By Guy Page
Two days before Vermont Republicans choose their next state party chair, incumbent Paul Dame is pushing back against an anonymous postcard that questioned his fundraising record and salary — while rolling out endorsements for what he calls his “Team Progress” slate.
Challenger Russ Ingalls meanwhile condemned Dame’s Thursday morning email in which Dame said there are “cowards who support my opponent tear us apart and trash our party to the press.”
A graphic of all the candidates up for election at Saturday’s state meeting in Burlington can be seen below and here.
The postcard, sent from a Hartford, CT bulk mailing center, with no author or organization reference, cited VT GOP contributions made under previous chairs, at significantly higher amounts than under Dame’s four-year stint at the helm. It also questioned his $60,000 + salary and what it claimed was a low balance in the party checking account.
In an email sent Thursday morning, Dame described the postcard as “poorly designed and confusing” and said it appeared to come from someone “looking desperate to support my opponent.” He said many Republicans had told him the message was divisive and disheartening.
Ingalls condemns ‘cowards’ characterization
Dame’s email has drawn a response from the campaign to elect challenger Russ Ingalls in the form of a letter from Ingalls, a Newport businessman and state senator:
“Earlier this morning you likely saw an announcement from Team Progress. If you made it to the bottom of the email you saw Chairman Dame call all of you cowards for supporting me. Let me be very clear, you are not cowards. Like me, you love our state and you are proud, unapologetic Republicans. You are small business owners, farmers, mothers, doctors, loggers, and lawyers. The furthest thing from cowards.
“When I set out to run this campaign I was fueled by optimism and aspirations for the VTGOP and Republicans around our state. A lot has been made of a recent mailer that was sent to delegates. I was not responsible and do not know who was, but has Paul refuted or disputed how much he has been paid? Even once? No. Our party IS on the verge of bankruptcy, you know it and I know it. We cannot rely on a progressive approach instead of good old fashioned hard work, something I know a thing or two about.
“If calling members of our party cowards is Paul Dame’s campaign strategy, by all means go ahead. But just know that you are so much more than that. I hope I can count on your vote on Saturday.”
“This kind of division is what often kills Republican efforts,” Dame wrote. “We have to work as a team, support each other, and avoid the temptation of tearing down a fellow Republican.”
Dame announced endorsements for seven candidates seeking leadership roles and invited party members to a 7:30 p.m. Zoom “Meet & Greet” on Thursday to hear from them directly.
Dame said what he calls his “Team Progress” theme reflects gains he believes Republicans made in the last election — enough, he said, to block some Democratic initiatives in Montpelier, though not yet enough to advance GOP priorities.
Dame’s endorsed slate of ‘Team Progress’ includes:
- William Kolb for vice chair. Other candidates: Greg Thayer and Zachary Harvey.
- Rachel Stringer for secretary. Also running: Sherilyn Matthans of Northfield.
- Ken Sekuterski of Franklin County for treasurer. Lynn LaFleur of Lamoille County is also a candidate.
- Tom Koch for assistant treasurer, a longtime Republican legislator and source of “wisdom and guidance,” according to Dame. He is running unopposed.
- Joe Luneau and Stacey Malloy for at-large delegate. Other candidates for at-large delegate, who as members of the executive committee make decisions for the party, include Mike Tagliavia of East Corinth, Wendy Wilton of Milton, Dale Gassett of Vernon, and August Murray of Weathersfield.
Dame emphasized that he will work with whoever the State Committee elects but said the candidates he endorsed have “proven themselves to be reliable people who can accomplish what they say they will.”
The email also referenced internal conflicts during his tenure, including a lawsuit filed by a member of the executive committee, public criticism from within the party, and what Dame described as an attempt by one member to discourage a potential donor.
“We can’t win if our executive committee lets personal gripes get in the way of us achieving our team goals,” he wrote.