Keith Stern of Springfield announced on YouTube on Monday that he is running for Congress as a Republican, challenging Democrat Peter Welch, D-Vt.

“Peter Welch has voted repeatedly for bigger government and out-control spending,” Stern said on the video. “He is as responsible as anyone in Washington for the national debt climbing to over $12 trillion.”

Stern, who said he favors a flat income tax, ran for the office as an independent in 2006, the first year Welch was elected to the seat. Stern landed .3 percent of the vote in a field of eight candidates.

The executive director of the Vermont Republican Party, Eric Mason, told the Associated Press that some other Republicans are also considering challenging Welch and Stern said if a stronger Republican emerges, he’s likely to throw his support to that person.

You can catch his announcement HERE and go to his Web site HERE.

- Terri Hallenbeck

Labels: Keith Stern. Rep. Peter Welch, vermont politics