Democrats only party with contested races
Sept. 4, 2008
By Greg Elias
Observer staff
A primary to select candidates for state offices will be held Tuesday. But except for Democrats, voters will find few choices on the ballot.
Local voting takes place at the Williston Armory. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The primary will be a formality for Republican, Progressive and Liberty Union voters. There are no contested races on the ballots for those parties, although write-in candidates are permitted.
The Progressive Party ballot offers just one candidate, Thomas Hermann of Barre, who is running for the U.S. House of Representatives. The Liberty Union Party fields six candidates for various statewide races.
Even Republicans are skipping some state races. The party is not even mounting a challenge to incumbent Democratic Congressman Peter Welch, who faces Craig Hill of Montpelier on the party ballot. The Democratic ballot does offer a full slate of candidates and features four contested races, most notably a scramble for the six Chittenden County seats in the Vermont Senate.
Nine Democrats are vying for the seats, including two Williston residents: incumbent Ginny Lyons and challenger Tim Palmer.
Lyons, a college instructor, is seeking her third term. Palmer, who narrowly lost a race for the same post in the last primary, is the director of the Vermont-based Sustainability Institute.
Republican and Democratic voters will each see two candidates on the ballot for Vermont House of Representatives. However, with two seats up for grabs and only two candidates from each party, the primary ballot offers no real choice.
The names voters will see on Tuesday’s ballot are in the adjoining box. Races where no candidate is listed are omitted.
Primary ballots
Democratic Party
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Craig Hill, Montpelier
Peter Welch, Harland
GOVERNOR
Gaye Symington, Jericho
LT. GOVERNOR
Thomas Costello, Brattleboro
Nate Freeman, Northfield
STATE TREASURER
Jeb Spaulding, Montpelier
SECRETARY OF STATE
Deb Markowitz, Montpelier
AUDITOR OF ACCOUNTS
Thomas Salmon, St. Johnsbury
ATTORNEY GENERAL
William Sorrell, Burlington
VERMONT SENATE
Tim Ashe, Burlington
Denise Barnard, Richmond
Edward Flanagan, Burlington
Ginny Lyons, Williston
Dennis McMahon, Burlington
Hinda Miller, Burlington
Tim Palmer, Williston
Doug Racine, Richmond
Sean Starfighter, Burlington
VERMONT HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Terry Macaig, Williston
Jim McCullough, Williston
HIGH BAILIFF
Daniel Gamelin, Colchester
Loyal Ploof, Burlington
Republican Party
GOVERNOR
Jim Douglas, Middlebury
LT. GOVERNOR
Brian Dubie, Essex
SECRETARY OF STATE
Eugene Bifano, Warren
ATTORNEY GENERAL
Karen Kerin, Royalton
VERMONT SENATE
Diane Snelling, Hinesburg
VERMONT HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Brennan Duffy, Williston
Shelley Palmer, Williston
Progressive Party
GOVERNOR
Thomas Hermann, Barre City
Liberty Union Party
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Jane Newton, Londonderry
GOVERNOR
Peter Diamondstone, Brattleboro
LT. GOVERNOR
Ben Mitchell, Westminster
STATE TREASURER
Murray Ngoima, Pomfret
AUDITOR OF ACCOUNTS
Jerry Levy, Brattleboro
ATTORNEY GENERAL
Rosemarie Jackowski, Brattleboro
