Randy Brock finally decided what office to run for this fall -- a Franklin County Senate seat.
All the fun of a rematch with Tom Salmon evaporated when Salmon, who squeaked out victory over Brock in 2006, was deployed to Afghanistan.
“Although I seriously considered a bid for auditor this year, I decided that it would not be appropriate to run against someone who was serving his country in a combat zone and who would be unable to campaign,” Brock said. “I also feel that I could be of greater service in the Senate, where I could work on crafting solutions to Vermont’s fiscal crisis.”
Brock will be challenging Democratic incumbents Don Collins and Sara
Kittell. Senate races in Franklin County are always interesting and competitive and this one is now guaranteed to be both. I hope Brock works on his milking skills, because that could be one challenge.
In a press statement announcing Brock's decision, the Vermont Republican Party had him using a phrase that must have scored some points in a focus group or poll because Republican legislative incumbents and hopefuls keep using it. Pick out that word in the following quote:
Brock accused legislative leaders of misdirecting their priorities on what he called “
boutique issues,” like non-binding impeachment resolutions or trying to decriminalize marijuana while criminalizing advertising “puppies for sale” without a license.
Brock served a single term as auditor, ousting Democrat Elizabeth Ready in 2004.
He's lived in
Swanton for 22 years, although he was a long-distance commuter to Boston before he retired from Fidelity Investments in 2003. He and his wife, Andrea, have one daughter.
He graduated from
Middlebury College -- but before Jim Douglas did. He has a masters degree from Yale. He's a Vietnam veteran.
So who -- if anyone -- will run from the Republican Party for auditor, secretary of state, treasurer, attorney general, Congress? In about 19 days, we will know.
-- Nancy
Remsen
