Last week, we brought you a somewhat comprehensive tally of newspaper endorsements in Vermont’s statewide races. Well, a few more rolled in over the weekend, so we’re updating it below.
The new additions? The Rutland Herald and Barre-Montpelier Times Argus endorsed Gov. Peter Shumlin and Lite Gov. Phil Scott. The Valley News backed Shumlin. And the Vermont Standard endorsed all the incumbents, with the exception of Democratic State Treasurer Beth Pearce; instead, they backed her Republican challenger, Rutland City treasurer Wendy Wilton. The Standard also went for Sen. Vince Illuzzi in the open race for state auditor.
Notably, in a Saturday editorial the Brattleboro Reformer announced it will no longer endorse political candidates, writing:
Readers of our editorial page don’t need us to tell them we have a certain ideological standpoint when it comes to politics, and it probably would come as no surprise as to who we would endorse if we were to continue to do so.
But it’s not for that self-evident reason we are discontinuing our participation in this hallowed practice.
This shouldn’t be a surprise to regular readers. Over the past several years, we’ve begun to pull back on regular endorsements, first at the local level (selectboards), and then expanding that process to more high-profile candidates.
Simply put, the editorial board believes our job here at the Reformer is to profile the candidates and present their stances on various issues and let readers make their own decisions.
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“Simply put, the editorial board believes our job here at the Reformer is to profile the candidates and present their stances on various issues and let readers make their own decisions.”
Well Said !!!!