Douglas won't seek re-election
Announcement sends ripple through state politics
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Gov. James Douglas announces Thursday he will not run for re-election in 2010. Jeb Wallace-Brodeur / Times Argus |
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By Louis Porter VERMONT PRESS BUREAU - Published: August 28, 2009
MONTPELIER – Standing in the Statehouse ceremonial office that has been his since 2002, Gov. James Douglas told supporters, his political opponents and fellow Vermonters Thursday that he won't run for another term as governor.
The surprise announcement sent tremors across the political landscape, where it had been widely assumed Douglas would run for a fifth term. A second surprise to those familiar with the governor's cautious and careful character was that Douglas, now scheduled to leave office in January of 2011, does not have a job lined up when he leaves office.
He will find work, both to be of use to his state and to earn some money to supplement his state retirement, Douglas said Thursday. But he will not run for president (his wife Dorothy has "a divorce lawyer on speed-dial" if he does that, Douglas joked) or for any statewide elected office in 2010, the governor said.
It is also unlikely he will take a job out of Vermont, Douglas added.
The announcement marks the end of nearly four decades in public life: Douglas was first elected to the Vermont House fresh out of college in the mid-1970s and served as both secretary of state and treasurer as well. It was an emotional moment for Douglas and his staff, but Douglas also seemed happy and almost lighthearted, in contrast with the past year when he at times seemed drawn and strained as veto fights and budget woes affected the state and strained relationships in the Statehouse.
Several times in his speech, Douglas mentioned the amount of time and effort his job, campaigning and even commuting from Middlebury to Montpelier requires.
"As any farmer knows after many years working sun up to sun down seven days a week there comes a time to turn over the reins to fresh arms," Douglas said.
Later, as part of a series of interviews with reporters, Douglas said it is simply time to write a new page in his life.
"I have been thinking about it a lot over the course of the summer," he said. "I made my decision and there was no reason to hold it from Vermonters."
Douglas has commissioned a few polls this year, using money from his campaign fund. But the results of those polls – paid for around the time of the legislative struggles over the gay marriage and state budget, both battles which Douglas lost – did not play a part in making him decide not to seek another two year term, Douglas said. In fact his re-election chances would likely have been as good in 2010 as at any time in his career, Douglas and members of his staff insisted.
However it's also true that the Democratically controlled Legislature has had as much say as the executive branch in setting the agenda this year, from the gay marriage bill to passing its version of the state budget over Douglas' veto.
Douglas said he's not worried he may be sidelined with lame-duck status. Instead, his decision may have the benefit of removing any idea that he is acting for political reasons, the governor said, and he intends to continue to govern, a point he also made in his speech.
"For the next 16 months, I am running state government," he said.
His situation is not that different from governors in states with limits of two four-year terms when they enter their second term, Douglas said.
State Treasurer Jeb Spaulding, a Democrat who considered a run for the governorship himself before rejecting the idea earlier this year, said the relationship between Douglas and lawmakers may in fact improve with Thursday's news.
"I actually think this may bode well for the governor and the Legislature to work well together in what is surely going to be a difficult budget process," Spaulding said. "There is no reason for the Legislature to try to make him look bad for political purposes, or for him to do the same to them."
Spaulding said he made his decision not to run with the possibility that Douglas would not seek re-election firmly in mind, so the announcement Thursday does not change his plans.
"Fortunately I am very happy with my job I am very happy with my life and I feel like I am making a difference," he said.
But others were less sure that Douglas would find himself in as strong a position as he has been. Former Speaker of the House Walt Freed, a Republican, said there is "a big risk of being a bit of a lame duck" when anybody announces so early they are not going to run for re-election.
He agreed, however, that lawmakers may find public sentiment is moving away from them and towards the governor's position in the budget debate, Freed said.
"I think it will be proven that the Legislature was wrong and that the budget should have been cut more," Freed said.
There may be a strong political reason for Douglas' announcement 16 months before an election: It gives his party a chance to organize an effective campaign strategy and find a candidate, a process Democrats have already embarked on.
"It is the only way that would allow any Republican candidate to plan and organize and fundraise enough to run a strong campaign," Spaulding said.
Former Gov. Madeleine Kunin said making the decision not to seek re-election is difficult.
"When I decided to step down, my staff was very sad," she said. "I knew it was the right thing to do, but it is very hard to leave political life after so many years. It really was a bittersweet decision. But you always know there is a new chapter waiting for you."
The announcement came as a shock to many.
"I was surprised. I really felt that he was going to continue serving the state until at least 2012, partly because he didn't show any signs of changing anything," said State Auditor Thomas Salmon, a Democrat. "I really felt his head was down" and his staff completely focused on guiding the state through this rocky economy, he said.
Speaker of the House Shap Smith said the poor economy and state budget crisis made it a difficult year for everybody, including the governor.
"It has been incredibly difficult across the country," he said. "I think it has been a hard year for everyone who has been in state government."
He has always been impressed with Douglas' ability to talk to people of different walks of life and backgrounds, Smith added.
State Sen. John Campbell said while Douglas' announcement takes his political motives out of the equation, the political jousting in the next lawmaking session – likely to be centered around another difficult budget – concerns him.
"I think there are going to be a lot of people thinking about their future political careers when they instead should be focused on the hard work in the next session," the Democrat said.
As for a GOP successor, if Lt. Gov. Brian Dubie decides to run to replace him he will have his support, Douglas said. Despite the large majorities Democrats win in the Legislature "I think Vermonters will continue to seek balance," Douglas said.
Douglas said he has enough "self-confidence" to be sure that when he leaves the governor's office he will find a job. Although he is famously frugal and has a state pension, to some extent his decision to work will be financial, Douglas said.
"I certainly feel the need to have some income," he said.
But for now he is content with his decision, Douglas said.
"Thirty-six years is a good run and it is time to turn the page," he said. "It's important to leave with a strong finish."
louis.porter@rutlandherald.com
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