Re-count upholds Democrat Shumlin’s victory in Vermont gubernatorial primary

Shumlin wins primary re-count in Vt. governor race

BURLINGTON, Vt. — Two and a half weeks after Vermont’s oh-so-close Democratic gubernatorial primary, a winner finally emerged Friday when a re-count upheld state Senate President Pro Tem Peter Shumlin’s first-place finish — and then some.

According to recount results, Shumlin outpolled state Sen. Doug Racine by 203 votes, six more than he had in official returns from the Aug. 24 election night. The numbers, reached after examination of about 75,000 ballots cast statewide, still must be certified by a court Monday, but that’s a formality.

“From my perspective, it’s over,” said Racine, who conceded Friday, vowing to campaign on Shumlin’s behalf.

Shumlin finished with 18,301 votes to 18,098 for Racine and 17,601 for third-place finisher Secretary of State Deb Markowitz, according to the unofficial results released Friday by Washington County Superior Court, which ran the three-day recount in Vermont’s 14 counties.

Shumlin picked up 25 votes in the count, to 19 for Racine.

Calling himself humbled and honored by the nomination, Shumlin vowed to use shoe leather and enthusiasm to run a positive but aggressive campaign against Republican nominee Brian Dubie. He said they would debate at least a dozen times.

Standing on the steps of Burlington City Hall and flanked by his 19-year-old daughter and his 79-year-old mother, Shumlin said he would focus on the unemployed, the underemployed and the stressed-out business people struggling to make ends meet.

The election is Nov. 2.

Incumbent Gov. Jim Douglas, a Republican, is stepping down after four terms.

Douglas’ decision not to run set off a scramble among would-be candidates, in part because the governor’s office rarely comes open in Vermont, where voters are historically loath to oust a sitting governor.

Dubie, who is lieutenant governor and works as a pilot for American Airlines, faced no opposition in seeking the GOP nomination.

But five Democrats ran in the primary, which was moved back from Sept. 15 this year to comply with a new federal law aimed at getting ballots to troops and other voters overseas at the time of the election.

Shumlin, a 54-year-old veteran Vermont pol who owns a student travel business in tiny Putney, has used $225,000 of his personal fortune to bankroll his primary campaign to date, according to campaign finance reports. He said Friday he would spend what it takes to win.

A staunch advocate of gay marriage, he has vowed to close down Vermont Yankee nuclear plant when its license expires in two years.

“The differences between my opponent and me on the most important issues in this election — jobs and the economy — could not be greater,” Dubie said Friday. “I look forward to letting Vermonters decide who they think best represents the interests of Vermont families, workers and job creators.”