Election Day is still a week away, but Cassandra Gekas says she has already lined up a new job if her bid for lieutenant governor falls short.
The Progressive and Democratic candidate said Monday she’s been offered a job as legislative coordinator — or chief lobbyist — for the Vermont State Employees Association, which represents 5200 state workers.
“I’ve had an interview with them and they’ve said they want to bring me on, so now it’s sitting there until after the election,” Gekas said.
Gekas said she reached out to VSEA executive director Mark Mitchell last week upon learning that the union was hiring. During a job interview last Thursday, according to Gekas, “He said it’s yours if you want it.”
She added, “I don’t know what their processes are like, but I can’t do anything official because I want to see where the race turns out. That’s where my energies are focused.”
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Her campaign is a joke. She asks for money from Democrats, yet she’s already lining up another job? #reallysad
Guess this is what her doomed campaign was REALLY about: “putting herself on the radar,” and getting a better job than the one she had with VPIRG — a job that will position her well for a future run. Another egotistical newcomer steps up to the plate to use Vermont for her personal ambitions. Nice.
Can you say bush league? How about conflict of interest? This woman is an embarrassment. Mark Mitchell is lucky he had an opportunity to find out just how dumb she is before he hired her. (P.S. I’m a lifelong Democrat. And a woman.)
While Paul Ryan runs to be Vice President, he’s also running for Congress.
I think Ms. Gekas is being responsible and reasonable and Vermonters understand the realities involved with campaigning. It’s not easy unseating an incumbent and traditionally, the odds would be against her. However, all you have to do is hear her speak on the issues, either in a debate with her contender or on the stump, to realize this woman is a force to be reckoned with. This is a race about leadership and an actual track record, not a race track. I think she could easily go toe to toe on policy and on accomplishments.
There is a difference between making a public announcement and answering a reporter’s question with honesty. When Paul Heintz, of 7Days, called to ask if I had any conversations with VSEA about possible post-election employment, I answered honestly. Perhaps it is this honesty that has caused a stir. But in my book, sincerity & honest are the most important traits an elected official can have.
For those who have seen me in action or heard me speak, there is little doubt that I have poured my heart and soul into this race. I am ready to lead and serving as Vermont’s Lt. Governor would be a true honor. I’ve been criss-crossing the state since June, working as hard as I can to get my name and message re: universal health care, affordable childcare, and renewable energy out there. The outpouring of support I have received in return, has been incredible. In the final days before the election, I’m taking one last tour of the state – to meet Vermonters one-on-one and encourage them to make it to the polls. It is true that I’m an average Vermonter with student loan bills and a car payment. It has been a struggle to make ends meet on the campaign trail, but I don’t regret a minute of it – in fact, it’s been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. It also means that even now, I must be thinking about how I will pay my bills on November 7th – that’s simply the responsible thing to do. But for the next 6 days I’ll be giving 100%, just as I have during the previous 90+, And I will give 100% as Vermont’s next Lt. Governor However, I do know that, no matter where my journey leads, I will never waver in my commitment to universal health care, affordable childcare, and renewable energy. I am here to bring new energy to policymaking and to be a vehicle for positive change. I’m in it for the long-haul. Vermont is my home, it has my heart, and I will spend my life working to make it stronger.
You just moved here and you’re running for Lt. Gov. That’s incredibly arrogant. As far as I can tell, you’re barely out of college. What life experience do you have? Have you ever had a private sector job in VT? You know, go to work, punch your time card, earn a paycheck, and risk getting fired if you’re not productive? Whether we’re for or against single-payer, it seems quite arrogant for you to suggest that we need or want your just-moved-here leadership. If you were really interested in showing that this is not all just about furthering your own personal ambitions, you’d start your political career with a run for state rep from your district. Starting at the top does nothing for your credibility.
Accusing arrogance yet being arrogant and ignorant yourself seems curious. Ms. Gekas has been working in Vermont for over 9 years. Where have you been? Being an informed voter is a responsibility you might consider taking more seriously.
Kudos to Cass. knowyourassumptions, when is the last you ran for anything?
You are aware that our current Lieutenant Governor (and likely every Lt. Gov. before him) has a day job, right? Remember Captain Dubie? Or Doctor Dean? I call your BS and raise you “facts”.
And exactly why is it relevant whether I’ve run for office? Have you run for anything? What does that have to do with whether she’s qualified, or whether this is an ego trip for her? And if I did run for office, I’d have the decency and humility the first time out to run for House, not Lt. Gov — a job that’s a heartbeat away from being Governor.
What exactly is wrong with responsible contingency planning? Would you rather have someone panhandling the day after a losing election? Since when is it a conflict of interest to interview for a job? Have you even bothered to listen to Cass speak or read what’s been written about her? Everyone would agree that she is very bright and quite articulate and not to mention dedicated. Plus, her morale is not yet beaten down by folks who are just angry they don’t have the courage to do what she’s doing. Vermont needs more folks like her.
