St. Albans lawyer files for General Election in November

NORTH HERO — Joshua Martin, a St. Albans lawyer, has filed as an Independent to take on Grand Isle County State’s Attorney Doug DiSabito in the General Election in November.

Martin said he has been a lawyer for about two dozen years and has focused mostly on civil cases over the past four years. He said he earlier had focused on criminal defense work and had a few cases in Grand Isle County against DiSabito several years ago.

He said he also did work on civil rights cases while practicing law in Florida.

Martin said he has always loved Grand Isle County and had considered running in the past, but thought this was the time and has received some encouragement from local residents.

DiSabito, who has been state’s attorney for almost 12 years, has filed for re-election as a Democrat. He also has picked up the Republican nomination in recent campaigns through write-in votes.

He defeated Grand Isle County State’s Attorney David G. Miller of St. Albans in the 2014 Democratic Primary 489-351.

DiSabito had worked at the North Hero Courthouse for about 6 ½ years before attending law school.

DiSabito welcomed Martin to the race.

“The democratic process always works best when voters have a choice and I honor and respect Josh’s commitment to run for office,” DiSabito told The Islander.

“Twelve years ago I was elected by my fellow Islanders to replace a part-time prosecutor who split his efforts with a private practice in his hometown in Franklin County. As a resident of Grand Isle County for 25 years, it would be my honor to continue to serve our community full-time over the next four years,” DiSabito said.

Martin said he filed his nominating petitions with the Vermont Secretary of State by the deadline Thursday afternoon. He was required to have at least 100 signatures of valid voters and he estimated he submitted about 135.

He said he has always been drawn to Grand Isle, but has not had many cases recently.

When asked why he did not run for the open seat for Franklin County State’s Attorney, Martin said the Grand Isle post can have more direct impact.

“Grand Isle is a one man show,” Martin said. In Franklin County there are deputies and they all get to help resolve cases.

“You can fashion solutions,” he said. Martin said alternative programs, like Court Diversion are helpful in resolving cases instead of prison.

Martin, 52, graduated in 1995 from Bennington College, where he majored in playwriting and directing. After working construction, the St. Albans native went to Tulane Law School in New Orleans.

Martin said the recent arrest of DiSabito for driving while under the influence was not a primary factor in running.

“Everyone makes mistakes,” he said. “It’s not the end of the story.”

DiSabito, 57, of Alburgh was processed for suspicion of DUI after he stopped by Vermont Superior Court while not working on April 14. He had stopped by at the end of the day to confer with a Franklin County deputy prosecutor and it was the day before starting an international vacation.

DiSabito provided a breath alcohol test of 0.084 percent, St. Albans Police said. A driver age 21 and older in Vermont is presumed under the influence at 0.08 percent.

Due to the low test, no accident and other factors, DiSabito was allowed to enroll in the Court Diversion program. It will allow him to have the Franklin County case wiped off his record upon successful completion of the program.