MIDDLEBURY — Democrat primary contests in the Addison-1 and Addison-4 House districts (see related stories) are not the only draws for voters this coming Tuesday, Aug. 9. Runoffs for U.S. Senator, governor, lieutenant governor, state treasurer and attorney general are also in play.
There’s also a Democrat primary for the position of Addison County High Bailiff.
Middlebury Democrats Ron Holmes and Peter Newton are vying for the party’s nomination in what has become a high-spirited race for a little-known position. According to state statutes, a high bailiff is an elected county officer who may serve writs that the county sheriff is unable to serve. If an arrest warrant is issued against the sheriff, the high bailiff may arrest the sheriff. If the sheriff is confined or the office of sheriff is vacant, the high bailiff carries out the duties of the sheriff until the sheriff is released from confinement or one is appointed and sworn into office. All are rare tasks that are seldom employed.
The winner of Tuesday’s Democrat primary will face Republican Charles Clark, Jr., also of Middlebury, in the Nov. 8 General Election.
All three of the high bailiff candidates have a past or present connection to the Addison County Sheriff’s Department as deputies.
In another matter of local interest, New Haven Democrat Taborri Bruhl is seeking at least 25 write-in endorsements on Aug. 9 in order to have his name placed on the Nov. 1 general election ballot to run for the Addison-5 House seat that represents Bridport, New Haven and Weybridge. Bruhl has decided to enter the race belatedly.
Here are the statewide primary contests to be decided on Aug. 9:
•  U.S. Senate: Cris Ericson of Chester is challenging incumbent U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., for the Democrat nomination for U.S. Senate.
•  Vermont Governor: Matt Dunne of Hartland, Cris Ericson of Chester, Peter Galbraith of Townsend, Sue Minter of Waterbury and H. Brooke Paige of Washington are seeking the Democrat nomination for governor. On the Republican side, incumbent Lt. Gov. Phil Scott of Berlin and Shelburne businessman Bruce Lisman are competing for the GOP’s nomination for governor.
•  Lieutenant Governor: Kesha Ram of Burlington, Shap Smith of Morristown and David Zuckerman of Hinseburg are seeking the Democrat nomination for lieutenant governor.
•  State Treasurer: Richard Dunne of Burlington is challenging incumbent state Treasurer Beth Pearce of Barre City for the Democrat nomination for treasurer.
•  Vermont Attorney General Democrat primary: T.J. Donovan of South Burlington and H. Brooke Paige of Washington are vying for the Democrat nomination for Vermont Attorney General.