Your mixing apples and oranges. Yes, our Lt. Govs have had day jobs. What does that have to do with whether Ms. Cass used this campaign to actually GET a job? Both Dean and Dubie had their jobs before they ran for office. So much for your “facts.”
Simply because if you had ever run, particularly for statewide office, you’d have more insight into the courage and dedication it takes to do so. Plus, where exactly on the Lt. Governor’s job description is it specified that candidates who’ve not held prior office need not apply? How exactly is it ‘not decent’ to run for public office? Do you really mean that?
I’ll repeat -you are aware that our current Lieutenant Governor (and likely every Lt. Gov. before him) has a day job, right? Remember Captain Dubie? Or Doctor Dean? I call your BS and raise you “facts”.
I find you and your campaign out of touch. Push the broom before you sit at the boardroom table lady.
How exactly did Ms. Geka “use her campaign” to get a job? Other than being an experience she can add to her resume, what influence exactly does running for office provide?
Um . . . since you yourself have apparently never run for statewide (or any) office, where do you get your special insight about the supposed courage and dedication it takes to do so? I don’t know whether it takes courage and dedication, but I’d say it does take a hefty helping of egotism.
And, yes, I’ll repeat, one should not have the egotism to start at the top when one has never held elective office before. The names you previously mentioned, Dean and Dubie, both held lower office before running for Lt. Gov. Dean was a state rep and Dubie served for many years on the Essex school board. Holding lower office first gives you experience and insight.
We’ll have to agree to disagree. I personally wish we had far more people running for public office. And I don’t care what political experience candidates may or may not have. I am more concerned with their platform, their life experience, and their professional/work track record. I can’t understand why anyone would in any way discourage people from participating directly in our democracy. The more the better. And for what its worth I am planning to run for public office. I encourage you to do so as well.
You want anyone and everyone to run for public office? Here’s my argument to the contrary. Nuff said.
http://7d.blogs.com/offmessage…
You want anyone and everyone to run for public office? Here’s my argument to the contrary:
http://7d.blogs.com/offmessage…
Very bright? I think not. Smart people don’t look for jobs A) when they are otherwise claiming they are going to win and we should be doing everything we can — including giving money — to make that so and B) when it means talking to organizations who have supported you, in the time the campaign is going on. How do you think Mark Mitchell is feeling, having to explain to his board and others how/why he’s hitting them up for money for a candidate who’s already written off her race? If he hires her, it would be stupefying.
I’m afraid this whole affair confirms what’s been around the edges of the Cassandra Gekas phenomenon-to-be since the beginning: an opportunistic, self-centered, unqualified twit, running on ego and little else.
Here are a few glowing endorsement from people that know Cass Gekas well. Perhaps having some facts floating around this discussion would be enlightening.
“Cassandra has served the interest of Vermonters for years as an activist and advocate behind the scenes. She has been tenacious in pursuing issues that are vital to the state, and I am confident that she will continue to work diligently for the well-being of our community as Lieutenant Governor.”
~ VT Governor Peter Shumlin
“Cass is poised to carry forward the legacy of progress and shared prosperity championed by Vermont’s Democratic Party. She represents the next generation of leadership, bringing new ideas and fresh energy to the critical challenges we face. Her commitment to the security and prosperity of everyday Vermonters is clear to all who have worked with her. Her vision, tenacity, and depth of knowledge are all great assets for Vermont and she will shine as our next Lieutenant Governor.”
~ Former Vermont Governor Phil Hoff
“In her role as an advocate, Cass has effectively and diligently worked to ensure that all working Vermonters have access to affordable, quality health care. As Lieutenant Governor, I am confident she will continue this essential work.”
~ Speaker of the House Shap Smith
Cassandra Gekas was willing to step up and challenge a popular incumbent Lt. Governor when no one else in the Progressive or Democratic Parties was willing to do so and her candidacy has been GREAT for both parties. She guarantees the progressive that they will maintain their major party status and gives the Dems their best
shot to oust Phil Scott. Scott’s positions range from confusing (he’s in favor of wind power but doesn’t want to install anymore?) to awful (opposition to healthcare reform) but he is very affable and well liked. Since Scott is CLEARLY eying the Governor’s office, knocking him out now is the best thing that the Dems could do for Vermont.
WHOEVER ran against Scott was going to have an uphill fight and, perhaps understandably, no else in the Democratic party was willing to take that challenge. Cass did. She’s been running nonstop ever since and has a shot to beat him come Election Day. Given how tough the race was going to be for ANYONE who ran, however, how can you begrudge her for lining up a contingency plan in case the person who was always the favorite wins?
I’ve donated to her campaign (as well as to other Democrats) and will again. She’s put more of her own money into this campaign in terms of forgone wages then any of her donors are allowed to contribute. I’m glad she’s got a back up plan.
She’s running a race against an popular incumbent that no on else was willing to challenge (remember she was unopposed in the primary). She’s got courage and is great on the issues. I’m looking forward to her winning the election and turning down the VSEA job.
