Out In The Mountains : News - Vermont's Political Stage is Set

Vermont's Political Stage is Set

by Paul Olsen

      BURLINGTON - The results of Vermont's September 12 primary set the political stage for Election Day. What follows is a summary of the key statewide races and where the major candidates stand on issues of concern to the state's gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community.

      Governor
      Incumbent Republican Gov. Jim Douglas will face former state Sen. Scudder Parker, a Democrat. Douglas opposes gay marriage and civil unions, declined to issue a proclamation recognizing Vermont's Pride Day celebration, and vetoed legislation banning discrimination on the basis of gender identity or expression. In spite of his lackluster record on gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender equality, Douglas says he's no bigot.
      "I oppose discrimination against anyone," Douglas told Out in the Mountains. "It is important that each and every Vermonter have the opportunity to be treated equally in our society and maximize his or her potential."
       Scudder Parker, a minister raised in Vermont's Northeast Kingdom, represented Caledonia County in the State Senate for eight years. Most recently, he worked as an energy consultant and for Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility. Parker supports full equality for GLBT Vermonters, including access to civil marriage.
      "I have a long history of commitment to social justice and am committed to equal rights for all Vermonters," Parker said in an interview with OITM. "That really is one of the fundamental pieces of building a healthy society, a strong community, and a great economy."

       Lieutenant Governor
       In the Lieutenant Governor's contest, incumbent Brian Dubie, a Republican, will face Democratic State Sen. Matt Dunne. Like Douglas, Dubie opposes gay marriage and civil unions. Dubie also opposed recent legislation prohibiting discrimination on the basis of gender identity or expression in Vermont.
      Dunne has represented Windsor County in the state Senate since 2003. He previously served in Vermont's House of Representatives. In an interview with OITM, Dunne highlighted his legislative differences with Dubie. "I was a strong supporter of the gender identity bill," he said. Dunne has also expressed public support for gay marriage.
       Progressive Party member Marvin Malek, a physician, is also running for Lieutenant Governor.

       U.S. Senate
       Independent U.S. Rep. Bernie Sanders will face Republican businessman Rich Tarrant in the race to fill the seat of retiring Sen. James Jeffords, also an Independent.
Representative Bernard Sanders is seeking a US Senate seat.

Representative Bernard Sanders is seeking a US Senate seat.

      Sanders has represented Vermont in the U.S. House of Representatives since 1991. In Congress, Sanders garnered 100 percent positive ratings from the Washington D.C.-based Human Rights Campaign, and a 100 percent rating from the AIDS Action Council. His office maintains a written nondiscrimination policy including sexual orientation, he is a sponsor of the Employment Nondiscrimination Act (ENDA), and he voted against the antigay Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). Sanders also opposed efforts to amend the U.S. Constitution to prohibit gay marriage through the Federal Marriage Amendment.
       In an interview with OITM, IDX co-founder Rich Tarrant said he would cosponsor ENDA and oppose the Federal Marriage Amendment. However, in a subsequent interview with Vermont Woman newspaper, Tarrant offered qualified support for ENDA.
      "In general, I don't believe in discrimination based on sexual orientation, but I would have to look at it," he said.

      U.S. House of Representatives
      State Senator Peter Welch (D - Windsor County) currently serves as Vermont's Senate President Pro Tem. Welch, an attorney, said gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Vermonters should support his candidacy due to his record as a "strong and consistent supporter of equal rights." If elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, Welch promises to fight for gay and lesbian equality. He said he opposes the anti-gay Federal Marriage Amendment and would cosponsor the Employment Nondiscrimination Act (ENDA), the Uniting American Families Act, and the Domestic Partner Health Benefits Equity Act.
       Republican Martha Rainville is the former Adjutant General of Vermont's National Guard. Rainville supports civil unions and opposes the Federal Marriage Amendment because she doesn't think "it is appropriate for the federal government to be involved in that issue." She "supports the concept" of ENDA but needs to review the bill before committing to voting for it. "To me what's important is what a person brings to the job," she told OITM. "Their sexual orientation is not important. It's their performance, their character, and their contributions."
       Election Day is November 7, 2006.

       Paul Olsen is Vermont correspondent for in newsweekly.