By Guy Page
There are at least six reasons why Chittenden County State’s Attorney Sarah George could lose to Ted Kenney in the Democratic primary two weeks from yesterday.
- Unprecedented opposition. Sitting state’s attorneys almost never endorse another sitting state’s attorney’s opponent – especially when they all belong to the same political party. But Monday Jim Hughes of Franklin County and Doug DiSabito of Grand Isle County publicly endorsed Kenney. Their public ‘vote of no confidence’ was joined by former Chittenden County prosecutors Lauren Bowerman and Bob Simpson.
Kenney also has been endorsed for four firefighters unions. Furthermore, Burlington business interests are unhappy with her unwillingness to aggressively protect public safety and prosecute retail theft. She’s been criticized for suggesting that taxpayers reimburse stores for retail theft losses.
- Other George Soros’-backed prosecutors are being rejected by voters in Democratic/Progressive strongholds. George is member of Fair & Just Prosecution, a national organization funded by billionaire George Soros to get progressive prosecutors elected. Last month FJP-backed Chesa Boudin of San Francisco was recalled by voters unhappy with the rise in violent crime, retail theft, and homelessness. Monday, another FJP prosecutor, Marilyn Mosby of Baltimore, was defeated in a Democratic primary. LA’s George Gascon faces a likely recall vote. Chicago’s Kim Foxx has been criticized for failing to stop frequent mass shootings in her city.
- Republican crossover vote. Commenters on Vermont Daily Chronicle and on call-in shows like WVMT’s The Morning Drive are talking about Republicans “crossing over” and voting in the Democratic primary, out of concern for defeating progressive Becca Balint for Congress. If that happens in Chittenden County, it’s unlikely George will benefit.
- College students won’t be in Burlington. Burlington on a summer day is a quiet place compared to when UVM and Champlain College are in session. The reliably-progressive college students won’t return en masse to Vermont until after the primary – which is bad news for George but very good news for suburbanite Kenney.
- Growing awareness of George’s radical connections. Until a few weeks ago, even seasoned observers didn’t know that Sarah George was on FJP’s Wall of Fame with Boudin, Gascon, Larry Krasner of Philadelphia, and other leading progressive prosecutors. Now it’s more common knowledge. For example, until recently almost no-one knew that George was one of two members of the board of directors for the Women’s Justice & Freedom Initiative, an organization committed to closing all prisons. George claims she’s not an abolitionist, but does want to see progress on decarceration.
- Most of all, George faces rejection at the polls because of her record of being unable to stop Chittenden County’s rising rate of drug abuse, shootings, homelessness, violence, and retail theft, as well as her unwillingness to impose bail or other stringent conditions of release for people charged with many serious crimes.