In what could be seen as a rebuke of their own sitting governor, delegates of the Vermont Republican Party elected Deb Billado of Essex Junction as state party chair, replacing David Sunderland, who stepped down after four years in the post.
Gov. Phil Scott and many other prominent Republicans had endorsed Mike Donohue of Shelburne, but he fell just short — losing by the narrowest of margins, perhaps as little as a single vote. No official tally was announced, and Billado’s selection was quickly made unanimous by delegates assembled at Montpelier’s Capitol Plaza Hotel & Conference Center.
Donohue moved to Vermont permanently in 2016. He had spent the previous 15 years as a lobbyist in Washington, D.C., for business groups and the Catholic Archdiocese of Arlington, Va. Before that, he had worked in a variety of roles in Republican politics, including a stint as deputy press secretary on Sen. John McCain’s (R-Ariz.) 2000 campaign for president.
He had secured the endorsements of Scott, Senate Minority Leader Dustin Degree (R-Franklin), Sen. Brian Collamore (R-Rutland), eight Republican state representatives, two former lawmakers, party finance chair Dawn Terrill and Mary Daly, member of the party’s executive committee and Orange County party chair.
Billado (pronounced BILL-a-doo) is a retired small-business owner who was, until recently, Chittenden County GOP chair; she stepped down in October to seek the statewide post. She was one of the earliest and most ardent supporters of Donald Trump’s candidacy for president.
There was precious little talk of Trump or the national GOP at the meeting; discussion focused on maintaining unity, growing the state party, recharging its financial batteries, holding onto Republican seats in the legislature and making further inroads into Democratic majorities in the Vermont House and Senate.
“It’s important that we continue to foster an environment where we can differ with each other, but come together for what’s important,” she told the delegates. “I would like to be the person that any one of you can pick up the phone and call with anything that you want to talk about.”
She suggested the idea of a “Contract With Vermont, a real set of promises made to Vermonters that we can and will keep.” There’s a bit of irony in that, since her opponent had worked to advance the original Contract With America back in 1994. The idea seemed to resonate with many delegates, although Donohue cautioned from his own experience that such a contract would require a lot of hard work and the maximum possible buy-in from the party’s candidates.
Donohue acknowledged his newcomer status. “I’ve been working hard over the last several weeks, trying to connect with you.” he told the delegates. “One of the things I’ve heard is that I haven’t put in my time. While I haven’t been in Vermont as a permanent resident for long, I have put in my time for the party.”
In the end, a bare majority seemed to decide that they wanted to see a few more rings on his tree. Donohue promised to continue his involvement in the VTGOP; he had been elected in October to succeed Billado as Chittenden County party chair and will continue in that role.
Delegates reelected Brady Toensing as state party vice chair, chose Rick Morton as treasurer and Deb Ricker as secretary. (Ricker had been party treasurer.) None of the three races were contested.
Before officially stepping aside as party chair, Sunderland gave a short speech that brought him to tears on multiple occasions, as he recalled the hard work of his fellow party leaders and staff and the sacrifices his family made so he could carry on the work.
“I have four little ones at home who say goodbye to their dad a lot,” he said, pausing to compose himself. He thanked them, and especially his wife, Theresa, “the one who stays home with them.” At the end, the delegates gave Sunderland a standing ovation.
Billado takes over a party with some obvious weaknesses. There’s an uneasy relationship between the moderate Republican Scott and the conservative base. Also, the VTGOP has been chronically short of funds in recent years; a treasurer’s report to the state party meeting shows that this is still the case.
Fundraising has fallen behind expectations this year, and the party has a mere $8,000 in the bank. Billado will have to figure out what her immediate predecessors couldn’t: how to convince conservative donors — especially those capable of giving four-figure donations without wincing — to open up their wallets in support of the VTGOP.
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Congratulations to Deb Billado as the new party chair and thanks to both Deb and Mike Donahue for running for the position. It is my hope that Mike will offer his skills and talents to Deb to do what he is able to add strength to the party. The state has suffered tremendously by long term one-party rule. We should consider it refreshing that the VT GOP did not annoint its leadership, but let the grassroots make those choices.
So, the Vermont Republican Party ties itself even closer to Donald Trump – while he’s got an approval rating of 26% in the state.
Why would this be a surprise? While the Vermont GOP often tries to portray the Vermont party as being different from the hate and greed fueled national party, it is not different. Racism, sexism, homophobia, xenophobia transphobia – these are terms that can be applied to ALL republicans and the people in the state party are no different from those in the national party like Roy Moore, Ted Cruz, etc. Billado and Trump are mirror images of one another – amoral buffoons.
We need some real REPUBLICANS back in Vermont positions, not these false republicans that we have now. Vt use to be a Republican state, but over the yrs, we had Dean the screamer, Shumlin the liar, both who has ruin our State and now Scott who acts like a Democrat. Vermont has had a lot of liberals move here on the pretense of wanting to get away from the fast pace of their state, yet they are making Vt just like the state they left. I still have my big sign that says “TAKE BACK VERMONT”… We need good honest caring people in office, Governor, Senators, and Congressman who cares about true Vermonters …We have Senators who have been in office way to long…wayyyyyyyyyyyyy too long. Who in my opinion only cares about lining their pockets, promising free stuff, selling citizenships to foreigners (EB-5).. making illegals more important than Vermonters… .which is a fact.!!! These people were put in office to serve Vermonters.. after all, we are their bosses I think they forget that, both parties. They aren’t our bosses, they aren’t even listening to what we want/need.
The Republicans might have a larger following if they could do more than wail and blame Vermonts problems on everyone else. As Pogo Possum once said ” We have met the enemy and we are them!”