AREA TOWNS – Area residents got some surprises Tuesday evening as election results rolled in when the Caledonia and Orleans County Senate seats long occupied by Democrat Sen. Jane Kitchell and Sen. Bobby Starr were won by Republicans, current Rep. Scott Beck and relative unknown Sam Douglass.
photo by Paul Fixx
Beck received 58.3% of the vote to Cochrane’s 41.7%, attributable to both his name-recognition in the community and significantly outraising Umbrella’s Amanda Cochrane $63,432 to $39,300, according to November 1 campaign finance reports. The total exceeded $100,000 for the first time in county history.
Beck said, “I am grateful for the support I received throughout the Caledonia Senate District and am eager to get to work.” He congratulated Cochrane on running a clean campaign on the issues. “After tonight every state legislator should much more clearly understand that their job is to represent their people, not political parties, special interests, or their own personal agenda.”
“While the results aren’t what we’d hoped for, I want you to know how proud I am of everything we’ve accomplished together,” said Cochrane. “To our new senator, I extend my congratulations. I am committed to working together to ensure that the needs of our communities are not forgotten. And to everyone who supported this campaign, I say this: Our work isn’t over. Let’s keep raising our voices, supporting our neighbors, and fighting for a Vermont that truly works for everyone.”
photo by Paul Fixx
Spending in that race topped $110,000, a county record. Rep. Katherine Sims lost her bid for the Orleans County Senate despite her name recognition and spending $73,434 to Douglass’ $40,855.
Sims said, “Earlier this year, I decided to run for state senate because I believe deeply in our community and the need for a strong voice for rural values in the statehouse. This campaign quickly became more than just one person’s effort – it was all of ours, a collective vision for a community where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
“Though we came up just short, I want to congratulate Sam Douglass on his victory and wish him the best.
“In a challenging, divisive season, we ran a positive, spirited campaign. Together, we put up signs, wrote letters, and reached out to neighbors.
“While I won’t be in the Senate, I’ll still be here, rolling up my sleeves to keep building community and fighting for a Vermont where everyone can thrive.”
photo by Paul Fixx
Douglass wasn’t available for comment.
The surprises didn’t end there as the Caledonia-2 House seat to represent Hardwick, Walden and Stannard now held by retiring Rep. Chip Troiano was won by mostly self- and family-funded Republican Mike Southworth who garnered 58.5% of the vote to Sabrina Morrison’s 41.5%.
Southworth hadn’t filed a November 1 campaign finance report earlier this week, but had spent only $2,700 received from himself and family members as of his October 15 report.
He said, “It was such a pleasure to meet and speak with so many people during the campaign. Winning this election was not an easy task. It could not have happened without the support of so many. Voter turnout was tremendous, which is what was needed. The work now begins. Thank you to all.”
Morrison had not responded to a request for a comment at press time.
photo by Paul Fixx
Other area senate contests were won by Democratic incumbents: Sen. Richard Westman in Lamoille County and the returning trio of Sen. Ann Cumming, Sen. Andrew Perchlik and Sen. Anne Watson in Washington County.
In the Orleans-4 House race Leanne Harple gathered more votes than Tony Daniels in Greensboro and Craftsbury, which was enough for her to eke out a small victory despite his wins in Glover and Albany.
In the Lamoille-2 House district that includes Wolcott, incumbent Rep. Dan Noyes will return to the statehouse along with newcomer Charles Burnham who picked up enough votes in his Hyde Park home to finish ahead of Democrat Jim Ryan and Republican Mac Teale.
“It was a tough night for Dems across the state last night, and across the country for that matter,” said Ryan. “Our opponents, with the support of the governor, did a better job in the campaign on the affordability issue . . . With the Dems losing the super-majority, it should force the parties to roll up their sleeves and work together.”
Democrats, incumbent Rep. Saudi LaMont and former Rep. David Yacovone came out on top of Republicans Charles Burnham and Nick Lopez to serve the Lamoille-Washington House District that includes Woodbury.
Yacovone says he is “excited to be returning to the statehouse to serve our communities. Despite the enormity of the challenges facing us, including property taxes, health care, housing, addictions and much more, I have hope. I believe in the face of such challenges we can make real progress if we work together. Make no mistake, the future of our little state is at stake.
Rep. LaMont was on her way to a big work event and not able to respond before press time,
In the Caledonia-Washington House district, Thomas Ziobrowski pulled out a slight win in Peacham, but Greg Burtt’s wins in Cabot and Danville put him over the top.
Ziobrowski was gracious in defeat, saying, “The voters have spoken and I wish Greg luck in helping to improve the welfare of Vermonters facing serious difficulties. Running for office, grappling with these problems and meeting Vermonters throughout Cabot, Danville and Peacham was an extraordinary experience.”
Incumbent Rep, Mark Mihaly, running unopposed on both the Republican and Democratic tickets to serve Calais, Marshfield and Plainfield in the Washington-6 House District said, it was, “about the same vote I received two years ago, but this time unopposed. I think the blank votes and write-ins reflect general unhappiness with incumbents due to high education related property tax, something we have to address this session. Hopefully the effort will be bi-partisan in the legislature and the Governor will work with us.”
No incumbents lost.
ed note: We should have noted Mike Southworth had filed his November 1 campaign finance report, while candidate Sabrina Morrison had not filed that one, nor the earlier required October 15 report. That article should have noted the information about Southworth’s campaign funding had come from the column indicating funding had come from the candidate and their family because those contributions had been made in an earlier period than the November 1 report we looked at. Southworth told us, “my campaign was completely self-funded, no other family members were involved.”
Paul Fixx is editor of The Hardwick Gazette and lives in Hardwick.
