Endorsement Update: The Repubican-leaning St. Albans Messenger has endorsed TJ Donovan for Attorney General. Unfortunately, Emerson Lynn, the paper’s publisher and the author of the editorial endorsement, does not post editorials online. Here’s a few of his pithier statements:

But after 15 years with Mr. Sorrell as the state’s Attorney General, it’s time for a change. Mr. Donovan is the better choice. […] Mr. Donovan has already provided Vermonters with new approaches to old problems […] he is capable of communicating at a level that will benefit Vermonters directly. He is one among us and looks at problems at a community level, which is where he lives and works. […]

Mr. Donovan’s [Rapid Intervention Community Court] program is an example of the productivity that comes from his work at the grassroots level. […] He engages.

Lynn discusses the issue of Sorrell’s recent high profile failures, and says that despite the millions of taxpayer dollars the losses will cost the state, the blame attached to Sorrell for losing is misplaced. He continues:

Here is the important difference between Mr. Sorrell and Mr. Donovan: Mr. Donovan says he would not argue a case before the Supreme Court. He’s not an appellate lawyer and hasn’t the necessary experience or expertise. He would hire someone who did. Mr. Sorrell, whose legal background is comparable to Mr. Donovan’s, said Vermonters expected the AG to have the “guts” to argue before the court.

It’s not about guts, it’s about winning. It’s not about ego, it’s about leadership. It’s smarter to hire the best legal talent and let them work than it is to push forward with a substandard skill set, reducing the chances of victory. It’s often cheaper as well.

That is the level judgment Vermonters should expect from their Attorney General, which Mr. Donovan exhibits, and Mr. Sorrell does not.

[…] It’s a choice [of] which candidate offers Vermont the best ideas going forward and which candidate can best engage with Vermonters in a way that encourages their participation and makes our communities better, safer places to live.

That candidate is T.J. Donovan.

Donovan has had my support since he got into the race, and I’ve already cast my vote for him. I hope you will too.