If conservatives control Legislature, they might like the new Phil Scott, former senate colleague says
Like the skilled racecar driver he is, Phil Scott the politician seeks to maneuver and position himself, says former Republican state senator colleague Mark Shepard (seen here with Pres. Ronald Reagan). Scott photo from campaign Facebook page.
by Mark Shepard
Many Republicans have been frustrated by Republican Phil Scott as governor of Vermont. I served with Phil for four years in the state senate and never saw Phil has someone that could be counted on to hold strong to any position.
Phil Scott is not well understood within today’s left-right political spectrum, where the left embraces shifting power toward the state and a collectivist’s view of people and the right embraces shifting power toward individual, free-markets and individual human value.
Rather as a seasoned race car driver, Phil simply applies his racing-mind to his politics. As with racing he has no destination, but rather simply tries to position himself to stay ahead of the pack as he goes round and round, never really getting anywhere.
So if you want someone who is guided by a set of ideas and who you can depended on to lead the state based upon those ideas, Phil Scott may not be your best option. Of course that always depends on what your options are. If, as has been the case in every one of his general elections, the alternative is someone who embraces a set of ideas that has failed everywhere tested, Phil starts looking a lot better.
My advice for liberty-minded Vermonters is to stop worrying about the governor’s office until you have a majority in the legislature. You might actually like the Phil Scott that shows up in that scenario.
Mark Shepard, Rustburg, VA
Vermont State Senator 2003-2006