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Chris Keyser, son of former Governor Ray Keyser, is taking on powerful Vermont House Democrat William Notte in a race for a Rutland district seat
Part II of a Two-Part Series on election runs in Rutland for House of Representatives
By Russell Flannery
The last time a member of the Keyser family was on a ballot for public office in Vermont was in 1962. Then incumbent Republican Governor Ray Keyser of Proctor was defeated by “Young Turk” Democrat Phil Hoff who backed a larger state government role in society.
Keyser’s son Chris, one of three children, “wanted to be my own self” early in his career and go a different direction than his lawyer-politician father. Young Keyser worked in outdoor recreation management in Quechee before accepting a leadership role at a family-owned energy company, Keyser Energy. There, he led nine acquisitions and eventually built a multistate petroleum and propane distribution business with annual sales of more than $10 million. “I enjoyed the deal-making – of finding out what your issues were, see if I could solve those, and create a win-win,” said Keyser, now living in Rutland, in an interview. Nearing retirement, Keyser sold the business in 2011, stayed on as the company’s chief executive until he was aged 66 in 2019, and moved on to consulting and industry-level board work part-time.
This year, things changed. Keyser became frustrated by the big increases in property taxes and looming large increases in residential and business energy bills passed by Vermont’s Democratic Party-controlled legislature this spring over a veto by Republican Governor Phil Scott. Though also dismayed by what he considers to be toxic political culture in Montpelier, Keyser was also unhappy about the big pay raise approved by the legislature’s Democratic majority last year but vetoed by Gov. Scott. “When that came up, there was a complete disconnect between what I felt (was fair) and what was going on” in Montpelier, Keyser said. “I had the audacity to think I could have some influence over that.”
Finally, Keyser said, Scott himself called while the businessman was out hiking near his Rutland home one day and asked him to take on powerful incumbent Democratic Party House Assistant Majority Leader William Notte in the race for a Rutland City seat in the state House of Representatives. “I was hiking, and I was mad – stuff goes through your head,” Keyser said.” “My phone rang and I didn’t recognize it. It was the Governor, and he asked me to run,” he recalled. “I’m not a politician. I’ll be one.”
Republican Senator Brian Collamore of Rutland also called to encourage Keyser to run. “They got me at a weak point,” Keyser smiled. “But it was all of these things that led up to it.”
Rival Notte, who manages a Phoenix bookstore in downtown Rutland, was among two of the city’s House representatives to vote for the tax increase, higher energy bills and pay raise. The other was Mary Howard.
These days, Keyser spends time out knocking on doors and then trying to estimate the number of members of his city district that will support him. “I’m a numbers guy,” said Keyser, who keeps a log of the more than doors he’s knocked on a 8×11-inch sheet of paper printed out from a spreadsheet. Keyser views district residents without a Notte campaign poster in front of their home as a potential vote for him.
“As my father used to say, when you’re campaigning, people that are for you will build you up and tell you you’re the greatest thing. People that don’t say anything are the people you have to watch out for,” he said. The 71-year-old Keyser does wave-ins at traffic intersections – including one recently with Collamore in front of a convenience store; Keyser figures that he will need about 900 votes to win, and expects to get them.
Keyser’s latest step back from retirement is a part of a wider effort by Republicans that were trounced in the more recent legislative election two years ago. That showing, he feels, owes in part to the disproportionate number of Democratic and Progressive voters in the Burlington area population.
That means working harder to elect moderates elsewhere, including Rutland. “Keyser” lawn signs dot the streets along with Notte’s near his residence. Keyser accepted an interview in a cramped home study that abuts a crowded kitchen whose refrigerator is plastered with pictures and notes. He lives with Jane Keyser, his wife of 38 years; they have three children and four grandchildren.
Regarding Vermont’s big real estate tax increases this year, Keyser’s view is simple: the state’s increased take from homeowner income far exceeds inflation, and particularly hits middle class and lower-income families; the measure also didn’t do anything to address underlying high costs in Vermont for education that help drive up taxes.
“I got this sort of uneasiness about me,” Keyser said. “It’s all regressive taxes. The Democrats don’t stand for that.” Higher property taxes are part of a self-feeding downward economic trend that hurts the state’s competitiveness, makes it difficult to attract workers and grow new businesses, he noted.
Keyser said voters are also worried about the economic fallout of homelessness, a big issue in the Rutland area, where hotels designed for tourism routinely report crime by homeless dwellers that hurts the city’s business and visitor appeal. “There’s a very strong feeling that” many living in hotels aren’t from the Rutland area, and that the state needs to better manage the problem, he said. For the truly needy, Keyser said, “We’re going to get you housed and fed,” but more details and assessments are needed about how to move the group into a sustainable life.
- The author, a former long-time editor at Forbes, graduated from Mt. St. Joseph in Rutland and lives in Rutland.
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Categories: politics
Mr. Keyser, IT IS NOT YOUR JOB TO FEED AND PROVIDE HOUSING. The dog and pony show will never end.
Please help us Mr. Keyser, thank you!!
