Fights are on to replace Grismore and Palmer

By Mike Donoghue
Vermont News First

There will be three-way primary races this year for sheriff in both Franklin and Windsor Counties after the embattled incumbents each said they are bailing out after just one term.

Franklin and Windsor will be among seven counties that will feature county sheriff races in the Primary and/or General Elections this year.

Franklin County Sheriff John Grismore, who was decertified as a law enforcement officer by the state when charged with simple assault on an intoxicated prisoner – but not convicted – has said he is not running again. The state legislature cut his pay due to his reduced workload.

Windsor County Sheriff Ryan Palmer also won’t be running for office while he deals with recent criminal charges in court, including sex crimes.

In Franklin County, Andre LaBier, a retired deputy U.S. Marshal and former School Resource Officer with the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department, is interested in the top spot.

Also running is Capt. Chad Miles, the chief deputy for Grismore and a former St. Albans Police officer. The third announced candidate is Sgt. James Lynch, a current School Resource Officer with the sheriff’s department and its former public information officer.

The winner of the 3-way race in the Republican primary on Aug. 11 is likely to be the next Franklin County Sheriff. Nobody filed for the Democrat party. However, Independents have until August to file before the General Election on Nov. 3 .

In the race for Windsor County Sheriff, Capt. Claude Weyant, who has been overseeing the daily operations of the department since Palmer’s arrest in January, says he wants the top seat.

Also throwing their hat into the Democrat ring for Windsor sheriff are: Joshua Lake of Chester, a Bellows Falls Police officer and Christopher Norton of Springfield, a sergeant with the Windham County Sheriff’s Department.

The winner in the Democrat primary will square off against the lone Republican to file, Richard King of Springfield, a lieutenant with the Windsor County Sheriff’s Department.

In the Chittenden County Democrat primary, Sheriff Dan Gamelin of Colchester is being challenged by Kevin Bloom of Burlington, who says he wants to become the first known transgender sheriff in the United States. They are complete opposites on paper.

Bloom has said he has no law enforcement experience and he wants to end evictions.

Gamelin has 44 years of law enforcement experience and has said sheriffs are required to carry out court orders issued by judges.

In Grand Isle County, longtime Sheriff Ray Allen of South Hero is being challenged by University of Vermont Police Cpl. Mike Winters of South Hero, a political newcomer.

In Addison County, Sheriff Michael Elmore of Middlebury is seeking a second term. He is being challenged in the Republican primary by Ron Holmes of Middlebury. Holmes lost to Elmore four years ago and in earlier races against Sheriffs James B. Coons, Don Keeler Jr. and Peter Newton.

Also Orange County Sheriff George Contois, who spent 29 years with Vermont State Police, has said he is not running again. One-term was enough for Contois who found the financial books for the department were astray and there was a lack of adequate personnel when he took over in the rural county.

In the Democrat primary, Michael Tkac of Corinth, a former detective sergeant with Hartford Police officer is squaring off against Royalton Police Officer Sean McRae, who lives in Bethel in neighboring Windsor County.

The winner will meet Cpl. Jacob Held of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department in the General Election on Nov. 3. Held, who filed as a Republican, is from the town of Washington.

The final contested race for sheriff in Vermont is in Caledonia County.

Sheriff Brandon Thrailkill, who was appointed a year ago by Gov. Phil Scott to fill an unexpired term, is being challenged by Lyndonville Police Officer Robert Gerrish. Gerrish and retired St. Johnsbury Capt. Jason Gray were also considered by the Governor following the death of Sheriff James Hemond, 47, of Waterford from cancer during his first term in 2025.

Orleans County Sheriff Jennifer L. Harlow of Holland, who is president of the state sheriff’s association, and Essex County Sheriff Trevor Colby of Lunenburg, who is the second most senior Vermont sheriff, both are without announced competition. They are both running as Republicans.

Besides Harlow and Colby, there are five other incumbents with no competition.

Unopposed on the Democrat side are: Bennington County Sheriff James A. Gulley of Bennington, Washington County Sheriff Marc Poulin of Barre Town and Windham County Sheriff Mark R. Anderson of Brattleboro. There are no announced Republicans in those races.

On the Republican side, Lamoille County Sheriff Roger Marcoux of Morristown, the longest serving sheriff, and Rutland County Sheriff David J. Fox of Tinmouth also have no announced candidates within their party or from the Democrats.