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


5.15.2008

 

Governor's right-hand man leaving


The governor's right-hand man, Mike Smith, is retiring at the end of August. Smith has been by the side of Gov. Jim Douglas since they were young legislators still getting acquainted with shaving (slight exaggeration intended).

Smith will be replaced as Administration secretary by Neale Lunderville, the Agency of Transportation secretary who probably also learned to shave while he was helping the governor win election.

“Mike is an invaluable member of my team and a close personal friend. I cannot thank him enough for the top-quality work he has done for Vermont,” Douglas said in a statement.

Douglas spokesman Jason Gibbs joked that he will probably still be getting 5:30 a.m. calls from Smith with complaints about the misguided news coverage Gibbs allowed to happen. On those occasions when Smith's discontent boiled beyond the usual, we in the media were apt to get a 5:35 a.m. e-mail from him.

Lunderville, who's old enough now not to be called the boy wonder, will take over the job that oversees the state's budget.

Deputy Secretary of Transportation David Dill will take over the task of overseeing the patching of the state's roads.

In other transactions, Health Commissioner Sharon Moffatt, whom the Legislature had just given the right to the full-fledged commissioner title even though she's not a doctor, will be stepping down for family reasons.

Are those a lot of changes all at once with an election pending? Well, that was what Jill Krowinski, campaign manager for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gaye Symington, was suggesting.

The bigger question is what impact the change will have on Douglas because Mike Smith has been a key player in everything Douglas has done.

- Terri Hallenbeck

Comments:
Great. Lunderville. What budget experience does he have, other than counting PAC contributions from wealthy GOP donors to make sure Douglas had enough in his tv and radio budget to get him through the general election? What a bonehead appointment. Is this more Jim Douglas leadership? If so, be afraid, be very afraid.
 
This just in... Mike Smith has been appointed Health Commissioner. Douglas's musical chairs continues.
 
Mike Smith Leaving?
Sharon Moffat leaving?
THERE IS A GOD!
 
On the good side, it does mean that a daycare center will definately be installed at the Statehouse now. Need someplace to put Neal when the governor doesn't require his precense as administration secretary.
 
I rarely have praise for Republicans but Neale Lunderville has been an excellent AOT Secretary. His predecessor Dawn Terrill didn't have a clue - hope Mr Dill did not train under her. Former DMV employee
 
Jill Krowinski needs a man.
 
Mike Smith has been an agressive bulldog(former Navy SEAL) keeping the Democrat majorities honest. Without him we'd have higher taxes, more government. Good luck in your future endeavors Mike. Neale will make an excellent replacement. He has been a breath of fresh air at AOT, where he has in fact shown what true leadership really is. Our road and bridge troubles started with Howierd Dean and Douglas inherited those troubles. Gaye Symington will not be our answer to smoother roads, just an implement of higher gas taxes/
 
Symington does not have any answers to our road problems...just higher gas taxes and more bonding. Those revenues she'll use to fund some VPIRG endorsed program. "Special favors for special people"....that should be her campaign motto.
 
Anonymous said...

"Symington does not have any answers to our road problems...just higher gas taxes and more bonding. Those revenues she'll use to fund some VPIRG endorsed program. "Special favors for special people"....that should be her campaign motto."

In other words, your ignorant, anonymous ass has got bupkis.

Thanks for clearin' that up, little fella.

Always a pleasure.

Dismissed.
 
"Symington does not have any answers to our road problems"

What are Douglas's answers????
 
I'm glad to see JW Poop has answers to our road problems other that his typical trash talk. What are your answers to getting our roads and bridges repaired? I thought so, just your typical trash talk...what a AH...come on give us some ideas...i thought so, dismissed. As usual it is always a pleasure to throw you over the bridge.
 
Jill Kwowinski needs a man
 
So do you.
 
Wouldn't it be nice if the crazies on this site actually got a job? Or maybe broken fingers!
 
