Vermont Business MagazineRepublican gubernatorial candidate Scott Milne today criticized Democratic Governor Peter Shumlin for his claim of victory in the 2014 gubernatorial race. Milne also suggested that a recount may be in order. Shumlin held a press conference in Burlington Wednesday afternoon stating that he had won the election based on an Associated Press count showing he received about 2,000 votes more than runner-up Milne. He did not receive a clear majority, however, which would leave the race up to the Legislature to officially decide, controlled by Democrats in the House and Senate. As he waits for the last ballots to be sent from a handful of town clerks, Secretary of State Jim Condos is reporting on hiselection Web site that with 96.36 percent of the vote counted, Shumlin had 88,419 votes or 46.36 percent of the vote and Milne had 85,983 votes or 45.08 percent of the vote.
Typically in Vermont, the candidates lets the voters, not the Legislature decide, and the second-place finisher concedes even if the winner does not have a clear majority. On Wednesday, Shumlin said he had not heard from Milne.
Governor Shumlin answers questions at a press conference Wednesday at City Hall Park in Burlington. Below, Scott Milne in September. Photos by Vermont Business Magazine.
"Serving as governor has been the greatest privilege of my life," Shumlin said Wednesday. "I'm incredibly honored by the opportunity to continue serving this state I love. I am extraordinarily fortunate to serve as Vermont's governor for another two years.
"Vermonters sent a clear message last night, and I heard them. We faced our share of setbacks in the past couple of years, and I know people are disappointed in how I have handled some issues. I recognize that I have work to do to regain the confidence of many Vermonters. In the coming weeks and months, I will work with my team - as well as legislators or all parties - to assess our upcoming legislative agenda to ensure that it reflects the will of Vermont voters.
"I am personally humbled by last night's results, but I am also proud that we won," Shumlin said.
Milne had a different view: “It’s clear that 54 percent of Vermonters want a new Governor, and a new path forward,” Milne said in a statement on his Web site, after reviewing preliminary results in what couldbe the closest governor'srace in Vermont history.
"In some states when no candidate receives an absolute majority, a run-off election occurs between the two candidates receiving the most votes.However, in Vermont, our founders enshrined in our state Constitution the process for the newly elected legislature to select the Governor when no candidate receives an absolute majority.
“We are gathering information for the requirements of a recount and weighing whether that is in the best interest of the people of Vermont, and we are looking closely at the legislative districts across the state on a district by district basis to determine which candidate won the most counties and legislative districts,” said Milne.
“From the beginning of this campaign, I promised Vermonters that I will always listen before I act. I am hearing from Vermonters everywhere that this race is vital to our future, and that the problems before our state demand a sober and careful review before we decide our course. Once we understand the final facts and our options, we will speak more about our plans,” Milne said.
Milne evoked the memory of a general election which was reversed. In the 1976 lieutenant governor’s race, the plurality winner– DemocratJohn Alden–faced confirmation by a House and Senate controlled by Republicans.The Legislature narrowly elected Republican T Garry Buckley. Alden was also under investigation, and afterward convicted, of insurance fraud.
“If we move forward, I expect Peter Shumlin has a good likelihood of facing the same fate as John Alden, and I will be Vermont’s next governor,” Milne said.
On his Web site, Milne mistakenly said Democrats held the Legislature in the Alden-Buckley case: "John Alden - faced confirmation by a House and Senate controlled by his own party."