Praised for teamwork by state party chair

Frequent GOP statewide candidate H. Brooke Paige willingly stepped aside in his run for state treasurer when newly elected National Committeeman Joshua Bechhoefer (see here with friend and fellow GOP activist Jim Donohue at the annual VT GOP convention) expressed an interest in running for the office.

by Paul Dame

Earlier this month Republican candidate for Treasurer H. Brooke Paige withdrew from the primary, leaving a clear and uncontested path for newcomer Joshua Bechhoefer.  VTGOP Chairman Dame made the following remarks.

“I appreciate the tremendous effort H. Brooke Paige has undertaken to help the party fill these positions until we are able to complete the recruiting process.  By withdrawing from the race Mr. Paige has given a new younger candidate a clear pathway to the primary nomination and demonstrated the kind of teamwork Republicans will need to win in November.  This also allows Mr. Paige to focus on the Secretary of State’s race, which he is most intent on pursuing.  We will continue our efforts to recruit candidates for the Attorney General and for State Auditor to provide Vermonters a choice in every one of the statewide races.

“Mr. Paige’s willingness to withdraw also demonstrates the opportunity that young people have in the Republican party. Bechhoefer is a member of the Vermont Young Republicans and is growing the ranks of young people running for office as Republicans.  I know he is thankful for the support that he has already received from his potential competitor.  This change to the race allows Bechhoefer the opportunity to change his focus immediately on the November General election against Michael Pieciak who was never held to account for his role in the EB-5 scandal and has been spending much of his time engaged in effort far outside his role as Treasurer.”

Bechhoefer plans to campaign on the lingering issue of the still-unfunded pension liability and giving state employees greater choice in their retirement benefits.  He will also bring greater transparency to the impact of rapid and unsustainable increase in state spending on Vermont’s bond rating.  Bechhoefer will advocate for greater fiscal stewardship and provide additional support to the legislature to suggest efficiencies that might come from the unique access that the Treasurer has to detailed spending information.

H. Brooke Paige’s campaign for Secretary of State will focus on returning Vermont’s Election process to the one defined in the Vermont Constitution. The current universal vote by mail scheme, unregulated vote harvesting, the lack of any voter ID (including the lack of signature samples, essential to verify mail-in-ballots) and the usurping the duties of local election officials – created by the passage of Act 60 of 2021 has made Vermont’s Election Laws in disagreement with our state Constitution.

Additionally, Brooke seeks to improve access to the state archives and records (VSARA) and streamlining the Office of Professional Regulation and Business Services. Brooke sees the expansive overreach of the Secretary of State’s office in recent years has given the office powers better placed in the hands of those departments and offices better equipped to handle the responsibility. Brooke looks forward to an informative and lively campaign seeking to provide voters with a better understanding of responsibilities of Vermont’s Secretary of State office and to explain how electing him to the office will benefit every Vermonter.

The author is an Essex Junction resident and chair of the Vermont Republican Party.