March 23, 2016
Vermont

Galbraith enters Democratic primary for governor of Vermont

By Stewart Ledbetter | WPTZ | Mar 22, 2016 | www.wptz.com

Former state Sen. Peter Galbraith of Townshend has announced his candidacy for governor, outlining a platform that includes a boost in the minimum wage and an end to special interest tax breaks.

Galbraith, 65, is a former U.S. ambassador to Croatia who was elected in 2010 to the first of two terms in the Senate representing Windham County.

“Elections are about choices,” Galbriath told reporters at the Statehouse Tuesday. “My candidacy gives voters the choice to support a higher minimum wage, to eliminate special interest tax breaks and subsidies, to expand publicly funded health care, to ban corporate campaign contributions and to protect our ridgelines” from any further large-scale wind turbine development.

Galbraith was a sometimes caustic figure in the Senate, forcing votes on issues he says colleagues would have preferred to avoid, like banning corporate money in Vermont political campaigns.

“I make no apology for standing up for progressive values,” Galbraith said. “When you take some of the positions I’ve taken, you annoy special interests.”

He is the third Democrat to enter the 2016 race, joining former transportation secretary Sue Minter and former Google executive Matt Dunne.

Each of his rivals has raised roughly half a million dollars, but Galbraith says he’s not worried he’ll be able to compete. He also isn’t ruling out funding some of his own campaign.

Two Republicans, Lt. Gov. Phil Scott and Shelburne businessman Bruce Lisman, are also in the race.

Democratic Gov. Peter Shumlin is not seeking re-election this year.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2016/03/23/galbraith-enters-democratic-primary-for-governor-of-vermont/