A Vermont judge has ruled that Martha Abbott is the
winner of the Progressive Party primary election for governor. Abbott
has withdrawn and won’t run in the general election. But under Vermont law, that doesn’t throw the race to the
second-place finisher, write-in candidate Annette Smith.
A recount in the Progressive Party primary
for governor continues, as officials in 14 counties carefully sort, separate
and tabulate the ballots. The counters gathered first thing in the
morning in courthouses around the state. For their troubles, they got $30, free
snacks, and an eye-straining chore of carefully examining each ballot.
Write-in
candidate Annette Smith asked for the re-count after a corrected vote tally
showed that Progressive Party Chairwoman Martha Abbott won the nomination by one vote.
We look at the Progressive Party and where it fits into Vermont’s
political landscape, the results of the Quebec provincial election and check back in with Moretown
Elementary School that was damaged heavily by Irene.
Burlington’s Progressive Party may be one of the most successful third
parties in the country, but it has run into a rough patch lately. For the
first time in decades, Progressives won’t have a candidate for
Burlington mayor.
Progressive Party leaders Rep. Chris Pearson and Sen. Anthony Pollina say tax increases on the wealthiest Vermonters would help close the state’s budget deficit, as opposed to cutting the budget for Human Services programs.