Open seat sparks a heated House race

Author: Andrea Glaessner

Autumn is just around the corner, and this year, Americans may be witnessing more than the usual turning of the leaves on Capitol Hill. With Bush's approval ratings dipping to a 31 percent in May, things seem promising for Democratic candidates across the country. Though the White House will not receive new tenants until the next presidential election, still two years away, the other house in Washington, The House of Representatives, is likely to see some new faces, creating a new composition of leadership in the country's legislative body, and possibly paving the way for big changes in the current political situation.

For the Democrats, who are hoping to reclaim a majority in the House, every seat counts this year, especially the open ones in which an incumbent is not seeking re-election. With Rep. Bernie Sanders (D) stepping out of the race in order to compete with Rich Tarrant (R) for the empty seat Sen. Jim Jeffords (I) left behind in the Senate, the one area code state of Vermont now has one empty seat in Congress. As such, the Green Mountain State is set to play a leading role in this year's congressional election drama.

Vermont is sure to give a thrilling performance. The drama will unfold for Middlebury residents to watch on Tuesday, Sept. 26, when the four candidates including Burlington restaurateur Dennis Morriseau (I), Liberty Union candidate Jane Newton, former Adjutant General of the Vermont National Guard Martha Rainville (R) and Vermont State Senate President Pro Tem Peter Welch (D), will hash out their differences in a debate hosted by Chris Graff, host of Vermont Public Television's "Vermont This Week," former Vermont bureau chief for the Associated Press, and a 1975 Middlebury College graduate and sponsored by the Rohatyn Center for International Affairs at Middlebury College and the Vermont Council on World Affairs.

Of the four candidates, Welch and Rainville currently lead the race in a neck and neck battle for the coveted open seat. The long-time Democratic Vermont State Senator is holding off his Republican opponent by a mere 3 percentage points. Looking at the facts, the narrow gap between the candidates seem inexplicable. Welch has both political experience and the large Democratic presence in Vermont on his side. But Rainville has her savvy campaign style that sidesteps controversial issues and identifies herself as the always popular "moderate" Republican to deliver her success thus far.

And who can argue with that? According to Associate Professor of Political Science Matt Dickinson, "The population in Vermont has been shifting toward Democratic in recent years. So if you run as a Republican, you have to run as a 'Vermont Republican,' which is somewhat more moderate. Rainville is making it quite clear that she will be an independent voice, or the Jim Jeffords sort of Republican."

It has been Rainville's moderate Republican stances, however, that have made it difficult for her to articulate clear stances on some of the most important policy issues this election year. Instead, Rainville has focused her message on reforming the political climate in Washington, offering solutions such as "The Clean Campaign Pledge" - a promise to discourage negative campaign practices such as excessive spending and slandering opponents because, according to Rainville's campaign website, "changing the tone in Washington begins with clean campaigns at home.

This pledge, along with other promises to reform congress and its proceedings form Rainville's most definitive and articulate policies. Rainville campaign communications director Brenden McKenna explained, "Changing the way business is done in Washington so people of both parties can sit down and make real progress on difficult issues that face country. Especially with an ethics reform bill which provides a foundation for tackling the other very important issues like national security and energy stability, including getting away from fossil fuels entirely to reduce pollution and global warming."

In contrast to Rainville's conciliatory and hopeful plan to reform Congress, Welch's "The Six Pillars for Change" plan is comprehensive and, more importantly, offers direct solutions to real problems that threaten Americans. The Six Pillars are, according to Welch's campaign website, "to increase economic security, to establish a plan in Iraq that will bring our troops home, to improve our national security, to commit ourselves to the goals of energy independence and combating global warming, to fight for Vermont jobs and to restore fiscal responsiblity in Washington."

In a phone interview, Welch's communication director, Andrew Savage '03.5, summed up these points, saying "The number one issue is new leadership [which means] changing the balance of power in congress. We need to end the failed policies. Also, aggressively addressing global warming, health care, and getting troops out of Iraq are important." Savage also mentioned that Welch planned to work towards replenishing the government's student aid fund that the Bush administration earlier cut by a historic $11 billion in order to give America's wealthiest citizens another large tax cut.

Welch's stances on policy issues have been cultivated by a long career in electoral politics that began in 1980 when he was the second Democrat elected to represent Windsor County in the Vermont State Senate, according to his campaign website. Welch served the Senate from 1981 to 1988, and during that time "he spearheaded legislative reforms in environment, tax, and education policy. Among his top accomplishments was his major role in the establishment of the Housing and Land Conservation Trust Fund, which has financed the construction of hundreds of units of affordable housing and the conservation of thousands of acres of Vermont farm and forest land," as explained on his campaign website.

Rainville, by contrast, comes to the race from a military background. According to her website, "She was elected Adjutant General of the Vermont National Guard on February 20, 1997, becoming the first woman in the 370-year history of the country's National Guard to serve as a state Adjutant General. As Adjutant General, she commanded the 3,800 members of the Vermont Army and Air National Guard, as well as served as the Commissioner of the Military Department, State of Vermont. She oversaw a combined federal and state budget in excess of $120 million with a full-time work force of some 900 state and federal employees."

Rainville has received awards and attention for her leadership role in the National Guard. According to McKenna, "After 9/11, when National Guard troops were ordered to the border, the Vermont National Guard sent troops to Canada. Initially the soldiers weren't allowed to be armed, and Rainville thought this was a bad decision. She had already gained the respect of her colleagues and was able to change the policy so they were armed." Many Vermonters, who saw more of their own National Guardsmen deployed to confront the war on terror than any other state, are especially familiar with Rainville's leadership skills.

Despite her moderate leanings, many Republicans still support Rainville. In fact, Rainville is so moderate that she is said to have vacillated between the Republican and Democratic parties before jumping on with the Republicans before the race began.

After joining, Rainville has had no qualms accepting enormous funds from the Republican party - even from conservative members. According to public records, the National Republican Campaign Committee has spent now nearly $170,000 on her campaign. Among the Republicans who have publicly voiced support for Rainville are First Lady Laura Bush and Sen. John McCain. At a fundraising dinner for Rainville in Burlington last week, McKenna heard McCain point out, "Republicans who worked in the military have a stronger credibility among fellow members," in reference to her experience as a
djutant general for the Vermont National Guard.

Welch, on the other hand, has earned his credibility over the many years he has been involved in Vermont politics and policy making. Welch has even had the experience of running for and losing an election. Welch may have lost 1988 primary for the U.S. House, but the event never hindered his aspirations. In regards to Welch losing an election almost two decades ago, Savage remarked, "He has a ton of experience and enormous respect from the legislature. He's in a different position this time."

Both candidates claim Vermont and America are ready for change, and both seek to provide that change.

Welch believes a change in leadership is essential, saying, "The question facing Vermonters in this race for Congress is clear - do they want to give one more vote to George W. Bush and the Bush Congress, or do they want to vote for a change of leadership and new direction."

Rainville was confident that her leadership skills will carry her to victory in reforming congress and all its shortcomings, saying "Serving in Congress is about public service. We need to take steps to keep Congress focused on the needs of the people and not on partisan agendas or the goals of special interest groups. The steps I have presented throughout this campaign - clean campaigns, ethics and budget reform, and term limits - work to establish a process that will help restore voters' faith in their elected officials."