Race for new Vermont senator begins Jefford's announcement of resignation sparks political change

Author: Polly Johnson

Senator Jim Jeffords of Vermont announced on April 20 his resignation from the Senate, causing much shock and surprise and sparking a race for his successor. Jeffords, who had been a member of Congress for the last 30 years, cited health issues plaguing both him and his wife, Liz.

Jeffords, among other things, is well remembered for his decision in 2001 to switch his party from Republican to Independent, thus shifting the control of the Senate to the Democrats for 19 months. He has spent 30 years in Congress as a Republican, first being elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1974. Prior to working in Washington, he served as a Vermont State Senator from Rutland from 1967 to 1968. His resignation from the Republican Party in 2001 caused a huge stir because his reason was unhappiness with President George Bush's policies - specifically those relating to public education. The alleged final straw was the $305 billion tax cut to public education pushed through by President Bush and Vice President Cheney.

Jeffords, 70, surprised millions when he announced on April 20 that he would not seek 2006 re-election. He will, however, serve the remainder of his current term, which ends in January 2007. According to his advisers, he had seemed to be expressing excitement about his campaign, and had already raised a lot of money and hired a campaign staff. However, his personal needs overcame his professional ones, and in his speech he explained, "There have been questions about my health, and that is a factor as well. I am feeling the aches and pains that come when you reach 70," adding, "my memory fails me on occasion."

The original contenders to succeed Jeffords were Governor Jim Douglas '72, Representative Bernie Sanders and Lieutenant Governor Brian Dubie, who has expressed interest. Rep. Bernie Sanders seems to be most enthusiastic about the position and it seems clear that he will be the one to run. In an Addison Independent April 28 editorial, "Politically Thinking," Professor of Political Science and Secretary of the College Eric L. Davis commented on the issue, stating, "The argument to run is mainly political. Douglas would be the strongest Republican candidate for the Senate, and could present the best case for keeping Bernie Sanders out of the Senate."

However, Douglas, at a press conference said, "I believe I can make the greatest contribution to improving our state by continuing to serve as governor. So I will not run for the United States Senate next year." Howard Dean, who was once rumored to be a possible candidate when Jeffords retired, has been completely ruled out as a possibility. Conservative Dubie, although expressing great interest in the possibility of running, said, "I have to see how this fits into the context of my responsibilities to my home." The last contender is Republican businessman Richard Tarrant, who is for the most part unknown to voters because he has never held political office.

Whoever does succeed Jeffords will have big shoes to fill - Jeffords' commitment to education and the environment, as well as his courage to deviate from the Republican Party when he realized it was wrong for him, won him many supporters and a high amount of respect in Vermont.