(Host) Incumbent Republican governor Jim Douglas was reelected last night to another two years in office.
Douglas defeated his Democratic challenger Scudder Parker by more than a 15-point margin.
Douglas told his supporters in his victory speech that he thinks his re-election is a clear mandate for his “affordability agenda.”
VPR’s Bob Kinzel reports:
(Kinzel) There were some nervous moments for the governor’s supporters as the first results came in last night. There were indications that a strong anti Republican mood in the U.S. Senate and U.S. House races might filter down to other statewide contests.
But as more and more towns reported their election results, it became clear that Douglas would win re-election by a substantial margin.
Douglas told a cheering crowd that his top priority for his third term in office would be the passage of his so-called affordability agenda.
It’s an agenda that includes property tax reform, more affordable housing, lower health care costs and programs to help more families pay for higher education at Vermont colleges:
(Douglas) “So I’m so proud of what we’ve done. I’m proud of the progress we’ve made. But we can and must do better. That’s why this campaign is centered on the affordability agenda. And I’ve received overwhelming support from the people of Vermont endorsing this vision for an affordable Vermont. It is a clear mandate for Vermont to become an affordable place to live work and raise an family.”
(Kinzel) Democrat Scudder Parker told his supporters that he’s proud of the issues that were raised by his campaign during this election:
(Parker) “So what I want to thank you for is your passion, your vision, your commitment, your continual creativity at the local level. This is what I have found around the state of Vermont. This is what we build on – to build a political base that can make us a leader again in this nation and in this world. Vermont can be a leader. I want you to keep working!”
(Kinzel) Douglas will once again face strong Democratic majorities in the Vermont House and Senate. The governor says this situation means that Republicans and Democrats will have to work together in order to pass meaningful legislation during the 2007 session.
For Vermont Public Radio I’m Bob Kinzel in Montpelier.