vt.Buzz ~ a political blog

Political notes from Free Press staff writers Terri Hallenbeck, Sam Hemingway and Nancy Remsen

5.08.2008

Coppenrath not running

Sen. George Coppenrath announced this morning that he will not seek re-election to his Caledonia County seat. He said it's too hard to pull off the part-time legislative gig alongside his insurance business.

Coppenrath, a Republican who is the father of former UVM basketball standout Taylor Coppenrath, was appointed three years ago to fill the seat of the late Sen. Julius Canns. He typically asked thoughtful questions in committee and on the Senate floor.

"The competing demands of my insurance business and my legislative duties have forced me to conclude that I must focus my attention on what is best for my family and my business. Thus I am, with considerable regret, retiring from public service."

John Hall, a former Republican state representative who just stepped down as housing and community affairs commissioner, has indicated he'd like to run for the seat.

- Terri Hallenbeck

posted by vt.Buzz | 11:33 AM |

Comments:

" he typically asked thoughtful questions in committee and on the Senate floor"

There is no place in the Vermont Senate for someone like that !!

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 12:26 PM, May 08, 2008

It is unfortunate that qualified citizens must tend to their livelihood and are unable to represent us in the Legislature. Who does that leave us to serve in Montpelier?

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 12:52 PM, May 08, 2008

Trustafarians that's who.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 12:55 PM, May 08, 2008

Wow. NEK is saying he favors ditching the citizen legislature. I'm with you. Professional, paid legislators for Vermont!

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 1:13 PM, May 08, 2008

NEK....that's been my point right along. While we can all be proud of the tradition of a citizen legislature, it doesn't work in today's world. Qualified people will go off to do other things to earn a living leaving these important roles to people that approach it as a hobby or a way to supplement their income during a slow time of the year.

The state is facing serious issues that need to be addressed by qualified, engaged people. This approach will not do what we need to get done.

Captain America

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 1:18 PM, May 08, 2008

How about Collins, Miller and Ayer aren't they leaving too?

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 1:34 PM, May 08, 2008

Being the thoughtful, intelligent Senator that he has been, I can sympathize with George. My God, I have never seen a bunch of bigger idiots than the crowd that presently constitute the Vermont Senate. Can you imagine having to sit down with Condos, McDonald, Shumlin, McCormack, and the rest of the dims? Sad to see George go, but who can blame him.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 1:55 PM, May 08, 2008

Now if only Campbell, Cummings, Lyons, MacDonald, McCormack, and Shumlin would follow!

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 2:00 PM, May 08, 2008

Name one thing that George Coppenrath did in the Vermont Senate.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 2:08 PM, May 08, 2008

He voted against overriding Douglas' veto of campaign finance reform.

For that alone, congrats.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 2:20 PM, May 08, 2008

Name one thing that George Coppenrath did in the Vermont Senate.
Can I list more than 1?
He voted against S.350 the energy bill that was very poorly written;
he voted against S.270, to elect a Pres by popular vote (some people want to chage the constitution and others still think/want Algore to be Pres; George voted against S209 the energy (in)efficiency bill- this is the bill we pay more in electricity but it is an energy saving bill-go figure; he voted against S.304 the (unconstitutional )Ground water bill- we already have controls for large ground water users; he voted against S.373 the Shumlin decommissioning of VT Yankee bill.
That is 5 good things George has done this year alone- I can cite more- a good Senator can play defense as well as offense!

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 2:41 PM, May 08, 2008

He voted? That's it?

I expect more of a senator than just voting.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 3:39 PM, May 08, 2008

Gee... Those 5 things are exactly why he is in the minority!

FYI - Three of the lead sponsors in the House for the H 373 - National Popular Vote were:
Rep Kurt Wright (R)
Rep Anne Donahue (R)
Rep Scott Wheeler (R)

S.270 was the Senate version of the same bill which was the vehicle used.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 3:40 PM, May 08, 2008

He voted the partisan party line. He didn't even think for himself. He just voted the way the party told him to vote.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 3:40 PM, May 08, 2008

So says you ; almighty mind reader!

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 3:47 PM, May 08, 2008

so who exactly is 'the party' making all these decisions?

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 3:49 PM, May 08, 2008

so who exactly is 'the party' making all these decisions?

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 3:49 PM, May 08, 2008

When the committees are chaired by the majority, they are lucky to have the bills brought up, say nothing about passed out of committee. I agree with you on expecting more out of a Senator- especially the majority. Shumlin had priorities listed going into session:
1. property tax relief
2. health care
3. education funding
4. transportation infrastructure
5. energy
6. Affordable Housing
NONE of these were acted on by the Dems except a terrible energy package that will cost Vt'rs, not save them. And, if it wasn't for the Governor, the transportation AND the affordable housing would not have been done.
The way I score this years Democratic Senate 0-5-1
...and you think Coppenwrath didn't do anything!