She didn’t need to use the campaign to get a job she already had one that she gave up to run.
The biggest problem with politics today is that the only people who run are those who have money or are already in office. Kudos to Cass for making a personal financial sacrifice to bring a new perspective into the race.
Checking the election results from the primary, Ms. Gekas received over 23,000 votes (even more than Bill Sorrell in the hotly contested Attorney General race). Yes, I know she was running unopposed, but the fact remains, Ms. Gekas has only proven herself to be more of a worthy candidate through her debates and public speaking giving voters even MORE of a reason to vote for her. If you haven’t already, listen to the debates (some are on her YouTube channel – http://www.youtube.com/gekas2012 and others are at VPR and WCAX). There is no hemming and hawing – she knows where she stands on the issues and is willing to stand toe to toe and discuss policy and accomplishments.
If Vermonters are voting for Governor Shumlin, and most are, wouldn’t it be smart for them to also for for Ms. Gekas for Lt. Governor?
Isn’t this a conflict of interest? If she loses she’ll have a job with VSEA. If she wins she’ll be a toady for that same union while she serves in Montpelier.
Couldn’t agree more. I’ve seen Gekas a could of times and been impressed every time.
My comment was only intended to address the absurd notion that her run was a self-aggrandizing rather than courageous decision. Cass steped up in a big way for Vermont and would be an excellent choice for Lt. Governor.
“She didn’t need to use the campaign to get a job she already had one that she gave up to run.”
Yes, and if you’d been following the news, that’s a bridge she burned with her former employer (VPIRG) for her ego trip, and a job she would never get back.
The last thing I could be considered is a progressive. That said, I see nothing wrong with this, in fact this is just plain smart. Look, she knows she is a long shot to win and a job comes along… so she lines it up as a back up plan. If she turned it down it would be the dumbest thing she could do… of course she would then win the election since she would fit right in with the rest of the clowns in Montpelier.
It appears she has entirely too much common sense to be a politician.
Now vote for Scott !!
That’s doesn’t really contradict my point, friend.
I said that didn’t need the campaign to get a job because she already had one. You said launching her campaign burned bridges with VPIRG. It may or may not be true that VPIRG wouldn’t re-hire her, but it doesn’t change the fact she had that job when she launched her campaign and would still have it if she hadn’t decided to run for office.
If VSEA was impressed by her passion and her positions (both of which I like too) and wants to hire her if she doesn’t end up as Lt. Gov. more power to them.
Out of curiosity, where are you coming from politically? If you’re on the left I don’t see how you could possibly take issue with someone who sacrificed to take on a race that no one else was willing to run in. If you’re on the right, I can see why you’d disagree with her. Either way, most of your comments are little more than unfounded character assassination and I’m not sure why anyone would take that seriously.
I wouldn’t say so. If she wins, she’ll obviously be sympathetic to VSEA but if you’ve been following her campaign you know that her positions and theirs have always been closely aligned. That’s probably why they’re interested in hiring her.
Left or right is not the issue. You seem to be suggesting that it is absolutely necessary that both (or all) parties run a candidate, any candidate, for every available office, and that voters on the left absolutely have to support that candidate even if they don’t think she’s qualified and have concerns about her motiviations. That makes no sense, and puts partisanship over citizenship.
Speaking as someone coming from the left, Phil Scott’s politics are highly problematic for me and while it is not “absolutely necessary” that the Dems and Progressives have a candidate to run against him, if someone as dedicated as Gekas is willing to run, I definitely want her to do so. If you don’t think she’s qualified, don’t vote for her. I do and I will.
As for her motivation for running, I think she’s been pretty straight forward about why she is running. She’s been part of the health care reform process and wants to see it through to implementation. The current Lt. Governor is hostile to the reform effort so unseating him A) removes someone who opposes reform and B) gives her a better platform to promote it. I don’t see any reason to question her motivation.
1. It seems that the only reason to rah-trah for Gekas is that she suports single payer. So what? Even if you favor single-payer, do we need the Lt. Gov. to be on the bandwagon when we’ve got the Gov. and both chambers of the Legislature already on it? How does she add to the issue? She doesn’t.
2. The real issue is that the Lt. Gov. could end up being governor if Shumlin dies or is incapacitated. Is Gekas actually qualified to be Governor of Vermont, given that she is 30 years old and hasn’t held a single elective office — even town selectboard or school board? Clearly not.
“Since Scott is CLEARLY eying the Governor’s office, knocking him out now is the best thing that the Dems could do for Vermont.”
1. Really? When did he say, or even hint at, that?
2. No, knocking out someone who is qualified to run the state if Shumlin dies, and replacing him with someone who clearly is not qualified to run the state, is NOT the best thing that the Dems could do for Vermont. In fact, it would be harmful to the state.
Move on, PLEASE…
I.e., she was a lobbyist during the process, and wanted to get a position in government. I thought good leftists didn’t like the lobbyist/political office revolving door .