First at Chandler, then Mari-Castle

Gov. Dean Faces the Music

Gov. Howard Dean encountered history, present-day politics, and future politics Monday during a visit to Randolph.

Dean spoke at Mari-Castle on Main Street to about 120 supporters in an event organized by the Orange County Democratic Committee. Mari-Castle was the home of Albert B. Chandler when he lived in Randolph—and so it was only appropriate that the governor visited Chandler Music Hall on his way. He got a quick tour organized by the Trustees and the Chandler Foundation and marveled at how much activity there was on a Monday night.

Youth and staff from the White River Craft Center showed off their work to the governor in the Gallery. In the Music Hall itself, students from the Sharon Academy interrupted their rehearsal of "West Side Story" to give an impromptu run-through of "Officer Krupke"—at Dean’s request.

At Mari-Castle, now the home of Richard and Phyllis Forbes, Dean ran into current politics in the form of two protesters with a surgical mask and signs. They were decrying the governor’s recent statements that Vermont will need more power sources in a few years and may need to build a coal-fired electric plant.

At the Mari-Castle event, Dean moved away from that statement, admitting that he had used it to get attention—which he certainly did. Vermont will indeed need more power sources, he said, since Vermont Yankee is commissioned for only 12 more years, and the Hydro-Quebec contract likewise must be renegotiated. Vermont Yankee produces about a third of Vermont’s power.

Any new plant isn’t likely to be coal-fired, the governor said Monday, but might be wood-fired or gas-fired.

Racine Endorsed

Later in the evening came a surprise endorsement for Lt. Gov. Doug Racine to succeed Gov. Dean in 2002—assuming the governor steps down. State Auditor Elizabeth Ready enthusiastically offered her support to Racine as the next Democratic candidate for governor.

Though it’s a long way to the governorship race, Ready’s public support at this time is meaningful. As one of five Democrats elected statewide, she might be considered a candidate herself; and her statemennt must have disappointed Sen. Peter Shumlin, the other most likely Democratic candidate for governor. Ready is a former state senator who has worked with both Shumlin and Racine.