Two months after he took on Gov. Peter Shumlin over a land deal gone sour, East Montpelier resident Jeremy Dodge says he’s happy with an agreement he struck late Wednesday with the governor.

“It’s a good deal,” Dodge (pictured) says. “I got my property back and that’s what I was looking for. I wasn’t looking for anything else.”

Shumlin, for whom the dispute represented the biggest political crisis of his two-and-a-half years in office, is also relieved to put the situation behind him, according to his lawyer.

“He’s pleased that Jeremy Dodge and his family are pleased,” says Jerome Diamond, Shumlin’s attorney.

Faced with a looming tax sale prompted by $17,000 in unpaid taxes, Dodge sold his home and 16 acres to Shumlin, a neighbor, last November for $58,000. At the time, the property was appraised at $233,700, though a subsequent reappraisal reduced its value to $140,000. 

Nearly two months ago, as Dodge’s July 15 deadline to move out of the house approached, he and his family told reporters Shumlin had taken advantage of him — and sought to nullify the agreement. They said the 54-year-old man lacked the mental capacity and legal representation to strike such a deal with an accomplished negotiator and real estate investor like Shumlin.

Both sides engaged high-powered attorneys, who spent the last month negotiating a resolution. Shumlin’s team presented Dodge with several proposals and late Wednesday, as WCAX’s Jennifer Reading first reported, the aggrieved neighbor agreed to one.

“An agreement has been reached in principle,” says Dodge’s attorney, Brady Toensing. “The details will be worked out in the next few weeks, but it involves Mr. Dodge buying back the property over the next five years.”

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Paul Heintz was part of the Seven Days news team from 2012 to 2020. He served as political editor and wrote the "Fair Game" political column before becoming a staff writer.

13 replies on “Shumlin’s East Montpelier Neighbor Strikes “A Good Deal” with the Governor”

  1. I bet Gov. Shumlin is glad it’s all over! He got caught trying to “hoodwink” Mr. Dodge. Shumlin KNOWINGLY using his savvy real estate skills in obtaining a property that was way below market value for his own personal use and really taking advantage of a person who was not as aware and in financial dire straits. He would have continued with this unethical behavior if it wasn’t for that fact that his shady dealings were brought to light. I do hope Mr. Dodge’s daughter’s help their Dad with his debts and improvements to his home as it sounds like he really needs his family’s support and guidance. BUT, shame on you, Gov. Shumlin…still glad I didn’t vote for you and don’t plan to. This and your support of bringing the F-35’s to our area are only two reasons I WILL NOT vote for him when he comes up for re-election! Come on Vermont, we can do better than this…what has he really done to benefit us?

  3. “God forbid anyone use their knowledge and skill to better themselves! Ha!”
    That’s hardly what this case was about. The multimillionare real estate mogul involved in this deal was not “bettering” himself.

  4. There was no ‘case’.
    My reply was in response to the first comment “using his savvy real estate skills in obtaining a property”.
    Yes, he used his skill to acquire something new. The neighbor got himself in some hot water and freaked out, bummer.
    I guess this serves as a reminder that if your assets total over $200,000 you should probably pay your taxes. You should also probably hire a lawyer to protect your interests.
    TWO wealthy men made a deal, one got himself in to trouble with the tax man and the other bailed him out.

  6. “Jeremy will pay back interest only for the first four years and in the fifth year will pay interest, plus the principal.”
    So,
    after 4 years of paying interest only, Mr. Dodge will be back in the
    same position facing a debt he cannot pay. And Shumlin will surely
    secure the debt with a mortgage on the property. So then he can
    foreclose and once again accomplish his aim to own this property at a
    fraction of its value. Perhaps Shumlin does not plan to hold a
    political office in 5 year’s time.

  7. What? Shummy took advantage of the situation. Plain and simple. Is it illegal no, unethical … damn skippy. Not that Shumlin has ever been accused of being ethical, but in this instance Shumlin has gone so far as to claim he was “helping” his friend.
    Of course if that were the case, Scummy could have simply advised Mr. Dodge to have his taxes reassessed and to file a property tax prebate. Of course this wasn’t the case, instead our ethically challenged Governor was doing what he does best, screwing people over and “getting the tough things done” by hook or by crook.

  8. $30,000, heck… some (or a group) of Republican’s will cough up that cash just to stick it to Scummy, right around election time just to remind everyone of how ethically challenged the Gov is. Karma

  9. I can always count on you to take an opposite approach! I think that by getting a property which was appraised at $140,000 and paying $58,000 for it, was indeed, “bettering” Shumlin…

  10. Who was the other wealthy man? I know about Shumlin but you can’t be referring to Mr. Dodge? Savvy real estate knowledge vs. none. Apples and oranges…

  13. There wouldn’t need to be a happy ending if there hadn’t been a shady deal in the first place

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