BRATTLEBORO — There will be several contested races on the ballot in Windham County this year, after candidates filed their nomination papers last week.
Topping the list is the race for the state senate seat being vacated by Senate President Pro Tem Peter Shumlin, D-Windham, who is currently one of five Democrats running for governor this year.
In the Democratic primary on Aug. 24, Sen. Jeannette White, D-Windham, Westminster Selectboard member and former state representative Toby Young and former U.S. ambassador Peter Galbraith of Townshend are running for the county's two senate seats.
Political newcomer Hilary Cooke, a Brattleboro health insurance executive, is seeking the Republican nomination for state senate.
There will be only one primary race for the House in the county - in Windham District 3-1 in Brattleboro.
Two Democrats, Laurie Cartwright, a local lawyer, and Valerie Stuart, who runs a public relations firm, are competing for the seat long held by Rep. Virginia Milkey, D-Brattleboro, who is stepping down. Republican Richard Morton also filed for the seat.
Brattleboro's other two state representatives - Sarah Edwards, P-Brattleboro, in Windham 3-3, and Rep. Mollie Burke, P-Brattleboro, in Windham 3-2, are both running unopposed for re-election in the Progressive Party's primary, both filed to run as write-in candidates in the Democratic primary.
In Windham 4, which encompasses Rockingham, Grafton, Windham, Athens, Brookline and a tiny slice of Westminster, incumbents Rep. Michael Obuchowski, D-Rockingham, and Rep. Carolyn Partridge, D-Windham, are running unopposed in the Democratic primary.Christopher Moore, a local lawyer, is challenging Obuchowski and Partridge as an independent in November,
With Rep. Patricia O'Donnell, R-Vernon, retiring from her Windham 1 seat, Democrat Richard Davis of Guilford and Republican Michael Hebert of Vernon are vying for their respective party's nomination.
In Windham-Bennington-Windsor-1, Rep. Oliver Olsen, R-Jamaica, has filed for election. Olsen, who was appointed in January to fill the unexpired term held by the late Rep. Richard Hube, R-Londonderry, will be opposed in November by Democrat Claire Trask of Londonderry.
Republicans will be challenging two other Democrats in November. Windham 6 Rep. Richard Marek, D-Newfane, faces Gaila Gulack of Townshend, while Windham-Bennington-1 Rep. John Moran, D-Wardsboro, has Geralyn Sniatkowski of Dover as his GOP opponent.
Running unopposed are Windham 5's longtime legislators, Rep. David Deen, D-Westminster, and Rep. Michael Mrowicki, D-Putney, and Windham-2 Rep. Ann Manwaring, D-Wilmington.
In the county races, retired Windham County Clerk Larry Robinson of Newfane is running as a Republican to fill one of two assistant judge positions. Incumbent Assistant Judge Patricia Duff of Brattleboro is seeking re-election, and Joseph Spano, another Brattleboro Democrat, also is running. Assistant Judge Mary Ann Clarkson is retiring.
Sheriff Keith Clark, currently serving with the Vermont National Guard in Afghanistan, also filed for a second four-year term. He is being challenged by Bill Manch of Vernon, a former deputy sheriff.
State's Attorney Tracy Kelly Shriver, appointed in 2005 to fill the unexpired term of longtime Windham County State's Attorney Dan Davis, is running unopposed in the Democratic primary for a full four-year term. Gwen Harris of Brattleboro will run against her in November as an independent.
In the statewide races, Democrats Susan Bartlett, Matt Dunne, Deb Markowitz, Doug Racine and Shumlin will square off in the gubernatorial primary, with the winner to face Lt. Gov. Brian Dubie, the lone Republican candidate. Also running is Progressive candidate Martha Abbott, independents Emily Payton of Putney, Dan Feliciano of Essex Junction and Dennis Steele of East St. Johnsbury, United States Marijuana party candidate Cris Ericson of Chester and independent socialist candidate Ben Mitchell of Westminster.
Incumbent Democrat-turned-Republican Thomas Salmon is being challenged by state Sen. Edward Flanagan, a Burlington Democrat, Doug Hoffer of the Progressive Party and Jerry Levy, a Liberty Union candidate from Brattleboro.
U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., faces challenges from Democrat Daniel Frelich of Wilmington, Republican Len Britton of Pomfret, Liberty Union's Peter Diamondstone of Brattleboro, independent Stephen Cain of Burlington and Ericson in his bid for another six-year term.
Democratic U.S. Rep. Peter Welch has five opponents, none of them Democrats. Going for his seat are Republicans Paul Beaudry of Swanton, John M. Mitchell of Rutland City and Keith Stern of Springfield; independent Gus Jaccaci of Thetford and Liberty Union's Jane Newton of Londonderry.