BRATTLEBORO — The majority of Vermont voters has elected a moderate-Republican nice guy to be governor four times in a row. They are about to do it again.
Brian Dubie is a moderate-Republican nice guy, with lots of family connections and party support across the state. We don't see much of him here in the southland, but he is well-known and -liked in Vermont. Unless there is a really good reason not to, the majority of voters will elect him governor.
The four Democratic candidates who are currently members of the government in Montpelier cannot credibly claim to offer fresh ideas and perspectives because they have been part of the system for so long. Try as they may to create a fresh image, they are all well known to the citizens who pay attention and vote.
Senators Shumlin, Bartlett and Racine have excellent records and have represented their constituencies well. Secretary of State Markowitz is admired and trusted by town clerks, managers, and librarians across the state. But their vague, generalized plans for short- and long-term growth offer nothing that would compel voters to change their minds, and none of them have the charisma necessary to charm them into it.
That leaves Matt Dunne. Matt is the only Democratic candidate who has a practical plan for immediate and long-term environmental and economic progress. He represents a new generation with new energy, with a vision that represents these times. His family history in Vermont dairy farming, combined with his leadership experience at AmeriCorps/VISTA and his business experience at Google, sets him apart from the other candidates.
But more importantly, because he is not part of the current political leadership and partisanship, he will be able to build alliances to move the whole state forward.
I encourage Democratic voters to look past personal or regional loyalties and consider what is needed for our future. More years of backward-looking leadership is not it. Take a look at Matt Dunne's history and his plans for Vermont. You will like what you see.