Governor-elect Vows To Focus On Creating Jobs

(Host) Governor-elect Peter Shumlin says his new administration will focus on helping middle class Vermonters and creating jobs.

Shumlin emerged as the winner in a close and intense election. The Democrat is assembling a transition team, and one of its first jobs is to develop a state budget that addresses a projected $110 million dollar deficit.

VPR's John Dillon has more:

(Shumlin) "Thank you so much! You did it!"

(Dillon) The man who will soon be governor

appeared before a cheering crowd of supporters, and thanked them profusely. But then he reminded them of the work ahead.

He recalled meeting two women on the campaign trail in Fair Haven, one wanted to start a small business, the other had recently lost her job. He said their stories of the struggles facing middle class Vermonters captured the motivation behind his campaign.

(Shumlin) "They're fearful that they cannot send their kids to college, that they cannot pay their mortgages, that their dreams in Vermont to succeed may not happen as they hoped. That's who we're going to fight for every single day for the next two years to make their lives better... And those women in Fair Haven are coming with us!"

(Dillon) During the campaign and again in his victory speech, Shumlin promised to deliver broadband internet service to every part of the state. He pledged to support higher education and change the state tax structure to promote job growth. But first his transition team has to be assembled. And the team's immediate priority will be to write a budget that addresses a projected $110 million dollar budget deficit.

Formal appointments to the team will come later. But those advising the transition now include campaign manager Alexandra MacLean, Lamoille Senator Susan Bartlett, state treasurer Jeb Spaulding, former Governor Howard Dean and Elizabeth Bankowski, a top official in the administration of former governor Madeleine Kunin.

Shumlin promised to provide more details at an upcoming Statehouse news conference.

The governor-elect thanked outgoing Governor Jim Douglas for his promise to make the transition as smooth as possible. He also thanked his opponent, Lieutenant Governor Brian Dubie.

(Shumlin) "For his graciousness, for his extraordinary service to this state as lieutenant governor, and for his commitment to Vermonters. I was his friend before this campaign; we'll be friends going forward. And I thank Brian for his service to this great state."

(Dillon) Shumlin won by roughly 35-hundred votes out of 231,000 cast. Shumlin said the momentum began to go his way in the last few weeks of the campaign. That's when he said his staff and volunteers assembled what he called the most successful get-out-the-vote effort in state history.

For VPR News, I'm John Dillon.