The Pol and the Wonk: A Tale of Two Stereotypes

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.  

4 thoughts on “The Pol and the Wonk: A Tale of Two Stereotypes

  1. 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.

  2. Vermont suffers from a complete lack of investigative journalism. Digger does a bit, Seven Days sometimes, GMD get’s my vote actually.  

  3. Anyone who thinks Doug is less engaged in the process than Illuzzi simply hasn’t been paying attention!

  4. Isn’t the best candidate for AUDITOR, the one who demonstrates the most interest in and ability to DO THE PAPERWORK?!!!!

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