Coop is the posterboy for what is wrong with liberalism today. Insults are viewed as logical dialogue. Charges of racism, nazisim et.al. are launched when people don't agree with their position. Be loud and obnoxious enough so people wont't focus on the fact you have no particular answers.

Congrats Coop you have mastered the playbook.
 
Anonymous said...

"Wouldn't it be nice if the crazies on this site actually got a job? Or maybe broken fingers!"

Or a case, a clue and the stones to come up with a screen name.
 
Neale Lunderville may be a nice guy, but what credible experience does he bring to the table? He's a campaign hack and a late, fill-in AOT secretary, not much more. I think the appointment is a bad move. Reeks of desperation.
 
Can you just imagine who Gaye Symington would appoint to all these positions if she were elected! It would be downright scary. Maybe that is how she is getting people in her own party to support her since she really does not have that kind of realationship with them now.
 
Man. The Symington paranoia contained in some of these posts makes me believe the GOP and Camp Douglas might be a little worried about the Speaker's run. That's great news!

I would hope she wouldn't raid from Vermont's Junior High Schools like it appears Douglas is now.
 
I heard Douglas had to wait to tell Neale the big news because he was in the middle of watching the Teletubbies, and he gets very ornery when pulled away from his favorite show.
 
This is a big vote of confidence for Deputy Commissioner Linda McIntire isn't it? Ouch!
 
"Anonymous said...
Can you just imagine who Gaye Symington would appoint to all these positions if she were elected!"

This is a great uptapped revenue raising opportunity for Gaye and the Dims. With the right person, we can convert I89, Rte 2 and Rte 100 into toll roads!
 
Actually, quite a few Republicans are exploring the idea of toll roads in Vermont because it would generate some much needed revenue. Works in New Hampshire and Mass.
 
Republican Richie Westman proposed raising the gas tax.

Gaye killed the idea.
 
Raising the gas tax is a great idea. In my town 3/4 of the road costs are paid by property taxes and 1/4 is paid by state and federal aid, i.e. the gas tax. Increase the gas taxes and lower property taxes. People using the roads should pay for them as they go.

Tolls on the Interstate makes sense, too. Ever hear anyone say they don't go to Boston because of the tolls on 93 or 90? Me neither.

Also, the so called "raids on the the transportation fund" which used gas taxes to pay for state police, traffic court, the transportation buildings, etc... should also be reinstated. People who drive should pay all the costs of automobile and truck use of the roads.

I would get rid of rail and air subsidies also.

In sum, free the property from paying for roads. Makes no sense.
 
The state of Vermont is cannot legally put tolls on federally funded highways.
 
I saw Neal Lunderville driving his kiddie pedal car on Route 100.
 
There are tolls on lots of interstate highways. Did the states with tolls build their own roads? Is there something different between NH 93 and VT 91? Do you know how this works?
 
The Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956 says, "no Federal-aid highway funds shall be expended for the construction, reconstruction, or improvement of any such toll road except to the extent hereafter permitted by law: Provided further, That no Federal-aid highway funds shall be expended for the construction, reconstruction, or improvement of any such toll bridge or tunnel except to the extent now or hereafter permitted by law."

In 1957, the feds made specific exceptions to this law, permitting certain toll roads/bridges/tunnels with the stipulation that no federal funds are used for their improvement.

Long story short: The Feds aren't going to allow us to use their highway as a state revenue source.
 
Did you hear Martha Abbott giving it to Gaye on Vermont Public Radio??
 
Martha Abbott has a lot of repressed anger. She needs to find a release - and soon.
 
Martha Abbott should visit Abby Winters.com for a release of her built up frustrations...the Progessives need to get a life
 
Thanks for the information. Does this mean that no Federal Funds are used for the upkeep of MH 93, NH 95, Mass 90, Conn 95, NY 87 and Maine 95?
 
Does Smith have a specially adpated motorcycle so his feet can reach the foot pegs?
 
No. Lunderville lets him borrow his Big Wheel whenever he wants.
 
