Apparently Beth Pearce isn’t the shy, wonky non-politician that lazy media stereotyping has made her out to be. Yesterday, in a debate on WDEV’s Mark Johnson Show and at a later news conference, she came out swinging. And landed quite a few punches.

It was about time. After absorbing loads of attacks on her performance as Treasurer, she issued stout and thorough defenses of her own record and — finally — put challenger Wendy Wilton’s resume under the same kind of spotlight.

And she did something that the political media should have done a long time ago: called out Wilton for completely changing her public persona in a way that would make Mitt Romney blush.

You might recall that WIlton made herself a rising star (well, what passes for a “rising star” in today’s VTGOP) by producing an “analysis” showing that Governor Shumlin’s health care plan would be a $5 billion financial disaster. Which has become a key point in the propaganda campaign of conservative Super PAC Vermonters First.

Funny thing, though: since WIlton’s been running for Treasurer, she’s stopped talking health care. “My job is not to worry about the policy at all,” she told reporters. She’s actively distancing herself from the right-wing dogma that propelled her onto the Republican ticket, claiming that she didn’t remember writing a comment on Vermont Tiger slamming ShummyCare as a “fiscal disaster” and a “huge stealth tax increase.”

Didn’t remember? Did she also forget all her other public comments, remarks, speeches and interviews attacking health care reform?

After the jump: Competence and preparedness.

Pearce also staged an effective counterattack on the “competence” issue, poking holes in Wilton’s record as Rutland City Treasurer and questioning her preparedness to be Treasurer for the entire state. Some of the attacks were more relevant than others, but all were effective in political terms.

She noted that Rutland is on a special bond monitoring list maintained by the Vermont Municipal Bond Bank. Wilton had to admit she was unaware of the listing. Pearce also questioned the solvency of Rutland’s pension plan, and Wilton’s lack of experience in some key aspects of the Treasurer’s job. A point also made on VTDigger by Vermont Pundit Emeritus Eric Davis:

…Davis said that some issues Wilton has raised during the campaign, like fiscal transparency or overtime management, aren’t directly related to the treasurer’s duties, even if they’re admittedly important.

“Put the point in a different way: I haven’t heard Wendy Wilton say very much about bonds, cash management, and pensions,” said Davis, who highlighted those three issues as key responsibilities for any treasurer.

All in all, a very good day for Beth Pearce. And with any luck, it will prove to be the turning point in the race for Treasurer.