A few days ago I wrote a diary criticizing a Reporters’ Roundtable on VPR for its lack of substance, its overattention to campaign minutiae, and its curious inattention to some actually interesting stuff. I mentioned, briefly, the program’s extremely brief consideration of the Auditor’s race.
Basically, the “analysis” boiled down to Pol v. Wonk. Republican Vince Illuzzi, master politician, gladhanding his way around the state while Doug Hoffer, tight-lipped wonk, sits in his office cranking out position papers.
Or something like that.
Well, I thought that little stereotype deserved a bit more attention.
First, let’s consider the Pol. Yes, Vince Illuzzi has been involved in Vermont politics for a very long time. He certainly knows his way around the hallways and backrooms of the Statehouse. But is he really a skilled politician?
I say the jury’s out on that one. Sure, Illuzzi has won a fistful of elections, but always on his home turf. Has he ever faced a serious challenge before? And sure, he’s well-known under the golden dome; but how well do the people of, say, Brattleboro or Rutland or even Burlington know him?
Not to say that his experience in Vermont’s little version of the Beltway is unimportant. He’s clearly collected a lot of chits over the years, and that’s given him the early lead in fundraising. But it remains to be seen how effective he’ll be on a statewide stage. I think that Statehouse reporters don’t see that broader picture very well, and they overvalue Illuzzi’s insider cred.
Now let’s turn to the Wonk, Doug Hoffer. Who, actually, is the only one of the two who’s run a statewide campaign. He ran a respectable race against Tom Salmon, a lousy Auditor with the incumbent’s edge and massive name recognition.
And for a supposedly ivory-tower-bound intellectual, Doug is sure pounding the pavement. He’s compiled a chart showing his past and pending campaign appearances around the state, which is truly impressive. (Pardon the formatting, which is due to my own computer-unsavviness. Doug’s original looked much better. But you’ll get the point.)
March 10 Randolph Dem Statewide Committee
April 10 West Glover Orleans County Committee
May 12 Randolph Dem Statewide Committee
May 12 Montpelier Prog Statewide Committee
May 14 Springfield Windsor County Committee
May 21 Rutland Rutland County Committee
May 26 Essex Jct Pancake Breakfast prior to Parade
May 26 Barre Dem State Convention
June 1 Burlington Aswad / Keogh fundraiser
June 2 Enosburg Dairy Days
June 12 Burlington Nurses demo at FAHC
June 12 Burlington Ch. 17 w/Richard Kemp
June 12 Burlington City Dem mtg. re. JPs
June 14 Montpelier Dropped petitions & met w/reporter
June 15 Montpelier Met w/VSEA board
June 19 South Burlington Met w/Firefighters
June 23 Rutland Bernie event
June 24 Weybridge Dem fundraiser (Kunin)
June 30 Waterbury Parade
July 3 Montpelier Parade
July 4 Bristol Parade
July 8 Reading Windsor Co. Ag Fair
July 18 Tunbridge Orange Co. Dem Committee
July 19 Burlington VDP & Chitt. Co. Dems
July 20 Colchester Ch. 5 Interview
July 21 Burlington Phil Baruth / GMD picnic
July 28 Johnson Lamoille Co. Field Days
July 29 Richmond Bernie event
July 29 Ferrisburgh Bernie event
August 3 Brattleboro Windham Co. Dem HQ opening + Gallery Walk
August 4 Highgate Franklin Co. Field Day
August 6 Burlington House party (Suzi W.)
August 8 Quechee Windsor / Orange Co. Dem HQ opening
August 9 Burlington Fundraiser @ St John’s Club
August 11 Vergennes Addison Co. Field Days
August 12 Barre Progressive Party quarterly mtg.
August 16 Burlington Cass Gekas’ kick-off rally
August 16 Burlington VBSR in the Intervale
August 18 Barton Orleans Co. Fair
August 19 Burlington Bernie event
August 19 Morrisville Bernie event
August 21 Montpelier Community Access TV interview
August 23 Rutland Rutland Co. Dem HQ opening
August 24 Barre Barre Town Democrats barbeque
August 25 Lyndonville Caledonia County Fair
August 29 Burlington Dem Party Unity Event
August 29 North Hero Grand Isle Co. Dems
Sept. 1 Essex Jct. Champlain Valley Fair
Sept. 3 Burlington Bernie Labor Day event @ Battery Park
Sept. 5 Burlington VBSR policy forum (4:00 PM Main St. Landing)
Sept. 8 Montpelier Meet with VT NEA
Sept. 9 Jay Meet with AFL-CIO
Sept. 9 Burlington Bernie cruise
Sept. 10 Burlington Shumlin rally
Sept. 11 St Albans Franklin Co. Dem HQ opening
Sept. 12 South Hero Farmer’s Market & Fund Raiser
Sept. 14 Newport Orleans Co. Dem HQ opening
Sept. 15 Tunbridge Fair
Sept. 20 Waitsfield Dem meet & greet
Sept. 27 Swanton Fundraiser
Looking at this, you might begin to think that Doug actually likes campaigning. Who knows, he might even be good at it. He certainly doesn’t deserve the stereotype so casually attached to him last Friday on VPR.
Vermont’s press is fairly lazy but, on the other hand, there’s not a lot of money in it. There’s always a simplistic narrative that all the reporters latch onto from which they sit at home banging out their required story. For more, let’s turn to retired political professor, Eric Davis.
Vermont suffers from a complete lack of investigative journalism. Digger does a bit, Seven Days sometimes, GMD get’s my vote actually.
Anyone who thinks Doug is less engaged in the process than Illuzzi simply hasn’t been paying attention!
Isn’t the best candidate for AUDITOR, the one who demonstrates the most interest in and ability to DO THE PAPERWORK?!!!!