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By Tom Evslin
For many of us, the Lieutenant Governor race is the only place our vote will make a difference this Fall. Unfortunately, it is our only seriously contested statewide race; we know who is going to get Vermont’s three presidential electoral votes; and, in too many districts there aren’t even local contests (although the contested districts certainly deserve voter scrutiny).
Like Phil Scott, John Rodgers is a reasonable moderate Republican. Unlike Phil, John was a Democrat when he was in the Vermont legislature. “The Democratic Party, when I first entered politics in 2003, looked after working class and poor people,” Rodgers said. “And they don’t do that anymore.”
Many of us who usually vote Republican feel that our national party has also moved away from us, especially at the Presidential level. In the Republican primary this summer Rogers ran against Gregory Thayer, who, according to VTDigger, said “…that he was ‘proud’ to have attended the Stop the Steal rally in Washington, D.C., that preceded the storming of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. He has maintained that he did not, however, enter the capitol building during the riot”. Rodgers said: “I would never vote for Trump.” Rogers won the Republican primary and helped set the future of both parties in Vermont with 56% of the vote.
Did people who usually vote in the Democratic primary crossover and vote for Rodgers? Almost certainly. Is that a bad thing? Hell, no! I hope those crossovers will stay Republican and, along with Scott and Rogers, help rebuild a two-party system in Vermont. Notably, although more moderate people ran in some of the local Democratic primaries, they did not succeed in unseating even the most extreme progressives. Hopefully their supporters will vote for Rodgers and for moderate candidates in those local races which are contested.
Rodgers’ website says: “John will strongly advocate for policies that will stem unsustainable government spending and fight against the unnecessary increases in property taxes, home heating costs, electricity rates, transportation fees, and health insurance premiums.
“John is deeply committed to the working Vermonters who work too hard for too little in a state that costs too much to live in. Vermonters deserve to be able to afford to live in Vermont and Governor Scott needs an ally in Montpelier….
“Rodgers believes strongly in an individual’s bodily autonomy and personal and property rights for all Vermonters.”
A vote for Rodgers is not only a vote for some sanity in Montpelier; it is also a vote against the extreme partisans on both sides of the aisle who serve us so poorly.
The author, an author, entrepreneur, former Vermont state cabinet officer, lives in Stowe. He founded NG Advantage, a natural gas truck delivery company. This commentary is republished with permission from his blog, Fractals of Change.
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Categories: Commentary
“Many of us who usually vote Republican feel that our national party has also moved away from us, especially at the Presidential level.” is balanced by “Many of us who usually vote Republican feel that our state party has moved away from us, especially at the Presidential level.” Unless the GOP can get itself together, we will never regain the majority.
“Roger’s believes in …. personal and property rights for all Vermonters”
Except if that property is a gun, then he believes we should explain to him and his cronies why we want to own one. They will decide if they’ll let you.
Fixed that for you.
Well I have known John Rodger’s For a long long time…
I met John because I was involved with gun owners of Vermont and used to attend rallies On the state house steps in Montpelier Vermont.
The first few rallies that I attended I had no idea who John was because he looked like the rest of us…. Dungarees, regular shirt and shoes…
It was in a meeting a couple of months later that it was explained to me that we should be careful about going after democrats about guns because there are a few that support our rights to own guns…
I was then told that John Rodgers was representing us under the golden dome as a democrat… I was confused why John would be standing in front of the State house fighting for our gun rights… And as time passed John was there all of the time standing with us republicans fighting against his own party who was attempting to steal our constitutional rights..
John Rodgers has always been a staunch supporter of our gun rights and was always at the rallies in spite of the fact he was self-employed and ran a farm and was a pretty busy guy.
I see there are people here that are attempting to knock John Rogers because he was a democrat who has now become a republican…
I speak to John and we don’t agree on everything but the important things we do agree on.
I see people here saying they won’t vote for John because he doesn’t want to vote for Trump
Are you voting for the rest of the republicans that won’t vote for Trump or who have denounced Trump… You won’t be voting for many republicans under the Golden dome
We need to think long and hard about what we are doing here
We finally have the choice to put a man in the position of lieutenant governor who knows about our constitution and will defend it…
We finally have John Rodgers who has spoken out and organized against the high taxes that they want to impose on us..
So it comes down to two choices….
Do we elect John Rodgers for lieutenant governor or are we going to play games until we end up with David Zuckerman in that position.
This is one step in the right direction for the state of Vermont..
