Sanders a Democrat, at least until primary
Toolbox
By Darren M. Allen Vermont Press Bureau - Published: July 18, 2006
MONTPELIER — The hats are all in the political ring.
Vermont's filing deadline passed Monday for major party primaries this fall, and topping the list is the unusual jockeying in the U.S. Senate race. U.S. Rep. Bernard Sanders, an Independent, is running in the Democratic primary this fall in his bid to be the state's next senator, where, according to filings due Monday in the Secretary of State's Office, he will face four other lesser-known members of the party.
But Sanders has vowed not to accept the Democratic nomination if, as expected, he wins it. That move will cut short the senatorial aspirations of Democrats Peter Moss, Louis Thabault, Larry Drown and Craig Hill, who will find themselves unable to run as the party standard bearer.
It is Sanders' first direct run as a Democrat, a label he has never previously endorsed, as he girds for a general election fight against businessman Richard Tarrant for the right to succeed Sen. James Jeffords, the three-term incumbent who is retiring this year.
Before Tarrant can face Sanders, he has to beat back Greg Parke of Rutland and Cris Ericson of Chester.
The race for the Senate may have the highest profile this election season, but incumbents, perennial candidates and novices alike have signed up for all the major party primaries that will determine who will square off for the eight statewide offices and 180 legislative seats up for grabs in November.
In the race for U.S. House — one of the closest and most volatile this election cycle — Peter Welch is the sole Democrat. His Republican opponent will either be Martha Rainville or state Sen. Mark Shepard.
In one surprise, the race for lieutenant governor took on a new twist with the last-minute entrance late Monday of Barre physician Marvin Malek as the Progressive candidate for the state's No. 2 job. He will enter a race that features incumbent Brian Dubie, the Republican who trounced a Progressive and a Democrat in 2004 to win re-election. The Democratic candidate will be either state Sen. Matt Dunne of Windsor or state Rep. John Tracy of Burlington.
In the governor's race, neither incumbent James Douglas, a Republican, nor his Democratic opponent, Scudder Parker, faces a primary challenge.
Auditor of Accounts Randy Brock, a Republican who garnered 30,000 more votes than his Democratic challenger, Elizabeth Ready, in 2004, faces no primary opposition. Also having clean shots at their primaries in the auditor race are Democrat Thomas M. Salmon and Progressive Martha Abbott.
Secretary of State Deborah Markowitz, who ran unopposed in 2004, faces no primary opposition, but she will face Republican Cheryl Moomey — an Essex town clerk — in the general election.
No one filed to run against Treasurer Jeb Spaulding, who also was unopposed in the last election cycle.
In the attorney general's race, Democratic incumbent William Sorrell doesn't have a primary contest; the Republican nod will go to either Karen Karin — who snared just over 6,300 out of the more than 270,000 votes cast — or Dennis Carver, who in 2004 garnered more than 90,000 votes.
Rounding out the list of candidates in the Sept. 12 primary are a host of Liberty Union contenders. Under that party's banner, Peter Diamondstone is running for U.S. Senate; Jane Newton for U.S. House; Bob Skold for governor; Mary Alice "Mal" Herbert for lieutenant governor; Boots Wardinski for secretary of state; and Jerry Levy for auditor.
After the primaries — voters need to register by Tuesday, Sept. 5, in order to vote — minor party and independent candidates can file their intentions to run in the Nov. 7 general election.
Contact Darren Allen at Darren.allen@timesargus.com
38