Jill Krowinski

Gov. Jim Douglas' re-election campaign demanded Monday that his Democratic gubernatorial challenger, House Speaker Gaye Symington, release her husband's personal financial information to the public.  

Symington, a Jericho resident, released her personal financial information last Thursday afternoon with her campaign finance report, but did not include information for her husband Chuck Lacy, a former chief operating officer for Ben and Jerry's.  

Vermont's last Democratic governor and Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean knows a thing or two about elections.

He's held consecutive positions in the Green Mountain State's government, from state representative, to lieutenant governor, and then serving as the governor for five consecutive terms -- the second-longest serving governor in Vermont's history -- before attempting a presidential bid in 2004.

And now Dean is lending some of his know-how to this year's Democratic gubernatorial candidate, House Speaker Gaye Symington.

MONTPELIER -- Although he's not facing a Democratic opponent right now, Republican Lt. Gov. Brian Dubie doesn't expect that his path to a fourth term will remain clear for much longer.

"I assume that I will have a strong, well-funded opponent," Dubie told PolitickerVT.com last week. "But competition makes you stronger and I'm looking forward to a spirited campaign."

There has been speculation over potential Democratic challengers for the state's No. 2 job but nobody has yet to make a formal announcement.

Jill Krowinski: Politicker PhotoBURLINGTON - Since taking the reigns of Gaye Symington's gubernatorial campaign nearly a month ago, former Vermont Democratic Party executive director Jill Krowinski says she's jumped right in after "quite a wild ride," she told PolitickerVT.com last week. "It was basically a change that happened overnight."

For a time, Krowinski said, her new post carried an awkward familiarity that she summed up as "same desk, different job."

Saturday's Dairy Days parade on Main Street in Enosburg Falls: Politicker PhotoENOSBURG FALLS - While boasting a population of a little under 3,000 people most of days of the year, this town just six miles south of the Canadian border can attract more than 15,000 visitors during its annual Dairy Days festival. And amid the parade, cow-milking contest, food and carnival rides, the festival plays host to current and aspiring lawmakers taking part in an opening round of politicking.

Though he was unable to attend this year's event, Lt. Gov. Brian Dubie told PolitickerVT.com last week: "It's the opening salvo to the political season."

Whether holding signs, banners or wearing t-shirts, stickers and buttons, candidates and volunteers made their way down Main Street in the 90-degree heat. Despite the high temperatures spectators lined the parade route, cheering for their candidate of choice and perhaps offering some indication for what's in store down the campaign trail.

Kristina Althoff, fresh off traveling the country with the presidential campaign of U.S. Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.), has been named interim executive director of the Vermont Democratic Party. The announcement comes as Jill Krowinski moves to manage former state House Speaker Gaye Symington's gubernatorial campaign.

It is unclear if this is a long-term move. Althoff worked last cycle with the Vermont Democratic House campaign.  

Vermont Democratic Party Executive Director Jill Krowinski will take a leave of absence from her current position to run the gubernatorial campaign of former House Speaker Gaye Symington, according to a joint announcement from the Symington campaign and state Democratic Party.

Jill Krowinski, executive director of the Vermont Democratic Party is urging state legislators to override Gov. Jim Douglas' veto of campaign finance legislation and the Instant Runoff Voting bill.

"The Vermont Democratic Party continues to support real campaign finance reform that will uphold the Vermont tradition of independent, grassroots campaigns, and we urge all legislators to stand up for their constituents and override this veto," Krowinski said in a statement.

Jill Krowinski, executive director of the Vermont Democratic Party doesn't see the legislature-approved National Popular Vote bill going very far.

"I'm going to be realistic," Krowinski said, "The governor is going to veto it."
While Gov. Jim Douglas has not "come straight out about [a veto], it's been pretty clear," Krowinski said.

Meanwhile, Rob Roper, the state Republican Party Chairman, said the plan was “bad for Vermont", but is less certain about a Douglas veto. "I know [Douglas] doesn't like the bill," said Roper, "but I haven't heard him utter the word".

The Burlington Free Press is reporting on the Democratic caucuses held around the state over the weekend.

“The Burlington caucus was one of 190 being staged on Saturday in communities around Vermont less than three weeks after Obama defeated Hillary Clinton in the state Democratic primary, winning 59 percent to Clinton's 39 percent.”