***Updated below***
If the road to running for governor is measured in steps, Anthony Pollina took step number three Monday. He filed a bank designation and treasurer appointment form with the Secretary of State’s Office. Such forms are required when one raises or spends $500, though one can also file the form before raising that much.
(Step one was thinking about running, step two was announcing to his party members that he’s really thinking about running, and this is step 3. Step 4, presumably, would be announcing one’s candidacy in an official sort of way, but let’s not go assuming that. We could see more steps added to the process than we imagined.)
Pollina designated former Democratic state Sen. Janet Munt of Burlington as his treasurer. For his own party designation, he listed Progressive. Pollina is, of course, courting Democratic support.
As for courting those Democrats, it’s interesting to watch how Progressives go about that. Prog Party Chairwoman Martha Abbott told me last month that none of the Democratic names floating out there for governor would cut the mustard with Progs. In a
blog entry today, she seems to suggest that state Sen. Doug Racine doesn’t quite cut it either. At this point, it’s not hard to imagine that no matter what Democratic candidate emerges, the Progs will say he/she falls short. Abbott also uses the future tense, not the condition when speaking of Pollina's candidacy, as in: "Anthony Pollina will be an effective candidate for Governor."
Abbott writes:
"No one disputes that Doug Racine would be a bona fide candidate. However,
Anthony appeals to rural, traditionally Republican Vermonters and has the
potential to get votes from people who have voted for Jim Douglas in the past
and are ready for a change. Anthony’s work with Vermont Farmers over 35 years
has earned him many loyal supporters among farmers but also among many folks
whose livelihood in the rural economy depends on the survival of Vermont farms.
Anthony Pollina, like Bernie, can appeal to people who do not traditionally vote
for Democrats."
One other candidate has filed a bank designation form with the Secretary of State’s Office in the governor’s race. And no, it’s not Jim Douglas. It’s Tony O’Connor of Derby, the Civil War buff with a sense of humor who was featured in a Nov. 4 Ed Shamy column and said, "A month ago I had no chance. Now I'm up to slim to none. That's an improvement." He lists his party affiliation as "none."
**** update****
Pardonez-moi. It's been drawn to my attention that Douglas has said form on file and if he's making no changes, doesn't need to file a new one.
- Terri Hallenbeck
