But Dem incumbents Sears, Nitka, Starr get “A” grade, endorsement from Second Amendment advocates
By Guy Page
Several Democratic incumbents are among the Vermont state senators, including Sen. Richard Sears (Bennington) and Sen. Alice Nitka (Windsor) receiving endorsements and “A” grades from the National Rifle Association (NRA). However, Republicans received the majority of top grades and endorsements.
Results are published in the November issue of “America’s First Freedom” magazine, and online. The NRA uses a traditional system of A for the best grade, F for the worst. “AQ” represents an A grade based solely on questionnaire responses. Candidates with positive grades appear below in bold face.
“None” represents candidates who according to the NRA did not respond to the questionnaire. Candidates are welcome to submit new or clarifying information to Vermont Daily. For complete coverage of NRA grades and endorsements of Vermont candidates, go to www.nrapvf.org.
ADDISON COUNTY – vote for two
Peter Briggs, Republican. Grade: AQ (A from Questionnaire)
Jon Christiano, Republican. Grade: none.
Christopher Bray, Incumbent, Democrat. Grade: F
Ruth Hardy, Incumbent, Democrat. Grade: D
BENNINGTON – vote for two
Meg Hansen, Republican. Grade: AQ
Mike Hall, Republican. Grade: none.
Dick Sears, Incumbent, Democrat. Grade A – NRA Endorsement
Brian Campion, Incumbent, Democrat. Grade F
CALEDONIA – vote for two
Joe Benning, Incumbent, Republican, Grade: A – NRA Endorsement
Charles W. Wilson, Republican, Grade: AQ – NRA Endorsement
Jane Kitchel, Incumbent, Democrat, Grade: F.
Matthew W. Choate, Democrat, Grade: none.
CHITTENDEN – vote for six
Susan Bowen, Republican, Grade: none.
Kumulia “Kase” Long, Republican, Grade: AQ.
Tom Chastenay, Republican, Grade: none.
Kylie Hollingsworth, Republican, Grade none.
Ericka Redic, Republican, Grade: AQ
Dean Rolland, Republican, Grade: None.
Phil Baruth, Incumbent Democrat, Grade: F.
Thomas Chittenden, Democrat, Grade: D.
Virginia “Ginny” Lyons, Incumbent, Democrat, Grade: F.
Christopher A. Pearson, Incumbent, Democrat, Grade: F.
Michael Sirotkin, Incumbent, Democrat, Grade: F.
Kesha Ram, Incumbent, Democrat, Grade: F.
ESSEX ORLEANS – vote for two
Russ Ingalls, Republican, Grade: None.
Jonathan Morin, Republican, Grade: AQ.
Robert Starr, Democrat/Republican, Grade: A. NRA Endorsement
Ron Horton, Democrat, Grade: F.
John Rodgers, Incumbent, Independent, Grade: A. NR Endorsement
FRANKLIN – vote for two
Randy Brock, Incumbent, Republican, Grade: A. NRA Endorsement
Corey Parent, Incumbent, Republican, Grade: A. NRA Endorsement
GRAND ISLE – vote for one
Richard “Dick” Mazza, Incumbent, Democrat, Grade: A. NRA Endorsement
LAMOILLE – vote for one
Richard Westman, Incumbent, Republican/Democrat, Grade: A. NRA Endorsement
ORANGE – vote for one
Bill T. Huff, Republican, Grade: A. NRA Endorsement
Mark A. MacDonald, Incumbent, Democrat, Grade: F.
RUTLAND – vote for three
Brian Collamore, incumbent, Republican, Grade: A. NRA Endorsed.
Joshua Terenzini, Republican, Grade: A. NRA Endorsed.
Terry Williams, Republican, Grade: A. NRA Endorsed.
Cheryl Hooker, Incumbent, Democrat, Grade: None.
Greg Cox, Democrat, Grade: None.
Larry Courcelle, Democrat, Grade: F.
WASHINGTON – vote for three
Ken Alger, Republican, Grade: AQ. NRA Endorsed
Dawnmarie Tomasi, Republican, Grade: AQ. NRA Endorsed
Dwayne Tucker, Republican, Grade: AQ. NRA Endorsed
Ann Cummings, Incumbent, Democrat, Grade: F.
Andrew Perchlik, Incumbent, Democrat/Progressive, Grade: F.
Anthony Pollina, Incumbent, Progressive, Grade: F.
WINDHAM – vote for two
John Lyddy, Republican, Grade: AQ.
Marcus Parish, Republican, Grade: None.
Becca Balint, Incumbent, Democrat, Grade: F.
Jeanette White, Incumbent, Democrat, Grade: F.
WINDSOR – vote for three
Michael Jasinski, Republican, Grade: B.
Jack Williams, Republican, Grade: None.
Alison Clarkson, Incumbent, Democrat, Grade: F.
Dick McCormack, Incumbent, Democrat, Grade: F.
Alice Nitka, Incumbent, Democrat, Grade: A. NRA Endorsed.
NRA endorsements for statewide races and the House of Representatives will be published in Vermont Daily later this week.
Photo: NRA has endorsed candidates for the Vermont Senate, including (from left) Charles Wilson (Republican candidate for Caledonia County), Peter Briggs (Republican candidate for Addison County), and Sen. Alice Nitka (D-Windsor).
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