Sen. Phil Scott, R-Washington, plans to make an announcement Tuesday about his political plans. Which is to say he's in the race for lieutenant governor, joining fellow Republican Mark Snelling and who knows who else.
Meanwhile, Sen. Randy Brock, R-Franklin, announced today he's not running for LG. He thinks his role would be more limited there than as a state senator.
More on this a bit later today when we post our weekly "Tuesday political thing."
- Terri Hallenbeck
Labels: Hhil Scott, Lt. Brian Dubie; Mark Snelling; Randy Brock, Mark Snelling, vermont politics
Democrats are back shaking the trees in search of a candidate for lieutenant governor now that T.J.Donovan, Chittenden County States Attorney, has decided against running.
Donovan, 35, announced his decision in an e-mail earlier today. He and his wife are expecting a baby, so this didn't seem like the the year to crisscross the state in search of votes, he said.
"We are looking," said Robert Dempsey, executive director of the Vermont Democratic Party.
There's been plenty of interest among Republicans, although only one has jumped into the race -- Mark Snelling. Still weighing their options are three state senators, Phil Scott, Kevin Mullin and Randy Brock.
Rep. David Zuckerman, a Progressive from Burlington, also continues to consider running for lieutenant governor or a run for the state senate, he said today. Zuckerman said that Donovan's decision "certainly changes the equation. Zuckerman has said he might run in the Democratic primary.
Concerning Zuckerman's possible run in the primary, Dempsey would only say that "If that is something Rep. Zuckerman would like to attempt, that is something we could let voters decide."
Democrats will have a Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor, Dempsey said. "We are going to have a full slate."
-- Nancy Remsen
Labels: Kevin Mullin, Lt. Brian Dubie; Mark Snelling; Randy Brock, Mark Snelling, Phil Scott, T.J. Donovan; David Zuckerman
T. J. Donovan,
Chittenden State's attorney, has decided to asked the Addison County State's Attorney to handle the investigation in alleged inappropriate conduct in a locker room by Sen. Ed Flanagan, D-
Chittenden.
Donovan is moving the investigation to avoid a conflict of interest. He is pondering a run for lieutenant governor. Months ago Flanagan made public that he was considering a run for lieutenant governor rather than re-election to the state senate.
Flanagan said today he isn't actively running, "but I'm not foreclosing it." His focus from now until spring, he said, is on the business of the next legislative session.
Donovan didn't say he was definitely running, but he intends to explore his potential to become the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor.
If he's running and Flanagan is running, he said "This circumstance creates a possibility of a conflict between Senator Flanagan and myself. In order to insure the integrity of the process, it is therefore appropriate that an independent review of the allegations occur."
Let's review who else has shown some interest in this office.
There's Rep. David
Zuckerman, a Progressive from Burlington who might run as a Democrat to avoid the Progressive/Democratic squabble about who's a spoiler.
Some people mention Matt Dunne, a former Democratic state senator, who ran for lieutenant governor and lost in 2006. Would give it another try or is he only weighing his chances for the state's top job?
There's lots of reported interest on the Republican side of the ledger, assuming the Republican incumbent, Brian
Dubie, moves up or on.
Sen. Randy Brock, R-Franklin, might go for it, assuming
Dubie runs for governor.
Sen. Kevin
Mullin, R-
Rutland, said he is considering it.
Mark
Snelling, businessman and son of former Gov. Richard
Snelling and former Lt. Gov. Barbara
Snelling, has considered runs for governor or lieutenant governor --depending on
Dubie.
Sen. Phil Scott, R-Washington, has given thought to presiding over the Senate as lieutenant governor, too.
Hope I didn't miss anyone.
-- Nancy
RemsenLabels: Brian Dubie, Kevin Mullin, Mark Snelling, Matt Dunne, Phil Scott, Randy Brock, Rep. David Zuckerman, T.J. Donovan; Ed Flanagan
Mark Snelling, son of the late Gov. Richard Snelling and former Lt. Gov. Barbara Snelling and brother of Sen. Diane Snelling, R-Chittenden, has felt the lure of political possibility as a result of Gov. Jim Douglas' announcement that he won't seek a fifth term.
Snelling said he's considering a run for either governor or lieutenant governor. Unlike other prospective Republican gubernatorial candidates -- namely Randy Brock and John Bloomer -- Snelling isn't going to defer to the choice that Lt. Gov. Brian Dubie makes about seeking the top job.
Does that mean Snelling is willing to chance a primary?
This Snelling hasn't ever held public office -- no school board or selectboard seat, not even a class presidency in grade school. Still Snelling said he been involved behind the scenes in 10 of his parents' statewide campaigns.
Snelling offered no timetable for his decision. Like everyone else whose imagining themselves in the state's top job, he's talking with people about his potential candidacy.
"I don't think one should dally too much, particularly if the choice was to run for governor."
Dubie has promised a fairly quick decision.
Tea leaves anyone?
-- Nancy Remsen
Labels: Brian Dubie, Gov. Jim Douglas election 2010, John Bloomer, Mark Snelling, Randy Brock
