrowed from the Richford Fire Department. Firefighters use the cameras, which detect heat signatures, to find victims in smoke-filled buildings or to search for fire "hot spots" concealed in walls.
Tags: Vermont State Police , Swanton , fugitive , sex assault , Duane Delisle , search , infrared camera , Maurice Lamothe , Image , Web Only
The Town Meeting Day ballot question is advisory, and is not likely to prevent the planned 2019 arrival of the F-35s. The crux of the debate during Monday's meeting centered not around the vote itself, but around language F-35 opponents used conveying "strong support" for the Vermont Air National Guard.
The original question, on a petition signed by 2,700 city residents, asked:
Three councilors — Jane Knodell (P-Central District), Dave Hartnett (D-North District) and Kurt Wright (R-Ward 4) — proposed an amendment to delete the phrase, "as part of our strong support for the men and women of the Vermont National Guard, and especially their mission to 'protect the citizens of Vermont.'"
Shall we, the voters of the City of Burlington, as part of our strong support for the men and women of the Vermont National Guard, and especially their mission to 'protect the citizens of Vermont,' advise the City Council to:
1) request the cancellation of the planned basing of the F-35 at Burlington International Airport, and
2) request instead low-noise-level equipment with a proven high safety record appropriate for a densely populated area?
Col. Hank Harder, the guard's 158th Fighter Wing Vice Wing Commander, agreed with the proposed amendment, saying Monday that it would be "disingenuous and misleading" for F-35 opponents to frame their question in terms of support for the guard.
Tags: Kurt Wright , Jane Knodell , Dave Hartnett , F-35 , Eileen Blackwood , Chip Mason , Burlington , Vermont Air National Guard , Hank Harder , Air Force , Peggy Luhrs , Eric Maier , Image , Web Only
Monday, January 29, 2018
Neither incumbent filed for reelection by day's end Monday, the deadline for candidates who want to be listed on the ballot on March 6.
After 12 years of running Barre and months of speculation about his political future, Lauzon confirmed to Seven Days that he is stepping aside. Lauzon, who owns an accounting firm and is one of Barre’s largest developers, endorsed Lucas Herring, his ally on the city council. Herring is running against fellow councilor Sue Higby, a vocal Lauzon critic who often accused the mayor of having conflicts of interest.
“I will miss it terribly. I already do,” Lauzon, 56, said. “It’s going to be very strange. But life goes on.”
Tags: Thom Lauzon , Gary von Stange , Ebony Nyoni , Town Meeting Day , Image , Web Only
A spokesman for Sanders, Daniel McLean, called the reporter Sunday evening to offer up an interview with his boss the next morning. McLean said Sanders could make time for a brief interview after appearing at a press conference at Burlington International Airport and before boarding a plane to Washington, D.C.
But McLean made clear that two subjects would be off the table: Sanders, the spokesman said, was not interested in answering questions about "political gossip" nor about the senator's family. He did not elaborate on either condition. (Sanders' wife, Jane O'Meara Sanders, has been under scrutiny by federal prosecutors over her role leading the now-defunct Burlington College. His stepdaughter, Carina Driscoll, is running for mayor of Burlington.)
The reporter informed McLean that Seven Days does not allow politicians to set such restrictions in exchange for access. He also noted that it would be impossible to ask substantive, policy-oriented questions in such a brief exchange.
Tags: Senator , Bernie Sanders , Image , Web Only
Waterbury-based Keurig Green Mountain will merge with soft drink giant Dr Pepper Snapple Group, the companies announced Monday morning.
Keurig will stay in the Green Mountain State, according to the announcement, and its CEO, Bob Gamgort, will hold the same title with the new combined company, Keurig Dr Pepper. Gamgort will be based in Burlington, Mass.
The two beverage companies combined earned an estimated $11 billion in revenue during 2017. Keurig makes popular single-serving coffee makers and includes Green Mountain Coffee Roasters in its empire. JAB Holding acquired the born-in-Vermont Keurig in March 2016 for $13.9 billion.
Tags: Keurig Green Mountain , Dr Pepper Snapple , merger , Image , Web Only