Dunne: decision on statewide run soon

Former State Senator Matt Dunne will decide on whether to run for statewide office in the next several weeks, he told PolitickerVT.com Wednesday.

“There are a number of personal issues that need to be resolved,” he said.

Dunne is considering a challenge to Republican Governor Jim Douglas or Republican Lieutenant Governor Brian Dubie.

“Taking on a statewide race is a significant challenge and not something that should be taken lightly,” he said.

Dunne, who has served four terms in the State House and two terms in the State Senate, ran against Dubie for the lieutenant governor’s seat in 2006. Dunne lost by a 51%-45% margin.

Since his loss, Dunne has been working with the Service Politics Institute, a non-profit that he helped to found. He has also worked for Google, helping to coordinate the company’s community affairs outreach.

The race for governor has so far attracted Progressive activist Anthony Pollina. On the Democratic side, longtime diplomat Peter Galbraith has strongly indicated that he is jumping in the race. Dunne had kind words for both men.

“There is a lot of excitement around Peter Galbraith,” Dunne said. “And for good reason.”

He said that Pollina has “served an important function as a gadfly in the best sense of the word,” achieving much in the grassroots community.

Dubie does not yet have a challenger for his seat.

Dunne still has the live Web site from his 2006 run, Mattdunne.com. The potential candidate says the site is currently in “hibernation.”