WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-Auditor Tom Salmon Swaps Political Parties for 2010 Run

Auditor Tom Salmon Swaps Political Parties for 2010 Run

Montpelier, Vermont - September 8, 2009

     State Auditor Tom Salmon entered the statehouse Tuesday as a Democrat, only to announce he was leaving that party and joining the GOP.
     "I'm changing my political affiliation to align myself with a party more committed to the realities of our fiscal condition," he said, "and who I think have the abilities to manage the very real and troubling economic and social conditions which confront us not only today but over the next decade."
     Salmon said last session's budget process was "rife with deficiencies and dysfunction." He predicted poor planning would lead to tax increases, which would make the economy even worse.
     "It was very evident the state was out of balance in trying to respond to its fiscal challenges," he said. "So let me say simply that today is my fiscal wake-up call."
     Salmon's father was a Democratic governor in the 1970s. He said the party has changed since then and no longer reflected his values.
     "In many ways I'm not leaving the Democratic Party, the Democratic Party left me and tens of thousands of other people in a reunion with the Progressive Party and their values," Salmon said, "which are valid values, they just are not my values in relations to operating as a state political leader."
     State Republican Party leaders filled the press conference and welcomed him to the GOP.
     "I think this is a common sense move back to the center where the state and the people actually are," said Robert Roper, chairman of the Vt. Republican Party. "You've seen them purge the moderates out of their party over the past couple of cycles either through primaries or frustrated retirements. What you have left is a very narrowly focused, ideological group of people who are very much beholden to a few well funded and vocal special interest groups. But they no longer represent the mainstream interests of the state as a whole."
     Democratic House Speaker Shap Smith said he was disappointed.
     "I think the Democratic Party is a big tent party," he said. "We have people who are more progressive, and others who are more conservative. So I think we have room for most Vermonters and I am sad the auditor felt it didn't include him anymore."
     Robert Dempsey, executive director of the state Democratic Party, issued a statement noting his disappointment: "Auditor Salmon and his family have a long and storied history with the Democratic Party in this state and have enjoyed a great deal of electoral success with the help and support of the party and our dedicated activists. As shown during this past budget battle and again in his statement today, it is clear that the Auditor identifies himself with Republican Governor Jim Douglas and the 'Party of No-New Ideas.'"
     Salmon said he plans to run for auditor in 2010, but there is a 10 percent chance he'd run for governor instead. He said he'd wait until the state's lieutenant governor made a decision on his future.
     "At this point, Brian Dubie, if he were to choose to run, I would support him," Salmon said, "and I would not challenge him in a primary."
     Salmon was first elected auditor as a Democrat in 2006. The Republican who narrowly lost to him in the auditor's race in 2008 has also been suggested as a possible candidate for governor. Randy Brock, currently serving as a state senator representing Franklin County, says it's too early to decide whether he'll seek the top spot on the ballot next year.
     "Obviously there's a lot of moving parts right now," he said. "I've not made any decisions about what if anything I may do but I'm very happy serving the senate for Franklin County."

Kate Duffy - WCAX News