Any Republican comeback in Vermont would possibly start with winning outside the Burlington area. Hopefully there is some decent progress beginning this year.
Please Mr. Keyser consider my thoughts on the pay raise, I am considering sending this to the letter to the editor of our local paper,
Pay raise for state legislatures,
I’m writing this letter because I know the legislature will try again. This may be an eye opener for you. Recently our state legislators tried to vote themselves a pay raise, from $13,000 a year to $35,000 a year plus the same benefits state employees get health insurance etc. This is a $22,000 pay raise. (without benefits included) It didn’t pass this year, but what are your guesses that they will try again this year? Now bear in mind, these folks work from January 2nd , to mid may to the end of May, now you say five months a year, well, that depends on how long your work week is (most people work 5 days a week), you see, they only work four days a week, Tuesday. – Friday. Now, at 5 months a year that extra day you don’t work is 20 days or almost equal to a month, so in reality they only work about 4 months a year! To which they want $35,000. Now they also get hotels, mileage and a meal stipend (which they deserve if coming a long distance) but deserve it or not it this money still money that has to be accounted for as part of their salary.
Now 35,000 for four days a week doesn’t sound bad, now let’s do the math, 35,000 doesn’t sound that bad. Let’s look at that 35,000 time 180 legislators. right now, at 13000 x 180 = 2,340,000 that the taxpayers are on the hook for, they are asking for a 22,000 dollar raise which comes out to 3,960,000 or close to 4 million dollars more a year. We could just add what the whole 35,000 would be, ready for this? 6,300,000 for a 5-month (or 4 months whichever way you look at it) for a 4 day a week job!
I’m told by one representative that has only served one term (and voted for the raise) that well we do work during the year answering questions and setting in on meetings during the year. To this I have to say, you applied for this job at the rate of pay that was offered, you as an adult (I would hope) researched the job before you accepted it, you knew what the job entailed, you accepted the job now you would like me as your employer to triple your pay because you are no longer happy with the original agreement. To which I say as your employer, if you are not happy with your pay you are more than welcome (like anyone else who has a job) to leave with no hard feelings, I wish you the best with your new employer.
I make $17,500 a year on social security which I am expected to live on, they want $35,000 (base pay) a year, to appease them. Bear in mind that that’s seven months a year they have to enjoy a vacation if they choose or supplement that $35,000, with another job, I know one that owns a store, and one who is a realtor. Any guesses how many of the 180 don’t also supplement their salaries?
My question is if you do raise your pay in January where is this extra 3,960,000 coming from, oh, I’m sorry I knew the answer, you’ll just raise our taxes even more!
it is a great letter, I just wish it was sent in a month or so again. I am in the same situation as Mr. Keyser because at 69 I just couldn’t sit on the sidelines this time. I wish I saw more letters for change than letters for the incumbents but it unfortunately seems to be always the same.
Down in Orange County, Larry Hart, the Republican candidate for Senate, has received substantial donations from the Burlington area. Appears some folks up there think the super majority has gone too far.
Unfortunately if Mr. Keyser and others like him do not win it will be the end of his, and all other, family business. The situation is that dire this election.
To all the reps whining about wanting a pay increase just let me say, you get pay increases for performance, not lack there of, the state is in dire need of a change, do to debt, taxes and more coming our way when looking at current legislation.
If you worked for any other company you would all be fired, and I hope you are, if you can can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen…….. how pathetic thinking you deserve a raise for what, doing a pathetic job or destroying families !!
Wake up people, vote these clowns out, they are suppose to represent your wishes and demands not the ” Stupid Majority’s ” agenda……………..
My grandparents lived next door to the Keysers in Chelsea. My great-aunt spilled some beans known to the locals, but not to the rest of the State – by design, nothing new under the sun. Chelsea being the County Seat back in the day, secrets were held safe with those controlling the levers of power.
So Phil scanned over his contacts list and did some ear tickling, ego stroking, and offered up some sweet board or task force seats? What kind of “favors” or donations does it take to get a personal phone call from Governor Windsock? The only way to be asked to run is you are willing to further the agenda, represent the corporation, and hide the criminal corruption.
Please, stop referring to Governor Scott as the “most popular governor in America.” Even if meant as tongue firmly planted in cheek. It is clearly disinformation and misinformation. If you cannot prove or provide non-partisan receipts showing this claim as fact, stop conveying it and saying it. Please – for the love of God.
I saw a great explanation for Vermont’s political ‘pigeon’ population (someone who is easily deceived or cheated..).
“The reason you don’t believe that you’ve been lied to and brainwashed…. Is because you’ve been lied to and brainwashed!!!
Oh that’s awesome, and directly over the truth…. lol very nice.
These Republican candidates squeezing up the Phil Scott to get an endorsement from the worst This traitor emvermont history is absolutely disgusting
If anything it should be assigned that none of them can be trusted
I can’t believe how dumbed down the voting public has become….
I cannot believe that people wanting us to believe they are republicans that are going to save us Are climbing into the same bed up Phil Scott and Joe Biden…
I don’t think there’s any help for us