Randy Brock officially announces candidacy for state Senate seat

Former state Auditor Randy Brock (R-Swanton) officially announced his bid to represent Franklin County in the state Senate. 

Brock issued the statement this afternoon - a few hours after PolitickerVT.com received information that the former auditor would pursue the state Senatorial seat. He emphasized his past leadership skills and his determination to create jobs for Vermonters, fix energy policy, make housing affordable, reform property taxes and find ways to keep health care costs manageable.   

"Now more than ever, we need new, energetic leadership in the Legislature to deal with some of the most serious fiscal challenges that Vermont has ever faced," said Brock in a statement. "I am ready to roll up my sleeves to help tackle these issues, and I believe I have the track record of working across party lines to solve real problems."

Tayt Brooks, executive director of the Vermont Republican Party, said of today's announcement, "We're very excited here."  He noted that the Franklin County Senate District, located in the northwestern area of the state, is a district where races were "traditionally close."  In 2006, Alan Parent, Franklin District's Republican candidate for state Senator lost to Democrats Don Collins and Sara Kittell by less than 300 and 600 votes respectively. 

Brock had initially anticipated challenging current state Auditor Tom Salmon (D-Rockingham), who won a narrow victory against the Republican in 2006, but instead suspended his campaign for auditor after Salmon, who is a Navy reservist, was deployed earlier this month for military duty in the Middle East.  

"Although I seriously considered a bid for auditor this year, I decided that it would not be appropriate to run against someone who was serving his country in a combat zone and who would be unable to campaign," Brock, who is a Vietnam Veteran, said. "I also feel that I could be of greater service in the Senate, where I could work on crafting solutions to Vermont's fiscal crisis."

Brooks also said that Vermont Republicans were actively searching for a candidate to run against Salmon, but had not yet decided who would run for the position. 

Brock, who lives in Swanton with his wife and daughter, currently chairs the Vermont Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association and is a member of the association's national board. He also joined the board of Vermont Law School and is a trustee of the Vermont Historical Society.