BY EUAN BEAR epending on the outcome of the DNovember elections, the gay caucus in the Vermont House of Representatives could double. Jason Lorber, a Democrat run- ning for the Burlington seat vacated by Progressive Steve Hingten (running for lieu- tenant governor), and Steve Howard, a Democrat running from Rutland, would join incumbent Democrats Bill Lippert of Hinesburg and Robert Dostis of Waterbury, assuming they are re-elected. In Vermont the entire legislature and all holders of statewide office face re-election every two years. ‘ A consultant for nonprofit organiza- tions, particularly in healthcare, Lorber is also a stand-up comedian. He moved to Vermont from California. two years ago. His partner, Nathaniel Lew, is a professor at St. Michael’s College. . Lorber and incumbent Democrat . John Tracy face «two Progressive opponents in the two-seat Chittenden 3-3 district: Barbara Nolfi, a long-time resident and activist and for- mer four-tenn member of the Burlington City Council, and Beckie Taylor, a relative newcom- er to Burlington, having moved here four years ago. No Republicans are running in the district. He cites health care as his primary issue. “Healthcare comes up over and over in conversations door to door,” Lorber said. “People in this district talk about how they have to choose between having healthcare or buying groceries. The first step is to acknowl- edge the value of having everyone insured for healthcare. My background is in working with national, statewide, regional and local organi- zations on healthcare issues.” Incumbent Democratic Rep. Bill Lippert, faces Republican Margery Sharpe, also of Hinesburg. Lippert is a veteran of four-plus terms in the House, first appointed in 1994 by then-Govemor Howard Dean, and re-elected in his own right. Sharpe has been active locally in Hinesburg with the Lions Club and the Farmers’ Market. Lippert said he feels he has a strong record to run on. Looking ahead, he wants to t in t muntans Gay Men Run For VT House and Senate Democratic state Senate candidate Ed Flanagan (left) with his partner Issac Lustgarten. Flanagan could be VT’s firstgay state Senator. work on issues of mental health, substance abuse, healthcare, and HIV/AIDS. “I’ve spent a great deal of time and energy fighting for [equal] marriage and against harassment. I will be redirecting some of my attention toward healthcare issues.” He cited the “deteriorating” system of substance abuse and accessible men- tal health services and characterized the de-cer- tification of the State Hospital in Waterbury as “emblematic” of a broken system. Incumbent Democrat Robert Dostis lives in Waterbury and represents a district that straddles the Washington and Chittenden County line, including Huntington, Waterbury, Duxbury, and Buel’s Gore. The two-tenn repre- sentative has been campaigning almost since degreeat ‘Vermontsehool, fol- » o lowed by -asum. mer course at {7 " the moment the legislature adjourned, going » door to door in his wide-spread and mountain- ous district. When he’s not in the legislature, he is director of the Vermont Campaign to End Childhood Hunger, a position he has held for 5 years. c connects particularly strongly to youth and childhood issues, having spent time in his own childhood in the fostercare system. Dostis is one of only two legislators nation- wide who is a nutritionist, which gives him a unique perspective on health issues. The issue he hears repeatedly in his door-to-door campaigning is early education and affordable childcare. His record in the last session of the legislature was established in the 1 A Envimnmentalfiaw int. is f? tbuilt an and.iVen;i1ontr'co'nsti-f. if ' I , tutions: ‘fl will assign stafiiattorneys to represent the people in cases where Commerce Committee, where he was vice chair. “We have focused on the environment, ‘ responsible development — not sprawl — con- centrated in village centers. What we_need is renewable energy, windpower, conservation.” Steve Howard, at former Democratic member of the Vermont House, has been a ten- ant organizer in Rutland, and was working on highway safety issues nationally. His primary campaign issues are economic reform for the middle class and universal healthcare. “It is unfair to employers to have to bear expense of healthcare,” Howard said. He has been cam- paigning door to door since June and says he’s finding and registering lots of previously unin- volved citizens. ‘ In the Senate A Former state auditor Ed Flanagan hopes to become4\/ermont’s first openly gay Senator. If , he succeeds, it would not be his first ground- breaking office. When he was auditor, he was the country’s first openly gay state elected ofi'i- cial. Flanagan was elected auditor in 1992, came out publicly in 1995, and continued to hold the office until he left to run against then- Republican U.S. Senator James Jeffords in 2000 and was defeated in a lopsided vote. In 2002, Flanagan ran for state treasurer against fellow Democrat and former state Senator Jeb Spaulding, who won both the primary and the election. Since then Flanagan has been practic- ing law. Flanagan is one of a six-member Democratic slate facing four Republicans for six Senate seats from Chittenden County. Flanagan’s recent experience with nursing homes — his mother was a resident while heal- ing from injuries suffered in a car accident last year — has led him to embrace elder and health. care as significant issues. In a spring letter to friends and supporters, he cited drug and insur- ance costs, support for small business, and liv- able wages as among his concerns. ‘ _ While campaigning this fall, Flanagan will also be teaching students at Champlain College in a course called “Social Injustice in a Diverse Society.” The course, which examines prejudice against marginalized groups, was set up before the former auditor knew he would be running for office. V writes on her j W‘ enough to ‘know-,somethingand young 1} The only other LGBT candidate we . could identify as running for major office is,Republican.Karen Ker-in, run- ning in a three-way primaiy for attor- ney general. She faces Republicans ‘ Dennis Carver and Marianne Kennedy. ~ The general election in November will [also be a three-way race, between ‘ incumbent Democrat William Sorrell, . Progressive Boots Wardinski, and the successful Republican candidate. Kerin has identified as a transwomari, not through choice but because of t » medically necessary treatments related to cancer. Within the last ten years, she, earneda Master’s in 9 Pepperdiiie in dispute resolution, ‘and. ‘ ,a,n,LLM(L_egum Magister) in liuman ‘ o rights and international lawfrom the Universityof Nottingllarn, England. Her legal experience includes a clerk- ship with the Rutland Public Defender and consultancies in treaty law. ‘ According to her website, Kerin’s campaign is based on protecting from . encroachmentthe liberties and rights liberty are threatened in the-. C_0\lI'IS“. ., to review proposed legisla- W tion to ensure that liberties are not statutorily infringed ...,{and] to review existing statutes, rules and regulations . to provide the legislature and the ~ A administration with suggestions to restore liberties, where they have been diminished.” . . l ' At 60 years of age, she - enough to do«soi1/iething about the J 2 .. threats to liberty? » - . . » . - I “To read more, go to, - www.kerinO4.us; Only Kennedyiis list- ed as an announced candidate for attorney general on» the official party website (www.vtgop.org), and her campaign treasurer is listed. as Walter , Freed, the now-retired Speaker of the -J House. Carver confirmed by phone that he is still a candidate. V