Who won and lost the week in Vermont news and politics?
Gun owners, cops, windmills, bridge-crossers, Upper Valley-ites, unions, pot-lovers and more!
Here’s the Scoreboard for the week of Friday, Sept. 20:
Winners:
Updated résumés — It was appointment week in Vermont. Gov. Peter Shumlin named a new Vermont Supreme Court justice, education secretary, Public Service Board member, state rep, chief performance officer, deputy finance and management commish and legislative liasion. Talk about job creation!
Renewable energy — The newest member of Vermont’s powerful Public Service Board, soon-to-be-ex-Rep. Margaret Cheney (D-Norwich), established herself during her seven years in the legislature as one of its strongest renewable energy advocates. That bodes poorly for those who oppose ridgeline wind. Runner-up winner: Welch/Shumlin cross-pollination. Cheney also happens to be married to Rep. Peter Welch (though, to be clear, she earned the job in her own right). Shumlin also hired former Welch flack Scott Coriell (disclosure, disclosure) as a new legislative liaison.
Strained analogies — In Shumlin’s mind, the fight for legalizing marijuana is a lot like the fights for civil unions and same-sex marriage. Wait, what?!
Lobbyist turnover — Kevin Ellis is leaving KSE Partners, while Tim Meehan’s retiring from MMR (KSE’s K left a couple years ago). Perhaps the two top lobby shops should bury the hatchet, merge their alphabet soup names and call themselves SMR. Or MRS. Or something.
Labor — Vermont’s labor community this week rallied for higher wages at the Vermont State Colleges, against the firings of two St. Mike’s custodians and for paid sick days. Are Vermont’s unions trying to increase their relevance?
Hikers — With L.L. Dean (ahem, former governor Howard Dean) and Shumlin in attendance, the Green Mountain Club on Monday broke ground on a new cross-Winooski footbridge that will soon eliminate a major road walk on the Long Trail. Runner-up winners: Everyone in attendance, because we got to tromp around on the LT and call it work.
Seven Days — (Warning: raging self-call) In hiring the Valley News‘ Jeff Good, Vermont’s fave alt-weekly scored a top-notch news boss. Plus, after dropping by the Alchemist Cannery on Wednesday, the Atlantic‘s James Fallows stopped by Seven Days and had this to say about us.
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