Each Friday here at Off Message headquarters, we bring you the week’s winners and losers in Vermont news and politics. Here they are for the week of Friday, Oct. 26:
Winners:
The Vermont Municipal Bond Bank — The little-known bonding backwater became the topic of the week after Democratic State Treasurer Beth Pearce turned its internal “watch list” into a campaign hit against her Republican opponent, Rutland City Treasurer Wendy Wilton. Man, I hope I never get on their shit list.
Vince Illuzzi and Doug Hoffer —Weasely Vermont politicians, particularly Democrats, have taken to the line that while they hate on Citizens United, there’s nothing they can legally do to stop super PACs from spending on their behalf. But Sen. Vince Illuzzi (R-Franklin), the Republican candidate for state auditor, has proved them wrong: He told the press he wished the conservative Vermonters First wouldn’t back his candidacy and, lo and behold, they stopped! His Democratic opponent, Doug Hoffer, also deserves praise for his early and unequivocal denunciation of super PACs. Better than most Dems.
Champlain College — Sure, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters founder Robert Stiller lost a fortune — and his board chairmanship — when the coffee stock tanked last May, but dude still apparently has enough cash to give $10 million of it to Champlain College. How many K-Cups would that buy you?
Circling Wagons — The Democratic political establishment came out in full force this week for Pearce’s campaign, after the embattled state treasurer finally started swinging. A gaggle of Democratic senators held a Statehouse press conference Tuesday bashing Wilton. Gov. Peter Shumlin hit Wilton in his own gubernatorial debate, and the gov’s secretary of administration, Jeb Spaulding, helped a liberal super PAC put a radio ad on-air backing Pearce. Good timing or too little too late?
Losers after the jump…
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