Honesty debated between Vermont gov candidates
Dave GramVermont's two major gubernatorial candidates entered the home stretch of a bitter fight on Saturday by accusing one another of low blows during their 13th and final debate.
Democrat Peter Shumlin and Republican Brian Dubie accused one another of being dishonest in campaign ads and earlier debates in characterizing one another's positions.
Shumlin complained about ads from Dubie, the state's lieutenant governor, that cite a survey of lawmakers by the weekly Burlington newspaper Seven Days. The paper sent out 400 surveys, got 30 voluntary responses and found that Shumlin, the Democratic leader of the Senate, had the most respondents — 12 — labeling him "the most ethically challenged" lawmaker.
"I do not believe either of us is ethically challenged," Shumlin said. "Why do we continue to talk about ethical challenges when we know we're both honest?"
That came moments after Shumlin said Vermonters were "asking, why is Brian Dubie telling so many distortions and lies about Peter Shumlin's character?"
Dubie attacked Shumlin for what he said were three serious lapses in judgment. One was Shumlin being questioned by authorities at the Burlington airport in 2002 after joking about someone having a bomb in a shoe; a second was joking with a state trooper during a speeding stop about whether the trooper might become his driver when he is governor.
The third concerned allegations that Shumlin had campaigned at the funeral of a "fallen Marine," something Shumlin strongly denied.
On the issues, both said they would resist calls to dip into the state's rainy day fund to fill a budget gap estimated at $112 million for the coming year.
Dubie said he would support state police getting stun guns, while Shumlin said he had not made up his mind on that issue.
Dubie highlighted his jobs plan, which calls for cutting taxes and loosening some regulations to encourage businesses to support jobs.
Shumlin replied that Dubie's plan would give $250 million in unneeded tax breaks "to the 1,400 wealthiest Vermonters, those making more than $373,000 a year."
Shumlin emphasized his experience as a business owner who has made payroll and managed a bottom line. He also talked about "working twice as hard" to overcome dyslexia.
Dubie pointed to his experience in the Vermont National Guard and Air Force Reserve.
The hour-long debate aired on WCAX-TV.
Dubie and Shumlin are seeking to succeed Gov. Jim Douglas, a popular Republican who is not seeking a fifth term. The most recent poll shows the candidates running about even.