Thomas James Hermann of Barre is now the Progressive Party’s hope for maintaining their Major Party status, as he is the only Progressive Party candidate who filed for statewide office (note: as the US House race is not one of Vermont’s Constitutional offices, those statewide vote totals do the Progressives no good towards retaining Major Party status). Joining him in running against US Representative Peter Welch is perennial Liberty Union candidate Jane Newton and perennial former Green candidate Craig Hill running in the Democratic Primary.

But no Republican. Heh.

The Liberty Union Party is running somebody in every statewide slot, while the state GOP is leaving incumbents Jeb Spaulding and Tom Salmon Jr. (along with Welch) unchallenged.

UPDATE: review the Secretary of State’s listing of qualified candidates here: http://vermont-elections.org/e…

First of all, its looking an awful lot like the Democrats may be the only Major Party with its act together electorally (hunh… haven’t said anything like that for a while). We won’t know for sure about the the statewide races until the SoS updates their spreadsheet in about an hour, but it seems that the Dems are challenging for every statewide office (including a primary for Lieutenant Governor as both Costello and Freeman will be on the ballot), while the GOP is, in fact, giving freshman US Representative Peter Welch a pass (along with several other statewide Dems), and the Progs had their standard-bearer drop their brand completely.

While the local races will likely trickle into officially reported status over the next couple days, there are some races we can start noting now.

• Progressives are so far looking to expand in Orleans-Caledonia 1 (Nancy Potak), Franklin-4 (Cindy Weed), Rutland 5 (Ellen Garneau) and Windham 3-2 (Mollie Burke, who will likely prove to be running unopposed by a D or an R) and will try to pick up a Washington County Senate seat (John Bloch). Winston Dowland is also trying to make a comeback in Orleans-1.
• Democrats will continue to make a serious push to continue their growth in Rutland County by running strong candidates for Senate in former State Rep Cheryl Hooker and Democratic activist Hope Blucher.
• VSEA stalwart Terry Macaig will make another attempt at the legislature in Williston as a Dem, as incumbent Mary Peterson has opted not to run again.
• Burlington author Suzi Wizowaty is apparently making it a primary in Chittenden 3-5, putting her at odds with Rep. Donovan and the often-annoyingly-conservative Keough. May be one to check out more closely…
• One-time Jim Douglas campaign contributor and nominal Democrat Jon Anderson will indeed stand for re-election as a Democrat, contrary to some rumors that placed him as possibly running as an Independent. He  faces seatmate Warren Kitzmiller and Montpelier Mayor Mary Hooper.
• Perennial Liberty Union candidate Boots Wardinski is scaling down his sights to run for State House against GOP incumbent Otterman in Orange-Caledonia 1. Also running is a Dem I don’t know named “Chip Conquest.” That is truly an awesome name.

Still lots of unknowns, but lets just say that early suggestions of Republican troubles filling local races with candidates have not yet been disproven… we’ll see in the next day or so.

Well, well. Here’s the first surprise of the filing deadline: Progressive Anthony Pollina is now Independent Anthony Pollina. That’s right, Pollina will be on the ballot for Governor as an Independent. So what’s up with that?

Possibilities:

1. This was the plan all along, but it was kept quiet so as not to invite the likes of Michael Colby to fill the Progressive Party ballot line without a fight? Interesting, if true, but questionable strategically. Not the running as an independent part – not only does it potentially broaden his appeal, but he’s no longer running against the two-party system in the same institutional way he was before, which could give him room to “opt in” the way Bernie has, but still be positioned as a reformer. There can be a lot of value to those sorts of campaigns, precisely because they critique and press the two party system without doing so quixotically.

But on the other hand, coming out with this now, if this was indeed the plan from the beginning, is  somewhat an exercise in closing the barn door after the cows have escaped. The opportunity to garner support – especially Democratic support – from such a move was largely many months back, when he was campaigning full steam ahead and Symington hadn’t committed. Also, this will inevitably piss off a lot of Prog-sorts committed to the counter-institutional nature of a third party. To them it will be seen as a sell-out – a frustration that, again, would’ve been easier to absorb and move on from months back when fewer people were watching. Finally – it would’ve made a cleaner, easier answer to all those urging him to run as a Dem. With this news, he could further cast himself as anti-Democrat, by looking willing to consider any left-label except Democrat.

