Emily Peyton (Reformer file photo) (Zachary P. Stephens)
BRATTLEBORO — While the names “Shumlin” and “Milne” dominate talk of Vermont’s gubernatorial campaign, area voters will recognize two other names on the Nov. 4 ballot.
Peter Diamondstone of Dummerston is representing the Liberty Union Party, which he helped found more than 40 years ago. And Emily Peyton of Putney — though she lost in the primary as a Republican — is running in the general-election as an independent.
Both are veterans of multiple bids for political office, and they’re taking the opportunity to expound upon their ideals while also acknowledging that they don’t stand much chance of gaining state government’s top administrative job.
“I have to do what I have to do,” Diamondstone said.
Peter Diamondstone (Reformer file photo)
“Let somebody else decide whether it’s effective or not.”
Diamondstone and Peyton are two of the seven candidates for Vermont governor. Incumbent Democrat Peter Shumlin is seeking his third term, and Republican Scott Milne of Pomfret is considered Shumlin’s top challenger.
Also on the ballot are Libertarian Dan Feliciano of Essex; Independent Cris Ericson of Chester; and Independent Bernard Peters of Irasburg.
Diamondstone was instrumental in creating the Liberty Union Party, which defines itself as a nonviolent socialist organization. The first principle in the party’s platform, which is available at www.libertyunionparty.
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org, says “government ought to move in the direction of assuring that the wealth and resources of the world will be used to provide a materially secure life for all.”
Diamondstone challenges the notion that there is a significant distinction between the two major parties, so he doesn’t like the term “third party.” He also denies that he is “running” for office.
“It’s a candidacy. It’s not a sport,” he said.
He has been a candidate for public office more than 20 times and said there was no particular reason why he chose the governor’s office this year.
“The issues are the same. It doesn’t matter which office,” Diamondstone said. “The issue is, how do we use our resources. One of them is labor. Capitalism says abuse it, and socialism says use it.”
Liberty Union candidates oppose war, and Diamondstone said he has been talking about a “zero military” budget for years. When considering the U.S.government’s military aid to other nations, “you can’t separate that from the fact that we don’t have enough money for education,” he said. “We don’t have enough money for Medicare.”
Vermont is moving toward a universal, publicly funded, single-payer health-care system. But Diamondstone says that plan doesn’t go far enough, arguing instead for implementation of completely “socialized medicine.”
“They’re moving toward maybe a payment system that’s different,” he said. “But as long as there’s private management — Blue Cross/Blue Shield — they’re never going to get it figured out.”
Diamondstone has other visions for Vermont’s future, including “decoupling” from the federal income tax, “which is biased in favor of the wealthy, and then taxing people at a fair rate.”
“I’ve also been advocating for a land-use plan that would bar use of Vermont land, air and water for growth of genetically modified organisms,” he said.
That links with Diamondstone’s view that industry and consumerism is destroying the environment. In particular, he rails against the use of plastic.
And he likely will continue to do so regardless of the results on Nov. 4.
“Voters don’t seem very interested,” Diamondstone said. “They’ve heard so much so many times before that listening to it is making them nutty. Unless we get off this track of expansion — create more jobs, bring in more industry — we’re doomed.”
Though Peyton has not appeared on ballots as many times as Diamondstone has, she also has become a frequent candidate: This is her third run for governor as an independent.
Peyton tried the major-party game this summer as a Republican candidate. She gained 1,060 votes but came in third behind Steve Berry (1,106) and Milne (11,486).
Though Peyton didn’t particularly identify with Republican values, she had hoped to gain some additional exposure by participating in the primary. In a recent interview, though, she didn’t sound as if that strategy had been effective; in fact, Peyton hinted that she may veer away from the political scene.
“I’m going to find a way that’s easier for me to get my message out,” Peyton said. “I think that the current political model is outdated. I’d like to encourage our next generation to develop a more-participatory democracy.”
Peyton (www.emilypeyton.org) said she has not been doing any heavy-duty campaigning for the general election, saying the drive for a statewide office can be “financially draining” without the benefit of public financing that she could use to hire staff.
“I’m not going all out, pushing myself, because I need to preserve my own well-being,” Peyton said. “And I’m getting prepared for the next phase of life for me.”
That will include further work on her key issue — continued education about hemp and its potential uses. Though federal law still prohibits cultivation of the plant, Vermont in 2013 adopted a law authorizing hemp cultivation and production.
Peyton is a registered hemp-grower, and she believes strongly that the plant can be used in a variety of ways to boost manufacturing, create jobs and cut energy use.
“There is a group of people around the state who are interested in restoring hemp agriculture,” Peyton said.
Peyton also has backed the idea of a state bank, and she is excited by a recent idea to create regional banks that could be cooperatively owned.
“This gives us another model for creating a more fair economy,” she said.
Encountering such ideas, Peyton said, has been a positive part of her campaigns for governor.
“I don’t like the adversarial, competitive (system). I’m not an adversarial person,” Peyton said. “I get all my energy from people encouraging me. (But) the solutions — I don’t think that they’ve really gotten out to as many people as they should.”
Mike Faher can be reached at mfaher@reformer.com or 802-254-2311, ext. 275. Follow him on Twitter @MikeReformer.
Two Windham County residents vie to become Vermont governor
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