by Mike Smith Is Bruce Lisman considering a bid for governor? That’s what some are saying Lisman is telling them. In fact, one local businessman said Lisman told him he is definitely running. Lisman is a native Vermonter who made a fortune on Wall Street, returned to Vermont and started the non-partisan watchdog group Campaign for Vermont. As we all know, nobody is in until they are a declared candidate, but Lisman’s first decision would be whether to run as a Republican or Independent. If he runs as a Republican, it is likely he would be beaten in the primary by Vermont’s moderate and well-liked lieutenant governor, Phil Scott. But most Democrat insiders are openly hoping he runs as an Independent so he will draw votes from Scott and enhance their chances of retaining the governor’s office. In that scenario Lisman, would become a spoiler for the Republicans and moderate Democrats supporting Scott — something that would not endear him to his natural constituency or the likeminded members of the advocacy organization he founded.
Loyalty?
In last week’s column I wrote, “Governor Peter Shumlin is said to be discreetly calling Democrats promoting his secretary of transportation, Sue Minter, who is also working to coalesce support for a campaign.”
That apparently did not sit well with the governor, because his official spokesperson, Scott Coriell, took the unusual step of writing a letter to the editor to address what I said, suggesting I “falsely state(ed) that Gov. Shumlin is privately weighing in on who should be Vermont’s next governor.” He went on to say, “Mike Smith is incorrect; other than to say he wants the next governor to be a Democrat, the governor has not commented further.” Of all the issues I’ve raised about Gov. Shumlin in this column — trust issues, a near defeat in the last election, legislative follies like the $90 million payroll tax and the fall of single-payer, for example — this is what the Shumlin administration chooses to refute?
The governor raises some political issues for himself by responding in the fashion that he did. The statement would have us believe that Shumlin has never mentioned Sue Minter — or any other potential Democrat candidate — in private conversations with others. Just on the face of it, the statement doesn’t ring true.
But what Coriell apparently doesn’t realize is that his written denial on behalf of the governor is probably more politically damaging than any acknowledgement of private discussions the governor may have had. Because in his public denial what is implied is that Shumlin — who endorsed Hillary Clinton over our own Bernie Sanders for president — is not encouraging or helping Sue Minter. Given that she has been his deputy secretary and now secretary of transportation, one would expect more loyalty. Others in Shumlin’s Democratic base may be thinking the same thing too.
In addition, it’s an odd denial that could cause a rift between the governor and his secretary (and her supporters) and of course you have to wonder what Shap Smith, another Shumlin ally, thinks of all of this.
Some unsolicited advice to Shumlin’s official staff: Save the letter writing for issues of critical importance to the state, and leave the politics to others.
National vs. local
A recent Politico article about Bernie Sanders painted Vermont media as timid in looking into Sander’s personal life. Certainly, the national media has been more interested and aggressive in looking into Bernie’s distant and personal background than local media. But the question is this: Is the background material being uncovered relevant? Writings of 40 years ago are fair game for consideration but Sanders fathering a child out of wedlock certainly is not, at least in Vermont.
Despite what Politico may say, by all accounts Vermont media is becoming much more aggressive in covering stories, particularly the stories that political leadership doesn’t want to get out. Just ask the governor and legislative leadership who found themselves on the defensive in recent years over media stories, and often howled in protest at being questioned aggressively about issues like taxes, Vermont Health Connect, Jerry Dodge, ethics, or holding legislative committee meetings in private. Sometimes a supermajority in the Legislature with the same party occupying the governor’s office can cause some — but not all — to become self-important and believe their actions are not subject to scrutiny.
To their credit local media has punctured that belief.
Mike Smith was the secretary of administration under former Governor James Douglas. He is a political analyst for WCAX-TV and WVMT radio and is a regular contributor to The Times Argus and Vermont Business Magazine.