Windham County man throws hat into the ring
by Guy Page
Sen. Patrick Leahy will not run for re-election, he told a packed house of media, staff, lawmakers, family and well-wishers in Room 11 of the Vermont State House this morning.
The longest serving senator in U.S. history, accompanied by wife Marcelle, opened his speech by describing how he grew up across the street from the State House and as a child rode his tricycle down the halls. Most of the speech was dedicated to recounting his legacy in the U.S. Senate, which began with his election in 1974:
- Casting the tie-breaking vote refusing to continue the war in Vietnam;
- As Agriculture Committee chair, starting the Farms for the Future and Forest Legacy programs, conserving vast acreage of farmland and forestland;
- Starting a program to clean up Lake Champlain and add 140,000 acres to Vermont’s Green Mountain National Forest;
- Setting federal standards for organic farming;
- Enhancing the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program;
- Defending civil liberties as Senate Judiciary Chair;
- “My approach (as Appropriations Chair) was simple: help all states in alphabetical order. Starting with the letter V, Vermont.”
“I am proud to be Vermont’s longest serving Senator because I know my time in the Senate has made a difference for Vermonters and often well beyond. I know I have been there for my state when I was needed most. I know I have taken our best ideas and helped them grow,” Leahy said.
Leahy will hold a Zoom press conference tomorrow at 2:30 pm. Many other elected officials and Vermonters from all walks of life today made public statements praising Leahy and his accomplishments. These comments are readily available on social media and online news outlets. Vermont Daily Chronicle asked about 20 different readers who are active in Vermont politics and/or civic affairs to comment. Several responses appear below:
The opening of this seat will provide an opportunity for Vermonters to discuss future leadership of our state and nation. Entrenched, unchallenged incumbents quell competing views, which is why some 84% of Americans favor term limits. 2022 is a vital opportunity to tackle long-standing problems aggravated by the bureaucratic free-for-all witnessed during the COVID-19 crisis. Fiscal integrity and better schools are the brand of conservatism — Vermonters are wise to install a Republican as U.S. Senator. – John Klar, Brookfield, former GOP candidate for governor
It is my sincere hope that Senator Leahy has seen enough of the demise of our Constitution that he is finally sick of playing cover-up for immoralities. – Martha Hafner, citizen advocate, Randolph
Hooray! Leahy is one of the most partisan senators and ignored the obvious when pursuing President Trump during the Russian collusion fraud. As a former prosecutor he could have brought some informed perspective to the lack of confirmed evidence in that scam and saved the country from the real damage his equally partisan cohorts inflicted on all of us. – Bob Frenier, former member Vermont House, Chelsea
I hope we have a Republican or Independent ready to run, who can continue the momentum that we are seeing right now. The people recognize what a mess we are in, and we need someone in Vermont who can unite the people, who are near that center line, and a candidate who doesn’t give into the woke mob. This is the chance to reverse the direction of our state, especially as the democrats are pushing forth candidates who are loud members of the woke mob. – Liz Cady, Essex Junction, school board member
It has been extremely disappointing over the past several years to watch Senator Leahy walk along with the leftist agenda while we, as citizens, witness the moral and economic decay of our country, our state, our schools, and our communities. My hope and my prayer is that people of courage will rise up, run for office, and take back our state, starting at the top, with our federal and state leadership positions, in November 2022. – Maggie Kerrin, Waterbury, VT GOP activist
Senator Patrick Leahy was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 1974, serving 8 consecutive terms representing Vermont. I, Mark Coester, Candidate for US Senate, have stepped up to run for election and represent the people of Vermont in Washington. I wish Mr. Senator Leahy the best In his future. – Mark Coester, Windham County Republican and organizer of recent Election Integrity forum
This is the best news I’ve heard since Hillary Clinton lost the 2016 election. It gives me hope for the future of Vermont and the country. – Jonathan Lynch, Colchester, 2020 Vermont House candidate