Vermont Governor to Retire

[babylonsister]

Vermont Governor to Retire
By Emily Cadei, CQ Staff


Vermont Gov. Jim Douglas , a moderate Republican, announced Thursday that he will not run for re-election in 2010, boosting the prospect of a Democratic takeover in the liberal-leaning state.

Because no incumbent will be on the ballot, CQ Politics has changed its rating on the Vermont governor’s race to “Leans Democratic” from “Leans Republican.”

Douglas defied Vermont’s partisan tendencies by winning four two-year terms, but on Thursday he surprised local observers with his decision that eight years in the post was enough.

The 58-year-old Douglas, in his retirement announcement, noted he has devoted well more than half his life to a public service career that has also included tenures as a member of the state legislature, secretary of state and state treasurer. His only electoral defeat came in a 1992 Senate challenge to Democratic Patrick J. Leahy.

“After 36 years as a public servant, 28 of those years in statewide office ... I will have held center stage long enough for anybody,” Douglas said at a press conference in the state capital of Montpelier.

Three high-profile Democrats already are in the race: Vermont Secretary of State Deb Markowitz; state Sen. Susan Bartlett; and state Sen. Doug Racine, a former lieutenant governor who lost to Douglas in a tight three-way 2002 race to succeed Democrat Howard Dean.

more...

http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docid=news-000003194990

[joeybee12]

1. Good riddance to the a**hole who vetoed the marriage rights bill...

...and still got over-ridden.

[DaveinMD]

2. my wife

almost managed Racine's campaign years ago. He's a good guy.