You better think clearly before you go cast your vote..
@Richard Ley
I’m still thinking though… another RINO? However, I can’t stand David Zuckerman.
You, sirrah, are full of what makes the grass grow green. Zuckerman thanks you for your support.
In 2016 and again in 2018 we were told that Phil Scott, a native Vermonter, would defend our second amendment rights. How did that work out?
No, no, no thank you.
Spot on.
The alternative is a fraudulent, carpet-bagging taxpayer thieving lying fake farmer from Massachusetts.
Correction to my supporting your viewpoint:
Rogders is the only choice.
The alternative is a fraudulent, carpet-bagging taxpayer thieving lying fake farmer from Massachusetts.
Well Neil, where’s all that love you are always preaching about? No one is as pure as the driven snow. I can’t believe the hypocrites on here that want change but will support Zuckerman by NOT voting for Rogers. Zuckerman has got his eye on the governor’s position and now would be a good time to snatch that right out from under him and send him back to his toy farm. Is John Rogers everything we all hope for, no. Is David Zuckerman your man? He will be if you don’t support Rogers.
Like pikevt and VTRocks above, both will help Zuckerman win. Well, that’s a brilliant strategy. Rogers has protected firearms ownership and our constitution as long as I can remember, and I’ve watched VT politics for a long time. So, all three of you above why don’t you just vote for Zuckerman on your ballot, because what you’re doing amounts to the same thing. And this is the 1st and probably only time I will agree with Tom Evslin.
I don’t have to vote for someone to love them. Loving somebody and picking apolitical leader for a job are two different tasks at hand.
You can take all the votes for Everybody else and Rodger’s and you won’t have enough for him to win, I’m not the deluded one here.
Who are they going to vote for president?
Please enlighten us.
Rodgers is a conservative this year, he gives a whole new meaning to the phrase
” Republican In Name Only. “He’ll need to prove me wrong, and so far, he hasn’t!
Rodgers knew he couldn’t win in his Democratic party. and VT-GOP thought this was a good idea to promote him…….. Pathetic.
He’s already falling in line with flip-flop Phil to appease the progressives the ” Stupid Majority ” that we have destroying the state, Rodgers needs to stop reading the Farmer’s Almanac and read the US Constitution …………
We need Conservative Values, from Conservatives, He’s a No Vote for my family.
Zuckerman appreciates your support.
CHenry, I agree with you 99% of the time, not this time. See my comment above. If John Rogers doesn’t prove himself in two years you can vote him out. If he doesn’t win this race, you will help Zukerman in his quest to be governor. In my mind, nothing Rogers could do would be as bad as helping Zuckerman become governor. We are not going to get change if we can’t vote for it.
https://legislature.vermont.gov/people/single/2018/20398#voting-record
Looks like evidence of crimes in here. Not just any crimes, but breaking the highest and most important laws that exist in our nation. Have a look.
I will NOT vote for Rodgers, he is a RINO. Saw the debate between him and Gregory Thayer. Very telling for sure! Watch Out lots of snakes in the grass!
Even if so, why vote for Sucker Man Zuckerman? Do you want free menstrual products and a load of manure?
Write in Greg Thayer, I did.
I did it 2 years ago and will do it again. I will not vote for either Democrat! Please keep in mind that Scott is asking us to hold our nose and vote for someone who is not perfect. And then he states he won’t vote for Trump. So he is asking us to do what he will not…..
I did it 2 years ago I will do it again!
Good for you, you just voted for Zuckerman!
NOYB, I’m voting for Trump, but he won’t win in Vermont. I’m also voting for Rogers because I’m not going to help Zuckerman win. It’s that simple, so be stubborn and help Dave distribute Tampons to all Vermont schools. Critical thinking is no longer available in Vermont obviously.
Another vote for Zuckerman.
ME TOO!!
You can fanstacize all you like about the days of Calvin Coolidge but Vermont will never return to it’s republican past. Better to have half a Republican than a full-on commie from Massachusetts.
Don’t waste your vote on unelectable candidates. There’s too much at stake. Rodgers has his sign in my yard, and my vote. Bring balance back to Vermont, and end the supermajority!
I cannot vote for anyone that will not vote for Trump. I do not want war. I want prosperity, lower taxes, less government, lower prices, bad guys in jail, freedom, and every amendment of the constitution followed. Since I will write in Thayer, it will not matter, there will be a democrat in the office Lt Gov.