So is it a smart move, but bad timing? Problem with this theory is that he was collecting sigs for the Progressive ballot… that would be some lengths to go to just to be sneaky.

2. Desperation? Could be. The rollout of his credit card rewards program to save the state (VermontCard) got me scratching my head, and many others felt similarly. Is that move, and this Indy shingle, a sign that his internal poll numbers are in the crapper, and they’re looking for some way to reinvent the whole effort?

If no other Prog turns in signatures for a statewide ballot today, the good money’s on this theory, though – as it would mean they would lose their hard-earned major party status next year without a better-than-negligible showing on a statewide race. Hard to believe they’d let that happen unless they were desperate.

3. Not enough signatures? The deadline to turn in signatures as an Independent is not today, but September 12th. That’s a little extra time.

I don’t believe for a minute that’s what’s going on, but if he doesn’t turn in papers today, he may invite the question (or even speculation that he’s considering withdrawing – also something I wouldn’t believe for a minute).

The big question of the day? How could Pollina’s move – he being the last person most political watchers would expect to follow Bernie down the indy path – NOT send a message that the Progressive Party as an institution has hit the ceiling in Vermont, and that there’s nowhere to go with that political brand beyond the handful of State House seats the Progs currently hold?

Update: Pollina’s email to supporters on th ematter is below the fold…

Dear XX,

I want to share some exciting information about our campaign. Today, surrounded by a broad coalition of Vermonters representing democrats, progressives, independents, and even republicans, including educators, labor leaders, students, business people and more, I announced that I would appear on the November ballot as an Independent.

Since my campaign began, I have stressed the urgency to build a coalition strong enough to defeat the incumbent Governor. Over the last 7 months I have talked with many of you and Vermonters in every corner and from every county at more than 150 meetings across our state. I have asked Vermonters to tell me what is important to them. I have made a real effort to reach out to grassroots democrats, republicans and independents. Although the state democratic committee was unwilling to meet with me, I have found most Vermonters to be extremely open and interested in this election for Governor of Vermont. Regardless of background or affiliation, the Vermonters I have talked with and listened to share similar concerns. They are tired of old politics. And are deeply worried about paying their bills during the cold winter ahead.

The 2008 election – for good reason – comes down to very basic issues. The old solutions are not working. Doing nothing is no longer an option. New vision, leadership and ideas are needed in these serious, troubling times. And it will take a new kind of coalition to make it happen.  Across the state, Vermonters have talked about how to open  the door to all who want to participate in and support our efforts. They have encouraged us to build a unified coalition beyond the Democratic and Republican parties. I am very much impressed by the willingness of so many to step outside their own comfort zone and think outside of the box.  This is exactly how real change occurs. At their urging, I have decided to lead this coalition as an Independent on the November ballot. Let me clearly state:  this decision in no way compromises my priorities or positions. I am a Progressive in practice and principle.

Building a strong coalition is critical to the success of this campaign and so is raising money. The first campaign finance report is due in only 10 days. Please join our coalition and support Vermont’s future by contributing today.

This campaign continues our commitment to building a coalition of Vermonters that can deliver good jobs, lower health care costs, a safe energy future, support for public schools and a clean environment. I believe in this commitment because it is being made by a growing number of independent minded Vermonters ready to work together to build a better Vermont. Vermonters who look around and see that when we work together we can do better…much better.

I look forward to continuing to work with and for you. If you have questions or suggestions please email them to the campaign.

( – promoted by JulieWaters)

WAITSFIELD- Police arrested Peter Diamondstone, of Brattleboro, after he refused to leave the stage at a gubernatorial debate held at American Flatbread in Waitsfield on Sunday, July 20.

