Centrist Democrat incumbent will likely win, “has seen the light,” Scott says – some Republicans unhappy
By Guy Page
Gov. Phil Scott has endorsed an incumbent Democrat facing a re-election challenge from two Republicans. VDC asked him why at his press conference Tuesday, October 8.
Scott’s endorsement of four-term incumbent Rep. Jay Hooper (D-Randolph) did not sit well with at least one Republican incumbent House member, who wondered how a Republican governor could endorse a Democrat who faces a challenge by two Republican candidates in the two-seat district election Nov. 5.
Earlier this week, Hooper posted on Facebook an endorsement photo of himself and the governor.
“4-term incumbent Representative Philip Jay Hooper is pleased to be the only candidate in his House race who has received Governor Phil Scott’s endorsement, based on his commitment to dismantling partisan gridlock,” Hooper’s post said in part.
Hooper often but not always votes with the Supermajority. He recently expressed his unhappiness on VDC-TV’s Friday at Four last month that “fewer than 10” legislators make the big decisions. He also reminded his Facebook readers he voted against the school property tax increase.
VDC asked Gov. Scott Tuesday: “You’ve endorsed Rep. Jay Hooper of Randolph, an incumbent Democrat who has two Republicans running against him in the general election. Why is a Republican governor endorsing a Democrat when there are GOP candidates in the same race?”
Scott replied: “I’ve talked a lot about common sense. We need to attract more into politics here in Vermont. We have an existing representative who I believe is going to win, and I believe that he has seen the light in many many different ways, and I think transitioning very well to a moderate interest whether a Democrat or Republican.
“He’s come a long ways over the last two, three years, and I think he could be helpful to us here in the state in the future. I said I would identify moderate centrist candidates who I feel have common sense and would pull us in the right direction, and he’s one of them.”
Scott’s endorsement was derided by Art Peterson (R-Clarendon).
“What bothers me is that it is a two seat district and there are two Republicans running!,” he said in an email to VDC. Republicans Rob Sikora of Brookfield and Wayne Townsend of Randolph are on the Nov. 5 ballot.
The Orange-Washington-Addison House District (Roxbury, Randolph, Braintree, Brookfield, Granville) has been considered a safe ‘blue’ district in recent years. The other incumbent is Larry Satcowitz, a leading voice for climate change and environmental legislation.
Supporters of Scott’s endorsement say he is one of the Democrat allies with the courage to put progress for his constituents ahead of the orders of his party’s political bosses from Burlington. Hooper’s independence was established early-on when, in one of his first votes as a 2017 freshman, he voted to seat Republican Bob Frenier following a lengthy, disputed recount of a 2016 House race.
Hooper voted to not override the governor’s veto of H.289, the Renewable Energy Standard, and the property tax bill. However, he did vote with the Supermajority to override Scott’s veto of bills for so-called ‘safe injection sites’ and the Act 250 bills, as well as other less high-profile bills.