Burlington Free Press Endorses Matt for Nov. 7th

Published: Saturday, October 28, 2006

Dunne for lieutenant governor: Energy and creativity

Matt Dunne has sparked an unusually spirited race for lieutenant governor, reminding Vermonters of the potential for the second-in-command's role when enthusiasm and fresh thinking are brought to the office.

This Democratic legislator from Hartland who has served in the Vermont House and Senate has earned the vote of Vermonters on Nov. 7.

Dunne is a whirlwind of community action, service politics and ideas on the campaign trail. He comes by that civic-mindedness naturally.

His father, a civil rights activist, was jailed in North Carolina for resisting arrest during protests while he was in college. Upon returning home to Vermont, he helped establish a program to bring inner-city youths to this state. Matt Dunne's mother, Faith, was among the first women on staff at Dartmouth College.

Dunne ran successfully for the Vermont House at age 22, serving four terms. He was then appointed by former President Bill Clinton as director of AmeriCorps/Vista, returning to Vermont in 2002 and spending two terms in the state Senate.

His campaign for lieutenant governor was modeled on the AmeriCorps experience, bringing together supporters in communities throughout the state to work on local projects. Dunne and his supporters have volunteered to paint the Boys and Girls Club in Bellows Falls, repair food shelves in Brattleboro, and other civic projects. He calls that service politics, and it will surely attract young people looking for a hands-on way to get involved.

The job of lieutenant governor, which pays $61,000, is traditionally a part-time position. Dunne has committed to working full time for that salary.

It would be unfortunate, however, if he used the post to wage partisan skirmishes with a Republican governor. All sides need to work together in the best interests of this state's future.

Dunne's positions are clear and well articulated. The focus has been on economic development, including expansion of broadband services to rural areas, cleanup of contaminated industrial sites for business development, tax incentives for downtown projects, and a move toward bringing environmental companies to Vermont. He has also been among state leaders who have embraced the concept of the "creative economy," a link of business, culture and community.

Although he doesn't support legislation to hold violent criminals who refuse treatment in jail beyond their release date, Dunne has put forward an alternative proposal that accomplishes the same objective in a manner he believes is more constitutional. That's a fair approach to this controversial problem.

Dunne has proposed an AmeriCorps-connected scholarship program to help Vermont students graduate debt-free from a Vermont college or university. He has been an advocate for farmers, supporting an exemption of farm buildings from current-use taxes. On his issues list, agriculture ranks second with environment -- directly after economic development. Bravo.

Dunne is somewhat pie-in-the-sky on energy issues, however. He is hopeful that Vermont can close the Yankee nuclear plant in the coming years and wants the state to begin energy conservation efforts and a search for renewable replacements by 2012. He's right that Vermont must aggressively reduce its energy consumption and seek alternative sources. It's unrealistic, however, to suggest the state can afford to lose one-third of its energy supply anytime soon.

Republican Lt. Gov. Brian Dubie has been a supportive second to Gov. Jim Douglas since he was elected in 2002. He has built valuable relationships with trading partners, especially Vermont's Canadian neighbors in Quebec. And he has acted in a civil, non-partisan manner that is rare in Montpelier these days.

During this campaign, however, Dubie has seemed disengaged. That's too bad because the state faces challenges that will require enthusiastic participation by all leaders.

Progressive Marvin Malek, a physician, brought informed ideas for controlling health care costs to the discussion. It would be great if he would remain a public voice on health care reform and bring more physicians to the discussion.

It is Dunne who has won the Free Press Editorial Board's recommendation, however. His energy and creativity are needed in the fight to bring jobs to Vermont and strengthen the state's dairy industry.

Vote Dunne for lieutenant governor on Nov. 7.