Thomas Costello

"Change" has become a catchphrase for every politician from the Democratic Party's presumptive nominee, U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, to Vermont's Republican governor, Jim Douglas. 

But change is something Thomas ‘Tom' Costello, a Brattleboro attorney and former Democratic state representative, takes very seriously.

"We had no one running for lieutenant governor at the time," Costello said in an interview with PoltickerVT.com Thursday. "I thought I could make a difference in the present administration, and this was the place I could do it."

Northfield businessman Nate Freeman: Campaign photoThe Democratic primary in the lieutenant governor's race is shaping up to be a tale of two very different candidates.

On one side is 62-year-old Thomas Costello, a Brattleboro attorney who has moved in and out of state politics for more than 30 years, serving two terms in the state House in the mid-1970s and three terms in the 1990s. He has chaired numerous committees while in the House and worked with gubernatorial candidate and House Speaker Gaye Symington during his latter years as a state representative. A decorated Vietnam veteran, Costello also worked with various community organizations in his town.

On the other side is Nate Freeman, a 39-year old single father and upholster from Northfield. His limited political experience includes serving as a school board member and a 2006 bid for the state house, when he fell about six points short of Republican Rep. Anne Donahue.

Born and raised in Vermont, Freeman has spent most of his life in the state. At the age of 21 and 19 credits shy of a Bachelor's degree in English from the University of Vermont, Freeman launched a life-altering journey around North America with nothing more than a Mobil gas card, $180, and a small motorcycle.

Vermont Democrats had no candidate for lieutenant governor just over one week ago. As of this weekend, Democrats now have two to choose from.

Thomas Costello, a 62-year-old former state representative and Brattleboro lawyer, announced Sunday afternoon that he would challenge Nate Freeman for the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor, in the hopes of unseating Republican incumbent Brian Dubie in November.