House Speaker Shap Smith announced Wednesday in a statement that he is running for lieutenant governor.
Smith, a Democrat, said he wants to use the part-time position as a platform to bring people together “to talk about tough issues,” including the high cost of health care and higher education. He said he wants to make sure Vermonters who “work hard” earn a livable wage. Smith is also troubled by the state’s aging demographic, and he wants to find a way to bring more young people to Vermont.
Smith said he would work with the members of the Senate and the House “to identify issues we could explore.” At the beginning of the last biennium, Smith brought together two special task forces that looked at economic development and school board consolidation. He envisions using a similar model as lieutenant governor.
The task force on school board consolidation was a springboard for Act 46, a controversial law that requires school districts to consider pooling resources and merging governance structures. Smith said some day Act 46 will be viewed as a historic change in the state’s education system.
The lieutenant governor is responsible for presiding over the Senate and helps to select chairmen for committees in the Senate as a member of the Committee on Committees.
“It’s a role you can define however it can be used,” Smith said.
Smith, who served as speaker for eight years, dropped out of the race for governor last fall after his wife, Melissa Volansky, was diagnosed with breast cancer. Smith said his wife, a primary care doctor in Stowe, is back at work.
“I wasn’t willing to consider anything unless Melissa’s treatment was complete and doing well,” Smith said. “She understands how much I love doing this. There’s no doubt that it’s been a difficult time, but things are going in the right direction.”
Smith is getting a late start in the race for lieutenant governor, and he faces two strong challengers — Sen. David Zuckerman, P/D-Chittenden, and Rep. Kesha Ram, D-Burlington. Both announced their candidacies last fall. The only declared Republican in the race is Randy Brock, a former state auditor and senator, who lost a race for governor in 2012 against Gov. Peter Shumlin.
Smith said he is “going to work his butt off,” to try to win the primary Aug. 9, adding, “People know I have been able to get things done.”
Many in the Legislature, Republicans and Democrats alike, view Smith as an effective leader who has a reputation for being a straight shooter and consensus builder.
Smith is a partner in the law firm Dinse Knapp McAndrew and specializes in insurance litigation. He is taking a leave of absence from the firm while he runs for office.
Shortly after Smith’s bid became official, Zuckerman released a statement criticizing Smith’s positions.
“I look forward to hearing an explanation for (Smith’s) hesitation on issues where grass-roots Vermonters and many of us in the Legislature had to push for his support: Marijuana reform, universal health care, livable wages, GMO labeling and paid sick days are some of the examples that come to mind,” Zuckerman said.
Zuckerman added that he was disappointed Smith had not supported Bernie Sanders for president, declaring, “Vermonters are ready for bold leadership on the important issues of our time, and I look forward to providing that leadership.”
Ram chose to highlight her platform rather than directly comment on Smith’s entrance into the race.
Ram, who could be expected to seek a number of the same donors as Smith, said his bid had not reshaped her thinking on the race and that she planned to continue fighting.
“We have been traveling the state on the campaign trail and talking about my vision for being lieutenant governor for 24 weeks now,” Ram said. “We intend to keep doing that. It’s going really well.”