Posted on 12/08/2014 3:23:58 PM PST by Straight Vermonter
MONTPELIER, Vt. - Republican Candidate for Governor Scott Milne used a Monday press conference to announce he's not giving up on becoming the state's next Commander in Chief.
"I think I'll be a better governor for Vermont than Peter Shumlin," Scott Milne told reporters.
That selection is up to 180 Vermonters -- the men and women who hold seats in the House and Senate. The vast majority are Democrats like the Governor. "It's their choice. If they choose him, the legislature must accept responsibility for the results," Milne said.
Traditionally, when no candidate secures a majority, lawmakers vote for the candidate who received the most votes. Milne says the constitution calls for them to follow their best judgement, not precedent. If voters cast their secret ballots based upon how their constituents voted, the Governor and Milne would once again find themselves locked in a dead heat.
"I am going to vote for Scott Milne," said Rep. Paul Poirier, I-Barre. The left-leaning Independent is an adamant supporter of single-payer. But he'll cast his ballot for the candidate who declared the idea dead, despite his political alignment with the current governor. "I am elected by the voters. If I were to say the voters didn't know what they were doing, well, how could I argue they knew what they were doing when they elected me?"
The Governor was not in Montpelier Monday; He'll be in Los Angeles through Wednesday. During that time, he'll vote for his replacement atop the Democratic Governor's Association.
In a statement he said:
"I am honored to have received the most votes in this election and would not want to serve as governor if I did not. I continue to believe that the legislature will honor the long democratic tradition of electing the candidate who received the most votes."
The Governor says he's focused on putting together a budget and setting a legislative agenda. Milne says he won't make similar preparations until he gets the job.
Multiple Republicans told WCAX Monday they still don't know how they will vote. House Speaker Shap Smith says he will suggest that lawmakers follow tradition. He also noted that he has not spoken with Milne regarding planning for the upcoming session, a step he would expect a candidate to take if they are serious about the job.
Scott Milne did not ask for a recount, he says it was not likely to shift the popular vote enough to give him the win.
So why is he staying in the race? And does Milne have a chance?
"This is another bizarre turn in what has been a very bizarre election year. I can only assume that he thinks somehow magically we will turn our back on years of tradition and somehow elect him even though he did not get the popular vote," said Steve Terry, Democratic analyst.
Reporter Kristin Kelly: If lawmakers go by how their district voted that's one of the arguments out there, then he may have more of a shot.
Terry: Right, that may be an argument he's making. I don't see it as an argument that is broadly so far resonating with the people of the state. I guess I was a little surprised he took this step after declining to ask for a vote recount.
Terry says Milne is out to make a point as Governor Peter Shumlin, D-Vermont, faces the heavy lift of pushing a single-payer health care plan and trying to contain property taxes at the same time the state faces a $100 million budget hole. Terry says staying in the race drains Shumlin's bargaining power with the legislature and the public even more.
"To demonstrate more, drag it out to the last possible moment that we will have a governor who will be very much weakened," said Terry.
The vote Jan. 7 is by secret ballot, so lawmakers could anonymously break from tradition. But, Terry does not expect that to happen because he says "what goes around in politics comes around." But, he says if Milne were to win he could face a credibility problem with voters because he did not win the popular vote on Election Day.
Legislature makeup: Progressive 8 Democrat 114 Republican 55 Independent 3
Who would have ever thought that there would be 8 freaking Progressives in the VT. legislature? I learned to ski there in the 60’s and there were Conservatives and hermits, everyone was kind. Shows ya what a disease “Liberalism” is!
Massholes and New Yorkers are like bacteria.
I usually say vermin but bacteria works too.
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