This year’s mid-term election may be the most important of our lifetimes.
On the national election, if Democrats can retake the House they will regain some political power to restrain the worst impulses of a rogue president whose daily diatribes have degenerated to the obscene (asking Nicki Minaj to show her derrière during a campaign stop in Michigan) to the dangerous (restricting arms and important defenses to Ukraine, while handing an economic lifeline to Russia). If Democrats can retake the Senate (it’ll be very close), then Congress will be able to prevent the worst excesses Trump can continue to inflict on the country, even though Trump will continue to defy Congress through executive orders and may be even more vengeful.
If Republicans keep control of the Senate, Trump will continue his onslaught against America’s democracy, further spoil relationships with our European and western allies, continue to waste taxpayer dollars with his unwanted arch and turning a public golf course into a private showcase in the nation’s capital, and continue his blatant acts of corruption with a compliant Republican Congress eager to look away.
To that end, concerned Vermonters have a national role to play in these last few days before Tuesday’s election: pick a Senate race that’s too close to call and spend a few hours on a phone bank to get out the vote. Or join others in Maine or New Hampshire in door-to-door campaigning where getting out the vote will make a difference.
In Vermont, the options are less extreme, but still significant. The governor’s race has tightened. According to a recent State Navigate poll, Gov. Scott has a slight 3-point lead over Democrat Amanda Janoo — 49% to 46%. That’s within the poll’s margin of error.
Momentum favors Janoo. The 39-year-old native Vermonter—whose background is in the economic transformation of economies to benefit the greater good—has been steadily gaining with a message that offers fresh ideas compared to the failed theory of “trickle-down” economics. Janoo also embraces Vermont’s small towns and is a defender of smaller schools. Scott, on the other hand, has said the state must close its small elementary schools and proposed consolidating the state’s 119 school districts into just five large ones.
That said, Vermont is fortunate to have two viable candidates running for the state’s top job. Scott has served admirably, particularly in his role as chief consoler during recent floods and through the Covid pandemic. He reacts to situations well. His shortcomings have been his inability to take the lead on solving the state’s most pressing issues: rising health care costs, housing that’s affordable, education that’s good and affordable, and protecting the environment. On each issue, the state has seen serious decline. It is unlikely his re-election, with the same old playbook, will suddenly inspire improvement.
Janoo has spent the past 15 years working as an economist to solve the very problems that are perplexing Vermont. It is experience that has been tested and put into action. And while she’s a populist in the best sense of the word, she’s not bombastic or someone who will force changes that would undermine Vermont’s future. On the contrary, she is laser-focused on creating a Vermont economy that is affordable for young people and young families and will encourage them to stay and to move here for life-long careers. Scott keeps saying he’s for the same thing — and yet we’ve been moving in the wrong direction.
At some point, the proof must be in the pudding, or it’s time to change recipes.
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We will not comment on the county’s House and Senate races, except to note the use of negative campaigning by the two county Senate Republicans is an unwelcome development, as is the excessive use of negative campaign ads to benefit Gov. Scott (paid for by outside GOP funds, from the likes of the Koch brothers and Elon Musk). While Janoo has not accepted outside funding from PACS, Scott took his party’s money without remorse.
Here are three lesser-known county races that also have our endorsement:
Mike Elmore for Addison County Sheriff
There’s a reason incumbent Republican Mike Elmore has earned the support of both political parties in his run for re-election as Addison County Sheriff: he’s doing a great job. The office continues to serve Addison County with distinction. The department is friendly, responsive, community focused and earns high praise from all who rely on their services. First elected in Nov. 2022, Mike Elmore has earned the county’s vote for a second term.
Dave Silberman for High Bailiff
After three two-year terms in office, Dave Silberman understands the role of High Bailiff and has served Addison County well. He deserves re-election to the post with the public’s gratitude. Gratitude because the post offers no regular salary.
In Vermont, the high bailiff is an elected, two-year county position with no regular salary, physical office, or daily responsibilities. Its duties and powers include:
• Arresting the Sheriff if the sheriff engages in unlawful conduct;
• Serving legal writs or executing court orders in situations where the sheriff is disqualified or unable to act;
• Acting as an interim replacement for the sheriff, if that office becomes vacant or the sheriff is incapacitated, until the governor appoints a replacement;
• Using the post as an independent voice to advocate for criminal justice, police accountability, and drug policy reforms, the latter of which Silberman has done to good effect.
Silberman is being challenged by Steve Willson, of Cornwall, who filed as a Republican. On Wilson’s candidate profile filed with the state, he lists his current job as being with the Addison County Sheriff’s Department.
Peter Bevere for State’s Attorney
Following a single four-year term of Eva Vekos as Addison County’s state’s attorney, whose tenure was bedeviled by a DUI conviction and criticisms of her performance, Peter Bevere will offer a welcome respite. Bevere is a Middlebury resident and has most recently been the Rutland County deputy state’s attorney.
Bevere is no stranger to Addison County politics. He has run twice before for Addison County state’s attorney, both times as an independent. He lost a close race to then-State’s Attorney Dennis Wygmans in 2018, and in 2022, he lost to Vekos.
Bevere has been a prosecutor for two decades and a lawyer for 25 years. During his time as a prosecutor, he has served in the state’s attorney’s offices in Chittenden, Addison and Rutland counties.
Bevere has earned the support of both the Democrat and Republican parties and faces no opponent.
Angelo Lynn
