Bartlett fires up campaign
Senator aiming to be governor
By Lisa McCormack
Published: Stowe Reporter
Thursday, August 13, 2009 12:10 PM EDT
Two months after announcing she’s running for governor in 2010, state Sen. Susan Bartlett, a Democrat from Hyde Park, says her campaign is starting to take off.
“My Web site www.bartlettforgovernor.com is up and active,” Bartlett said.
“As the campaign develops, there will be more information on the site about specific issues that we all need to address for Vermont’s future: the economy, energy, educational spending and educational results, health care, affordable housing, the future of agriculture, and cleaning up Lake Champlain,” Bartlett said. “There are many other issues to address, which is why we made it easy for people to contact me with questions and comments about the issues.”
Bartlett is part of a crowded Democratic field of candidates for governor. Secretary of State Deb Markowitz and Chittenden state Sen. Doug Racine have already begun to campaign, and Senate President Peter Shumlin is considering a run. Other Democrats have been looking, too, but have not jumped in.
Republican Gov. James Douglas has not said yet whether he will seek a fifth term next year.
During her campaign, Bartlett, 62, will likely use the folksy style that has served her well in nine successful runs for Lamoille County’s lone Senate seat.
“I plan to have a grass-roots campaign, which relies on support from Vermonters who care about the issues and want to work with me on solutions,” Bartlett said. “I have not hired any campaign staff, but have a core group of dedicated supporters working hard to organize a campaign.”
She will hire someone to help with the day-to-day chores of running the campaign.
“It’s getting a little hectic now going to meet with folks, making calls and scheduling events,” Bartlett said. “It’s wonderful to get out and talk to folks. It’s great to remember what a wonderful state this is.”
Bartlett is longtime chairwoman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and exerts huge influence on the shape of the state budget. She believes her work on the appropriations committee has prepared her for Vermont’s highest political office.
“I have 18 years of experience, 16 on the appropriations committee,” Bartlett said. “The appropriations committee is the only committee where you look at all of state government and how it fits together. I have a lot of experience looking at the whole through good times and bad times, Republicans and Democrats.”
Fundraising
Bartlett expects to do much of her campaign fundraising online.
“One of the things I wanted to do with my Web site was to use a Vermont bank for handling online contributions,” she said. “We discovered that wasn’t the normal way to do things, but we have been successful. When supporters donate online, the transaction fees stay in Vermont.”
Bartlett says she’s been too busy addressing the state’s $28 million budget shortfall to do much fundraising so far. She started to call potential contributors last week.
“I am making phone calls to raise money and, while it is a slow process, my list of donors is growing steadily,” Bartlett said. “We are a long way from the primary (in September 2010) and I am certain that I will be competitive financially with the other candidates.”
Busy senator
Bartlett’s role as chairwoman of the Senate Appropriations Committee keeps her busy, even when the Legislature isn’t in session. This month, she was working in Montpelier on a solution to the state’s $28 million deficit.
Next week, she’ll attend a public hearing on the Douglas administration’s plan, which will likely affect state workers and programs.
“During the (legislative) session, my job of developing and working on the state budget keeps me busy full-time,” Bartlett said. “This year with the (governor’s) veto, the special session and now the additional downgrade in revenues, I have been dealing with the ongoing problems of our economy and working to keep the state budget in balance, while protecting important services.”
Banking on record
After 18 years in the Senate, Bartlett says it’s difficult to choose one accomplishment that she considers her greatest success.
“My long-term work on balancing budgets, making prudent investments in programs and working on policy issues are the experiences that helped me decide to run for governor,” Bartlett said. “I have a reputation for working with folks from all parties and from many different interest groups to craft budgets and policy that works for Vermont. As governor, I will continue to work collaboratively with all the stakeholders on any given issue.”
She would like to see a closer working relationship between the governor’s administration and the Legislature.
“Because of the years I’ve spent as a legislator, I have a deep appreciation for the job and its frustrations and I also have experience working with a great administration,” Bartlett said. “Howard (Dean) was great. It’s not just about having a good working relationship, but a close one. That will be easy for me.”
She’s especially proud of her work several years ago in helping the state buy the Green River Reservoir from Morrisville village and Morrisville Water and Light to create a new state park.
“I was fortunate to be able to help facilitate a deal that had been in the works for 30 years,” Bartlett said. “Green River is such a special place and to know that it will be preserved forever is just a great feeling.”
No easy answers
Whether she’s fielding e-mail questions from constituents or listening to concerns from Vermont business people, several key issues always crop up.
“The major issues facing our state are the economy, educating our children, the future of agriculture, energy conservation, health care, keeping our streams and lakes clean, helping families to prosper, and living within our means,” Bartlett said. “They are all intertwined and sometimes at odds with each other.”
There are no easy answers, Bartlett said.
“The Council on Rural Development has recently completed a really fine piece of research called ’Imagining Vermont: Values and Vision for the Future,’” Bartlett said. “It captures the conflict between loving our rural nature and the need for good growth, whether that growth is economic or in housing.”
As an experienced legislator, Bartlett believes she has the people skills needed to reach compromises.
“I’m running for governor because I have the skills required to bring diverse groups together to talk about complex issues and lead us to goals and plans that we can implement,” Bartlett said.
Bartlett says the skills and insight she’s gained on the Appropriations Committee will serve her well if elected.
“All Vermonters are concerned about the economy and their future,” Bartlett said. “What do we have to do to move forward out of this recession? What plans do we need in place to take advantage of future economic development opportunities? How do we create good jobs in all sectors of the economy so all Vermonters can have incomes that allow them to live and prosper here?”
Bartlett says she wants the same things most Vermonters feel are important.
“As I talk to folks all over the state, I am struck by the fact that we share the same values,” Bartlett said. “We all want safe communities for our kids; we want good jobs; we want to take care of and help our neighbors in need; we expect a clean environment; we want affordable education that produces the best opportunities for all of our children; we want health care that prevents disease and access to health care that is not governed by the size of our pocketbooks; we want to be able to retire here and live in financial security; and we want our kids to be here, too.
“We need to work on our common values and common goals and move forward to create the future Vermont we all want.”
All three branches of state government — executive, legislative and judicial — must work together on the “structural” changes Vermont needs, Bartlett said.
Several years ago, the Legislature started a government accountability group to look at structural changes in state government. Now, it’s looking to hire a consultant to identify where and how changes should be made.
The study could be completed in about six months, Bartlett said.
“That’s where you’re looking for long-term cost savings,” Bartlett said. “With the House and Senate working together.”
Meanwhile, the state court system is going through its own restructuring process.
“They’re coming to us in the fall with suggested changes that will preserve the services we need but save the state money,” Bartlett said.
Still, Bartlett warned, any changes will probably come slowly.
“Anytime you look at change, everyone likes the theory,” Bartlett said. “But when you get to the point where you have to do it, most people say, ’I like change as long as I don’t have to do things differently.’ In this environment, which I think will be challenging for a long time, we’re going to have to learn to do things differently.”