Sen. Hull Maynard stepping down
Legislator resigning after 13 years in office
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By DANIEL BARLOW VERMONT PRESS BUREAU - Published: November 7, 2009
State Sen. Hull Maynard has announced that he plans to resign from his seat mid-term to spend more time with his family.
The Rutland County Republican, who has served in the Vermont Senate for 13 years, said it was not an easy decision to make, but that he has four grandchildren who he wants to see more now that he will not be in Montpelier for five months out of the year.
"I've never seen my grandchildren ski," he said Friday evening. "When I get back on the weekends, I'm always too tired."
Born in Connecticut, the 75-year-old Republican was first elected to the Senate in 1996 and is a member of that body's Finance and Transportation committees. For decades he also ran an insurance business, which he later sold to his daughter.
Maynard, a Shrewsbury resident, made the announcement Thursday night at the Rutland County Republican Party's fall banquet. The event featured several key GOP politicians and 2010 candidates, including State Auditor Tom Salmon Jr., secretary of state candidate Chris Roy and lieutenant governor candidate Mark Snelling.
"(Maynard) really stole everyone's thunder," joked Sen. Kevin Mullin, R-Rutland, who was at the meeting.
Mullin praised Maynard's service to the county and the state over the last 13 years. Maynard had no pressing health issues, Mullin said, but it is understandable to want to spend more time with your family after more than a decade in public office.
"We're going to miss him in the Senate," he said.
Maynard's replacement will be chosen by Gov. James Douglas based on recommendations by the Rutland County Republican Party, according to Dennise Casey, his spokeswoman. She said late Friday afternoon that she had heard that Maynard planned to step down, but said the governor had not yet receive his resignation letter.
Bradford Broyles, the chairman of the Rutland County Republicans, said the caucus will interview prospective candidates to replace Maynard in the coming weeks before sending a list of up to three people to Douglas for consideration.
He said he hopes to have a replacement appointed before January, when the second half of the Vermont Legislature's session begins.
"There has been some interest in the seat," he said. "We're lucky in Rutland that we have a slate of really quality candidates."
Still, Broyles said Maynard's absence in the Senate next year will mean a "great loss" for the community.
"I think his legacy will be that he worked tirelessly for small businesses and working Vermonters," he said. "He's done a great job and we're all proud of him."
Maynard said his decision to step down mid-term has based on two points. The first was that it would allow another Republican to step into the seat before the November 2010 elections who would be "familiar to the voters of Rutland County."
The second reason? It was just time.
"You know when it is time to step down," he said. "For me, this is the time."
He added that he hopes to still serve on some non-legislative committees and organizations, including the New England Board of Higher Education. He also praised the Statehouse staff for "working around the clock" for lawmakers.
"It's not that I don't ever want to go to Montpelier again," Maynard said.
daniel.barlow@rutlandherald.com
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