By Guy Page
Vermont House Incumbents Rep. Valerie Stuart of Brattleboro and Rep. Paul Belaski of Windsor were defeated in contested primaries yesterday, according to the Vermont Secretary of State elections website. Also, appointed incumbent Rutland County Sen. David Soucy failed to secure nomination.
Four-termer Stuart lost by a 70-to-27 percent margin to social worker Emilie Kornheiser, who supports a liveable wage, climate change activism, and better health care, the Brattleboro Reformer reported today.
Guy Page is affiliated with the Vermont Energy Partnership, the Vermont Alliance for Ethical Healthcare, and Physicians, Families & Friends for a Better Vermont.
Belaski (25 percent) finished third in a two-seat district representing Hartland, Windsor and West Windsor to incumbent John Bartholomew (30 percent) and challenger Zachariah Ralph (30 percent).
Soucy gained 10 percent of the vote in a five-person race for the GOP nominations to the three-seat Rutland County Senate district. Clear winners are incumbent Brian Collamore (22 percent) and James McNeil (17 percent). With one district still unreported as of 10:45 am Wednesday, Edward Larson holds a 50-vote lead over Terry Williams for the third nomination. Incumbent state Sen. Peg Flory did not seek re-election. Soucy was appointed by Gov. Phil Scott in June, 2017 to fill the seat left open when Kevin Mullin was appointed to lead the Green Mountain Care Board.
More coverage on contested nominations can be seen online here.
Newcomers who won in the primary and will be on their party’s ticket in November include Republican Woodman Page (no relation to the author), who will run for the Newport/Derby House seat now held by departing Rep. Gary Viens and running incumbent Mike Marcotte.
Andrew Perchlik will join incumbents Ann Cummings and Anthony Pollina as Democratic candidates for Washington County State Senate. And, Patrick Seymour received the GOP nomination for the Lyndonville House seat held by departing Rep. Richard Lawrence.
Statehouse Headliners is intended primarily to educate, not advocate. It is e-mailed to an ever-growing list of interested Vermonters, public officials and media. Guy Page is affiliated with the Vermont Energy Partnership; the Vermont Alliance for Ethical Healthcare; and Physicians, Families and Friends for a Better Vermont.