   Diamondstone has run for a number of state and federal offices since he helped found Vermont’s Liberty Union Party in 1970.  This year Diamondstone is running for governor on the Liberty Union ticket, but he wasn’t on the slate of candidates for Sunday’s debate, although organizers have said that Diamondstone would have been included had he contacted them and told them he wished to participate.  

   According to police reports, event organizers asked Diamondstone to leave the stage before the debate began.  When he refused to move, state police troopers escorted him from the stage, and off the property.  When Diamondstone refused to leave, he was taken into custody for disorderly conduct and unlawful trespass.  He was processed at the state police barracks in Middlesex, and released with a citation to appear in Washington County District Court on September 11, 2008.

Diamondstone made headlines during his 2006 bid for the Senate when he was “disinvited” from a Vermont Public Radio debate, and again when he was forcibly removed from a debate at Vermont Law School in Royalton.  In that incident, Diamondstone was escorted out of the room when he refused to stop talking after his allotted time.  When he continued to protest that organizers and police had violated his rights in a hallway outside the debate, a scuffle ensued.  Diamondstone was pinned face down on the floor and handcuffed.

Cross-posted at iBrattleboro.com

UPDATED:

Senator Condos is publicly announcing today that he will not seek another term in the Vermont Senate due to work commitments.  Tim Palmer, Dennis McMahon, and Richmond Rep Denise Barnard have all announced that they will be running for one of the six Chittenden County State Senate seats. Condos, who served in the senate for eight years is endorsing Richmond Representative Denise Barnard.

Condos, was first elected to the Vermont senate in 2000, and has been a leader on such issues as storm water regulations, education and economic development.  Condos, who earned his BS in Resource Economics from UVM in 1974, credits his education from UVM’s then fledgling environmental program with helping him develop a clear understanding of the impact of development on the environment.  As a South Burlington City Councilor from 1987 to 2007 and its chair from 1999 to 2007, Condos was instrumental in developing South Burlington’s landmark storm water program in its effort to protect effluent from running into Lake Champlain, and also brought those skill to bear on statewide storm water environmental legislation.

Condos says he is stepping down do to increased work responsibilities at his job as public affairs manager for Vermont Gas Systems.  

“Obviously there is more to do and as a state we need to try to increase economic development and take care of Vermonters while watching budget increases, protecting the environment, jobs, and education,” Condos said Sunday.

Condos also noted that he is most proud of passing and codifying early education laws because of its lasting impact on society and our communities.  

“Studies show”, he continued “that investing in early education yields big payoffs”.  

The program Condos helped to develop funds approximately $2500 per year per pupil in early childhood education for those children who may need that extra boost in order to assure that they will be educationally on par with their peers when they begin elementary school.  Condos said he was quite disturbed by the Republican mounted opposition to the early education plan based upon costs.  Condos elaborated saying that when incarcerating a criminal costs $45,000 for each male and $75,000 for each female, it makes better financial sense for a small state like Vermont to invest in early childhood education to help build a competent educated workforce.

Denise Begins Barnard, a resident of Richmond, who was elected to the House in 2004 and serves as the clerk of the House Education Committee is planning to run for Condos’ seat and has received his endorsement.  Condos and Barnard are holding a press conference at 3pm in Burlington today.

To date, it is believed that Chittenden County’s other current state senators Democrats Ed Flanagan, Ginny Lyons, Hinda Miller, Doug Racine, and Republican Diane Snelling are all running for re-election.  Candidate’s petitions are due to be filed with the state by 5 pm today.

Chittenden County’s Democrat primary saw a vote recount between Burlington’s Dennis McMahon and Williston’s Tim Palmer during the 2006 primary when the initial count was only 25 votes apart.

Palmer and McMahon have also declared.  Palmer, who has been actively campaigning for a senate seat since late June believes he is well-positioned to be a key candidate in the 2008 election.

UPDATE: The original version of this diary gave the incorrect impression that the three new candidates mentioned are running for the seat being vacated by Senator Condos. In actuality, all candidates are running to be one of the top six vote getters, but not for specific seats.