Apparently being short didn't hinder him as a Navy Seal, only being a pro-American conservative would hurt him in Vermont.
 
He can't be pro-American if he's pro-Bush.
 
Jesse Ventura was a Navy SEAL too. His political career flamed out, and I suspect Smith's saw his about to be snuffed as well. He must be bright enough to realize that he's working for a lightweight and he probably got tired of having to be the heavy.
 
Smith got tired of baiting Jimmy's hooks for him.
 
When do you think Floyd Neese will
get tired of "baiting Gayes hook"?
 
Maybe Carolyn Partridge and Gaye Symington could go fishing for alittle bonding.
 
bubba said...

"Apparently being short didn't hinder him as a Navy Seal, only being a pro-American conservative would hurt him in Vermont."

Pro-American conservative, eh? That's a good one, little bigot boy.

That'd be like a pro-Israeli member of the SS who keeps Kosher or some brain-dead, chicken-hawk gop loon lecturing the Israeli Knesset on the evils of appeasement when his grandfather had been busted for profiting off the Third Reich in his business dealings, which continued until his company's assets were seized in 1942 under the Trading with the Enemy Act.

For the record, little bigot boy, 12/7/41 aka Pearl Harbor Day, preceded 1942. Feel free to check.

Evidently, Prescott Bush subscribed to one of your psychotic "schools of thought that the Japanese and the Third Reich posed no threat to the US" even after Pearl Harbor, little bigot boy.

Then there's the matter of Neville Chamberlain being a Conservative PM and the Senator Bush quoted saying: " 'Lord, if only I could have talked to Hitler, all of this might have been avoided." was one Senator William E Borah, R-ID - The Gop head of the Gop Isolationist Movement - but I know how your ignorant ass hates to be confused with the facts, little bigot boy.

Always a pleasure. Always a piece of cake.

Dismissed.
 
Yawn. You are a certifiable nutcase.
 
Here, Here
 
In other words, auntie amerika, ya got bupkis.

Gee, ignorant, ill-informed anonymous trash without a case and a clue don't like me.

Zippity Do Da!

Lord, I must be livin' right to have such factually-challenged/fundamentally-dishonest, delusional-dreck dealin' slimeballs for enemies.

Always a pleasure.

Dismissed.
 
Enemies?...very telling. Is that how you view everything? 6:20 AM's post is right. You are a nutcase.

Get help.
 
JWCOOP10

You are a bully. I hope you don't have any children who are learning from you. You scare the hell out of me. I wonder....you can't be a Vermonter. Where do you hail from?
 
coop... go back to your native land...we really really don't want you.
 
"Enemies?...very telling. Is that how you view everything? 6:20 AM's post is right. You are a nutcase.
Get help."

No, that's how I view the factually-challenged/fundamentally-dishonest, UnAmerican, delusional-dreck dealin' likes of your ignorant, anonymous ass, auntie amerika.

As for help, once again, as long as I'm dealin' with the coalition of the clueless likes of you and bubbles, little factually-challenged filly, you're the one's who are shorthanded and outta ammo.

Always a pleasure.

Dismissed.
 
Anonymous said...

"coop... go back to your native land...we really really don't want you."

That's sweet of ya to say, little nameless-nitwit fella.

Just knowin' you little fellas feel that way is reason enough to stay through the worst of mud seasons.

Always a pleasure.

Dismissed.

11:01 AM, May 21, 2008
 
Anon said: "coop... go back to your native land"

that would be under a rock


Coop10 said: "As for help, once again, as long as I'm dealin' with the coalition of the clueless likes of you and bubbles, little factually-challenged filly, you're the one's who are shorthanded and outta ammo."

Again very telling coopster. You view help as additional people to back you up in a fight. The help the rest of the board has pleaded with you to get is of the mental variety.

You are a strange and pitiful little man.
 
jw get your presciption filled
 
here, here
 
Symington for Governor!
 
Pollina all the way.
 
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