We’re into the home stretch of the first phase to elect a new governor, and The Burlington Free Press is now looking forward to the November finale. We are preparing questions for the Republican and Democratic candidates who face off in the General Election. For the first time, the answers to these questions will run on the front page of The Burlington Free Press every week. We believe the General Election is that important to Vermonters.
As a matter of background, this newspapers has for the past four gubernatorial campaigns posed such questions and ran them solely inside the newspaper on the editorial page. We have also posed similar questions to candidates in other key races, and we will continue this practice. The responses provide a written measure for understanding the candidates and the issues in this election. This foundation remains a part of the public record.
While the General Election is important, so is the Primary election.
For the Aug. 24 primary, we asked the most questions ever — 12 — of the five Democratic and the single Republican candidates. The last answers directed toward the Primary Election candidates will be published Aug. 17. Answers to the other questions were published weekly in the Tuesday newspaper and then posted on our political blog. You can find the questions and answers on vt.Buzz.
The Democrats finally face off in the Primary Election in less than two weeks after a very long campaign which will include at least 60 debates before it’s over. This has been the most active campaign with the most forums I can remember in my 35 years in newspapers. The five Democratic candidates have set a bar for personal engagement that wil be difficult to exceed. In this respect, this was an historical campaign.
They will this Saturday, for instance, meet in two forums in the same city on the same day four hours apart. They have traveled the entire state, from Craftsbury Common to Manchester to Brattleboro to Burlington, and spent many hours in your communities talking to constituents face to face.
The candidates deserve applause for putting in so much time. They now deserve your attention in the primary election. Aug. 24 is your time to show that you care about Vermont, that you understand your civic responsibility and will engage in democracy.
Beyond the primary, we are sending out questions to the candidates to prepare for the next round. We begin running the answers a week after the primary election on Aug. 31. This will provide at least nine weeks of questions to the candidates and provide one additional layer of written information for voters to consider.
We will give the answers front – page prominence until the General Election.
This is your state, and your state for two years has been undergoing trying days. Those days are not behind us. The candidates are being asked to deal with what seems impossible — make significant cuts in state budgets and yet plan a future of prosperity.
You the voter ought to provide guidance.
Vote for today. Vote for the future.
Vote on Aug. 24, Primary Election Day.
