(UPDATE: Woops… had my number 3 and number 4 paragraphs in the wrong order… it should make more sense now. Sorry.)
Yesterday’s piece by Porter discussed the nascent Secretary of State’s race, focusing on announced candidates Chris Roy (R) and Charles Merriman (D). He referred to the oft-mentioned interest (first publicized, as near as I can tell, right here way back in February) shown by former Chittenden Senator Jim Condos, and added the name of Chris Winters (Markowitz’s OPR director) into the SoS mix.
Also reported as rumor back in February as possibly being interested in Secretary of State was GOP Rep. Peg Flory, and her name has been heard kicking around again for the office. But perhaps most interesting are the persistent rumors about former Windsor Senator Matt Dunne who is, by many accounts, seriously considering an SoS run.
Scuttlebutt is also that Markowitz for Governor Campaign Manager Jason Powell will be leaving his position (this is kind of an aging rumor… not sure of its current status). It’s not clear whether or not he’ll be remaining with the campaign or not, but there are murmurs of law school in his future.
But you want a really odd rumor? One I wouldn’t put too much credence in, but – hey – it’s in circulation; that Republican Martha Rainville may be looking for a rematch with US Rep. Peter Welch.
That last one is a little tough to believe, and I’d suggest not putting too much stock in it for now… but it’s definitely out there, so who knows? Stay tuned, at any rate…
Rainville v Welch II…that’d be entertaining, to say the least. It’d be fun to hear someone defend the GOP agenda, at least….she’d probably have better luck running as a Blue Dog Dem, as they seem to be the only real opposition to progress right now.
Have Leahy/Sanders/Welch announced any town hall meetings for the August recess. I’d hope we can actually find some Democrats to attend so that ours doesn’t end up another FOX News segement.
Publishing these rumors. It’s bad enough that the Argus feels obligated to fill column inches with conjecture and innuendo. But none of these “news” stories or posts has reasons why, ideas for or differences between. It’s just names thrown out there, making it a popularity contest and nothing more, which is essentially what VT politics has become (Douglas is a good example of this because it can’t be his leadership or ideas that keep getting him elected). Anyone who has spent time inside the Statehouse knows that anymore it is little more than a glorified grade school (with a few competent exceptions who I figure probably want to shoot themselves by the end of a session). I really hope a fresh face steps in to all these races and causes some of these career dome dwellers to move on with their lives. Until new blood emerges, Vermont will be stuck with these same people, saying the same things and producing the same results. The time for an executive and legislative overhaul is past due.
Message received. Bozo out. Good luck to you.