The Associated Press

MONTPELIER — Vermont Republican gubernatorial candidate Randy Brock is criticizing incumbent Gov. Peter Shumlin for what Brock says is too much time away from the office.

A Shumlin aide confirms Brock’s assertion that Shumlin was out-of-state and turned the reins of government over to Lt. Gov. Phil Scott for 119 days during his first 21 months in office.

The lieutenant governor becomes acting governor any time the governor is outside Vermont’s borders.

Shumlin campaign manager Alexandra MacLean says on 44 of those 119 days, Shumlin was on official state business, mainly meeting with corporate officials in a bid to get them to bring more jobs to Vermont. The other 75 days were devoted to campaign activities, those involving the Democratic Governors Association, and personal time off.