BRIDPORT — Sen. Harold Giard, D-Bridport, who has represented Addison County and Brandon in the state senate for the past eight years, will not seek a fifth consecutive term in the state’s highest chamber this November.
Giard confirmed this news during an interview with the Addison Independent late Wednesday afternoon. He said his decision was made out of respect for Vermont’s citizen Legislature and out of a desire to allow someone else to serve in a role he has found so fulfilling during the past eight years.
“It is a decision I have been thinking about for some time,” said Giard, 60, who served on the Senate Agriculture (vice chair) and Institutions Committees this past biennium.
Giard said he is still mulling over what he will do next in his life and believes it would not have been fair to ponder that question as a sitting senator next year.
A more complete story about Giard’s decision — and the confirmed field of candidates — will run in Monday’s issue of the Independent.
Giard’s announcement came the day before the June 14 deadline for candidates to file their petition papers for statewide office. Confirming their intent to file for the two Senate seats that represent Addison County and Huntington (Brandon was swapped for Huntington in re-districting that goes into effect next year) were incumbent Democrat Claire Ayer of Addison, New Haven Democrat Chris Bray, and Robert Wagner, an independent candidate from Ripton. Had Giard run, it would have set up an Aug. 28 primary contest between the three Democrats.
Bryan Young, leader of the Addison County GOP Committee, said on Wednesday his group was speaking with some prospects for the state Senate seats.
Reporter John Flowers is at [email protected].