Sometimes those Sunday morning talk shows aren’t all boring.

Take, for instance, the 9/16 edition of WCAX’s “You Can Quote Me,” in which Vince Illuzzi, Republican candidate for Auditor, said that if he wins, he might just hold on to his other job — Essex County State’s Attorney — for a while.

How long? He wouldn’t say. He did say he asked the Secretary of State’s office for an opinion on holding both positions, and was told that it was legal. And he made reference to his term as SA expiring in 2014, so he’s at least pondering a full two years as both Auditor and SA.

This was brought to our attention via news release from Illuzzi’s Dem/Prog opponent, Doug Hoffer, who commented:

The Auditor’s office has a dozen employees, a budget of $4 million per year, and a list of issues to tackle that is extensive. It is disturbing to hear that Vince thinks the State Auditor’s job is a part-time position.

I didn’t depend on Hoffer’s word; I went back and watched the video myself. And after the jump, I’ll provide my (unofficial but as accurate as I could be) transcript of the key exchange, which begins around the 22-minute mark in the half-hour program.  

Host Gretchen Carlson noted that he holds the position of State’s Attorney, and asked if he would continue to hold it if elected Auditor.

I asked the Secretary of State’s office to look into it, and the statute does allow you to hold both positions. Whether I hold it or not is another question. I think there has to be some transition period.

One of the things I don’t want to happen is to have the office essentially closed and merged with another county.

He then quickly pivots to one of his talking points:

But speaking of the State’s Attorney’s office, one of the issues that has come to my attention in serving as State’s Attorney is that law enforcement agencies, by and large, are not equipped to handle fraud complaints.

Carlson interrupts: “Before we move on to that, I just didn’t quite hear an answer. So if you’re elected, would you hold two jobs?”

I think I would for a time period until I transition out of that position. It’s a four-year term; it doesn’t expire until 2014.

Carlson, who deserves full credit for trying to corner Illuzzi, asked: “So how long would you…?”

It depends on the decision — there would have to be discussion with the Governor, with the Executive Branch folks who administer that department.

He then swerved back to his talking point about local police and fraud cases.

It’s a half-hour show and time was running short, so I don’t blame Carlson for not continuing the chase. But a lot of questions are left unanswered here, and I hope someone holds Illuzzi’s feet to the fire on this.

First of all, it’s very revealing that Illuzzi made his inquiry with the Secretary of State. Clearly, he wanted to know if he could hold onto both jobs.

Corollary: It’s an unusual enough notion that he needed to get official clarification. Which kind of belies his whole point about “transition.” Isn’t there a built-in transition period after Election Day and before the new Auditor takes office? Does he really see himself as so indispensable to the people of Essex County that another attorney* couldn’t take over as interim SA?

*Perhaps an attorney who doesn’t have multiple ethics charges on his legal record?

Next, what’s with this “apres moi, le deluge” stuff? Is there talk of closing the SA office in Essex County? Maybe there is, I don’t know. But does he really think that he, and only he, can save the office by continuing to occupy it, like those Catholics in Boston who’ve been continuously occupying a church slated for closure? Bit of a messiah complex there, Vince?

Then, as I noted above, he notes that his term expires in 2014, which says to me that he’s at least thinking about serving out his term. Which would coincide with the entirety of the Auditor’s next term.

And finally, I have no idea what he’s talking about with the “discussion with the Governor, with the Executive Branch folks who administer that department.” What department? And why the Governor? Isn’t this a matter for the Auditor to decide, based on his/her sense of duty to the office and to the people of Vermont?

Illuzzi should have had this figured out before now, and should be able to give a clear, forthright answer to the question. And the answer clearly ought to be, “If I am elected, I will step down as State’s Attorney the day I am sworn in as Auditor.”

See, it’s simple, really.