TimesArgus.com - We Are Vermont

Shumlin becomes fifth Dem in race for governor

Democratic Sen. Peter Shumlin Monday decared he is a candidate for governor, the fifth from the party seeking the office. AP PHOTO/TOBY TALBOT

Toolbox

Print

Email link

Submit a letter

 

WILLISTON – Peter Shumlin, the president pro tem of the Vermont State Senate, made it official Monday that he will be the fifth candidate to seek the Democratic nomination for governor.

For the announcement Shumlin went to nearly the opposite corner of the state from his Putney home, to the headquarters of Earth Turbines, Inc., underscoring his message that his campaign will be about the development of renewable energy in Vermont.

"As our nation moves from our addiction to fossil fuels to renewable technology we are going to see an economic expansion in the country that will make the industrial revolution and recent technology boom yesterday's story," Shumlin said. "This transition will affect everything that we do."

But the location – the company is owned and run by David Blittersdorf a longtime renewable energy pioneer and political player in the state – also underscored the risk of family fights among the Democrats. Blittersdorf has already contributed $1,000 – the maximum for any one candidate in the primary – to Doug Racine, another democratic member of the Senate who is also running for governor.

"I have switched," Blittersdorf said when asked about his contribution to Racine in June. "Doug is a nice guy but he has wobbled too many times for me. I gave early to Doug but I am 100 percent now with Shumlin because of his leadership."

In a statement Racine, who was traveling Monday, said he welcomed Shumlin into a primary which can provide voters with clear choices before the victor goes on to face Lt. Gov. Brian Dubie. Dubie is in his fourth term as lieutenant governor; the Republican lost a previous statewide election for Lieutenant governor to Racine in 2000 and who is so far the only announced candidate for his party.

"I trust that my record of leadership on issues important to workers and children, and to our quality of life in Vermont will show my ability to deliver a better future for all Vermonters," Racine said in his statement.

Racine also said his own support for renewable energy has been long-standing and consistent.

"I was critical of the Douglas administration and the Dean administration for not doing enough on renewables," Racine said.

In addition to Racine, Shumlin will enter a crowded field that includes Secretary of State Deborah Markowitz, Sen. Susan Bartlett of Lamoille County and former state Sen. Matt Dunne in the contest among Democrats to replace Gov. James Douglas, who announced earlier this summer that he will not seek re-election.

It is not just with recent renewable energy legislation, like a new that will provide those building renewable energy projects with higher rates, that Shumlin is building his campaign. He was also flanked by Beth Robinson, who has for more than a decade fought for same-sex marriage rights in Vermont.

"The new law is in effect," Robinson said. "It's easy to forget in that context what it looked like a year ago."

But Robison urged her supporters not to forget that fight – or Shumlin, who she said brought it to a successful conclusion.

But much of Shumlin's discussion in his formal announcement was about the state of the state's economic and energy situation – and his successful career as a businessman and property owners in Windham County. Putney Student Travel, a company started by his parents and expanded by him and his brother, employees up to 200 people during the summer season and as many as 20 the remainder of the year.

"We need a business person who has walked the walk," said Shumlin, 53.

Shumlin did not shy away from a statement he has gotten in trouble for in the past.

"Vermont does not have further taxing capacity" to get out of its current fiscal straits, he said.

That was very similar to a statement Shumlin made last winter – one Republicans hammered him for later when the Legislature closed the budget gap in part by raising more than $20 million taxes.

Shumlin said he did not mean the state could not sustain raising "a few small taxes" on the margins, but that the bulk of the budget gap must be met by facing the fact that the state has promised more than it can afford. He declined to be specific on what obligations he would cut, however, until lawmakers meet again for the next session.

"I am part of a legislative process," he said.

Shumlin also left the door open – slightly – to the continued operation of Vermont Yankee, which must win legislative approval to run past its current license.

If some issues he objects to are resolved – like the lack of power contracts with state utilities and more money for decommissioning the plant – he could support renewal, Shumlin said. But if the vote were held today his vote would be to shut it down, he said.

That is one of the things that convinced him to support Shumlin, Blittersdorf said.

"Having VY still operating is a disaster for this state and it is stopping renewables in its tracks," he said.

Shumlin also urged his fellow Democratic candidates to keep the race clean.

"Any one of us that in any way criticizes the others will lose and should lose," he said.

Shumlin also addressed questions about whether he sometimes shoots too much from the hip when he talks.

"One thing about me is that I will tell you the truth," Shumlin said. But he also acknowledged that being governor is different than being president pro tem of the state senate.

"I will be as measured as I know how to be," he said.