The Burlington Free Press editorial page editors recommend Peter Shumlin for the Democratic nomination for governor of Vermont.

Our state is in the midst of one of the greatest economic challenges it has faced in a generation. Vermont’s next governor must be a strong leader who can work with the Legislature to get things done. Whether you agree with his positions, Shumlin’s record as Senate president pro tempore has shown him un- afraid to engage difficult issues and act decisively.

The newspaper has covered the election extensively from the opening announcements on. All candidates, including the unopposed Republican in the primary election, were asked to respond to 12 questions 12 weeks in a row. The answers ran in the Tuesday newspaper and online.

Our reporters interviewed all the Democratic candidates. The editors met with each candidate individually. The newspaper sponsored a debate. The candidates’ records and position papers were evaluated. We scoured their campaign websites, connected with them on Facebook and followed them on Twitter. Staffers attended numerous debates through the state.

Democrat Peter Shumlin presents a clear contrast to the Republican candidate, Brian Dubie.

Vermonters are entitled to an open and vigorous debate among the gubernatorial candidates leading up to the November election. Shumlin, a resident of Putney in Windham County, will bring the energy and spirit to the fall campaign to fully engage Dubie, who lives in Essex Junction in Chittenden County, in a way that will give voters the campaign they deserve.

Shumlin is a realist who fully understands the state’s struggles in the midst of a multi-year revenue shortfall. He has the experience to know that Vermont has passed the point where Montpelier can continue to balance the budget simply by cutting more or by hoping for an economic turnaround to restore revenues. He has the integrity to tell Vermonters about the hard work and sacrifices ahead.

He stood on his principles in presiding over the Senate override of Gov. Jim Douglas’ budget veto in 2009 — the first time in Vermont the Legislature overrode a governor’s budget veto.
Shumlin objected to the transfer of teacher pension obligations to the state Education Fund,
a move he says would have led to a sharp increase in property taxes.

He led the charge in passing marriage equality legislation and then, again, overriding the
governor’s veto to make Vermont the first state to recognize same-sex marriage without court intervention and a leader in protecting the rights of all citizens.

He kept his word to hold Vermont Yankee owner Entergy accountable by delivering the Senate’s overwhelming vote to deny the nuclear power plant an extension of its operating license beyond 2012.

The tasks before the next governor will prove to be equal to all the skill and dedication reflected in Shumlin’s legislative record.

The next governor must work with the Legislature to solve the state’s fiscal problem, finding ways to make up for the year-by-year revenue shortfall while meeting Vermonters need for services during hard times.

The next governor must invest in the state’s future prosperity and lay the ground work for opportunities.

The next governor must lead a cultural change in all levels of government in Vermont, where too much happens behind closed doors out of expediency or habit. The principle of open government must never by laid aside, and access — a vital step to accountability — must be restored to the norm.

Peter Shumlin rises above his four competitors — Susan Bartlett, Matt Dunne, Deb Markowitz and Doug Racine — from one of the strongest fields of Democratic gubernatorial hopefuls in recent memory.

The past 10 months have been a startling exercise in bringing the electoral process down to the grass roots, where direct access to each candidate by voters became the rule. In dozens of debate and forums, countless rallies, news conferences and house parties, just about any Vermonter who wanted to meet a candidate or hear what had a chance to find out what he or she had to say in person.

The campaign has exposed few serious differences among the candidates when it comes to core beliefs and broad policy direction. All five Democrats pledge to face down the budget  deficit, while making it clear their allegiance to social programs to help the needy and level the playing field for all Vermonters.

That makes character, administrative approach and governance philosophy key factors in determining who would make the best governor of the five hopefuls.

Peter Shumlin has shown character, demonstrated decisive leadership, and is attuned to the grass-roots concerns of Vermonters. He has earned the privilege of representing the Democrats on the November ballot as the party’s choice for governor.

http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20100815/OPINION01/8150305/Burlington-Free-Press-makes-its-endorsement-for-Democratic-gubernatorial-primary