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 3:53 PM, May 08, 2008

I hope Pillsbury beats Shumlin - at least he is independent!

Who is going to run for the state wide offices besides Governor?

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 4:09 PM, May 08, 2008

NEK has such a thing for the GOP old white guys that he thinks Copperath is a god, hence he spells his name with "wrath" instead of how its correctly spelled. Looks to me like someone has a mancrush. So that was you at all those civil union hearings NEK? Don't worry, your day will come.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 4:11 PM, May 08, 2008

I didn't like Julius Canns, but at least he did something. His work and advocacy for Native Americans in the state was outstanding.

Even in the minority, Canns was able to move his agenda forward.

Contrast that with Coppenrath, whose greatest achivement was showing up and saying "No" to everything that came across his desk.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 4:26 PM, May 08, 2008

Coppenrath, like Julius Canns was a product of what you trustfunders would call the dying breed of Republicans that still believe(d) in personal responsibility, fiscal responsibility and (shudder) belief in the Constitution. All of which is passe and out of date with the new breed of Senators like Shumlin and company, who, like Madeleine Kunin, despised all of the morality and responsibility of conservatives. The leftists may have won the battle so far, but just look at the wretched state of affairs today compared to pre-Kunin Vermont.

TAKE BACK VERMONT!!!

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 5:24 PM, May 08, 2008

Anon 4:11- what civil union hearings are you talking about? the only ones I know about were at Johnson State College and Vermont Law School- convenient place for a non-partisan viewpoint! They probably couldn't find a church to have those hearings! I do not know of any hearings in the Northeast Kingdom and obviously didn't go so it was someone else you were sitting/close next to.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 5:50 PM, May 08, 2008

Symington thinks she just has to get Douglas under 50% (with the help of Pollina) and the legislature will put her in the Governors seat but as a voter I think whoever gets the most votes should win. To win she should get the most votes don't you think?

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 5:54 PM, May 08, 2008

She may make the case that her votes and Pollina'a votes are more than Douglas' so they should give her the job!

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 5:55 PM, May 08, 2008

"I think whoever gets the most votes should win."

Jim Douglas doesn't agree with you on this point. He made that clear during the popular vote debate. He won't have a leg to stand on if he pulls less than 50 percent. The legislature should put Gaye in if Jimmy D. can't get to 50 percent. If you don't like it, move to the deep South.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 6:51 PM, May 08, 2008

Coppenrath didn't do anything.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 10:48 PM, May 08, 2008

"She may make the case that her votes and Pollina'a votes are more than Douglas' so they should give her the job!"

What if Douglas' and Pollina's votes are higher than hers? Should they give it to Douglas? Your logic has no basis. The legislature should honor the view of the voters and keep partisanism out of it.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 8:53 AM, May 09, 2008

History shows us that Gov Douglas really does not believe in the popular vote.

Let's go back to 2002 when he ran against Lt Gov Racine.

Racine came out early and said he would abide by the popular vote regardless of who won.

Jim Douglas refused to agree!

After teh election of 2002, Racine told his legislative supporters to not write him in during the legislative confirmation.

Now let's shift to 2005 - Douglas vetoes the formation of the Vt Pension Investment Commission which will save the state over $1 million because he believes in one person - one vote.

Shift to 2008 - He opposes Instant Runoff Voting - because he believes in one person - one vote.

Again in 2008, he says he is opposed to National Popular Vote because he believes he thinks the popular voting system is broken and he doesn't believe in it!

HUH!?!?!

Jimmy D speaks out of both sides of his mouth in order to satisfy whatever group of peole he is speaking to.

He is a phony!

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 10:57 AM, May 09, 2008

True That!

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 11:27 AM, May 09, 2008

but Pollina and Symington are straight shooters...right.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 11:50 AM, May 09, 2008

I'm sorry, did Bubba just write "the morality and responsibility of conservatives?"
would that include the conservatives who call energy conservation a pipe dream? the conservatives who started a war based on a huge lie? the conservatives who plunged the country into record debt by cutting taxes and increasing spending? the conservatives who would deny the rights of their fellow man because of their sexual orientation? By the way, wasn't Bubba the nickname people gave to Bill Clinton?

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 5:19 PM, May 09, 2008

Yup, the conservatives who wanted to cut our dependence on foreign oil years ago by expanding drilling in the U.S. Never heard of any rights being denied to "fellow" man, though, as long as they obey the laws like everyone else. Vermont was a wonderful state when run by conservatives, not today's haven for child molesters, layabouts, and flatlander trustfunders.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 7:42 PM, May 09, 2008

And those Democrats have it SO together - ha-ha-ha!

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# Posted by:

Anonymous | 11:41 PM, August 03, 2008