A short while ago, Senate Democrats elected Peter Shumlin as their candidate for Senate president pro tem. Because they have a huge majority, 23-7, their candidate is the candidate. John Campbell stays on as majority leader. Claire Ayer stays on as assistant majority leader.
This time, with no controversy, they voted in public, unanimously, unlike two years ago when the secret ballot was said to be by one vote.
Legislators are in Montpelier for orientation in preparation for the new session in January. They'll learn some things about the state's power supply this afternoon.
House Republicans, who have 48 of the 150 seats, last night chose Patti Komline as their minority leader and Pat McDonald as assistant minority leader. Last term's leader, Steve Adams, chose to resume life away from the front lines.
In other moves, the Senate pro tem's assistant, Katie Maneras, is making us all envious by leaving for a months' long trip to New Zealand, Thailand and British Columbia. She may have the most sense of all of us. She will be replaced in the pro tem's office by Alex MacLean, who has for the last two years been the assistant in the speaker's office.
- Terri Hallenbeck
