Jason Gibbs for Vermont Secretary of State

CALEDONIAN RECORD ENDORSES GIBBS FOR SEC. OF STATE

Mon, 01 Nov 2010 00:41:52 +0000

A New Broom Sweeps Clean

Caledonian Record, Thursday, October 28, 2010

With pleasure and positive expectations we endorse Jason Gibbs for election to be Vermont Secretary of State.

He is an entirely new broom that will sweep clean.

He is not new, though, to any of the people who actually run Vermont’s government – the people who make the wheels turn and fix them when they get stuck – first as director of communications for six years, and then as commissioner of the state’s Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation. He has been active and very effective in reducing costs…

Home builders nail it: They’re endorsing Gibbs for Secretary of State

Mon, 01 Nov 2010 00:38:11 +0000

Gibbs puts economy at top of agenda, association says

WILLISTON – The Home Builders and Remodelers Association of Northern Vermont has announced its endorsement of Jason Gibbs for Secretary of State.

“We’re going with Gibbs because we believe he shares our concern for economic sustainability and the future of Vermonters and the state,” said Greg Dirmaier, chairman.

Gibbs has innovative ideas for revamping the Secretary of State’s office so that it is a welcoming springboard to opening a business in Vermont, Ditmaier said.

Gibbs: Burlington Telecom Meetings Should be Public

Thu, 28 Oct 2010 16:17:46 +0000

Urges Council to End Use of Executive Sessions

Burlington, Vt. – Jason Gibbs, candidate for Secretary of State, today called on the Burlington City Council to end its use of executive session and open the doors to the public when discussing Burlington Telecom and its continuing financial problems.

In a letter sent to the Council, Gibbs said: “The people of Burlington, as taxpayers with much at stake, have a right to know how public officials arrive at decisions that directly affect the fiscal health of Vermont’s largest city and all its residents.”

This is particularly true in the case of Burlington Telecom, Gibbs added. “Taxpayers want, and have a right, to know how the city came to ‘float’ $17 million of taxpayer funds to cover the BT deficit. It’s always best to conduct the people’s business in open meetings – the more complex or sensitive the issue, the more reason there is for public discussion,” Gibbs said.

Read the full release and the letter sent to the council by clicking here.

In Case You Missed It: WCAX & Burlington Free Press show contrast in the Sec. of State’s race

Tue, 26 Oct 2010 17:31:00 +0000

“Campaign Countdown: Secretary of State”

WCAX Channel 3 News, Burlington, Vermont – October 25, 2010

WATCH THE VIDEO: Campaign Countdown: Secretary of State

Jason Gibbs

“In our Campaign Countdown tonight, the battle between Democrat Jim Condos and Republican Jason Gibbs to be the next secretary of state.

A busy office in the Capital City, The Secretary of state deals with town clerks, business registrations and elections. This campaign season former State Senator Jim Condos and former Press Secretary for Governor Douglas, Jason Gibbs, are running for that title.

“It’s an office that can help Vermont fight back against the recession and generate some long term economic activity and demonstrate the capacity of state government to be more innovative bringing the office from the 20th century to the 21st century,” Gibbs said.”

View the full article here.

“Gibbs raises South Burlington pension issue”

TIM JOHNSON, Free Press, October 26, 2010

SOUTH BURLINGTON – This city’s ongoing pension problems prompted dueling appearances Monday afternoon by candidates for secretary of state in the parking lot outside the municipal office building.

Republican Jason Gibbs highlighted what he said was Democratic opponent Jim Condos’ link to the issue. Condos showed up at the same time to deliver a rebuttal.

South Burlington’s pension fund was found to have been underfunded by $8.9 million at the end of the 2009 fiscal year, a shortfall that came to light only several months ago.

Condos served until 2007 on the City Council, which expanded pension benefits in contracts negotiated with police and fire unions. The increased benefits – including a lowering of the retirement age and more allowance for overtime – were found by actuarial analysts to have contributed to the shortfall.
Gibbs charged that Condos was party to the council’s “irresponsible funding decisions” and that the council discussed financial issues behind closed doors in at least 12 executive sessions. Gibbs has called for making annual financial audits and actuarial reports publicly available in plain English, at public meetings – a proposal he calls his “taxpayer protection plan.”

Condos, who served as South Burlington city councilor for 18 years and as state senator from 2001 to 2007, called Gibbs’ announced appearance a political diversion designed to “distract from the real issues.” He said pension issues were part of contract negotiations that are routinely and legitimately conducted in executive session at all levels of government. He said he and other councilors were unaware of any financial problems related to the pension plan, nor were they informed of problems by then-City Manager Charles Hafter.

Condos also spoke up for negotiated police and fire contracts, saying they ensured professional protection at a level South Burlington requires. He said the pension benefits were in line with those offered by other governmental units, and charged that Gibbs’ statements malign South Burlington police and firefighters.

South Burlington might be Condos’ electoral stronghold – he lived there for about 30 years before moving to Montpelier in 2008 – but this wasn’t the first time Gibbs has campaigned there. Earlier this month, Gibbs announced he had e-mailed his “taxpayer protection plan” to 3,000 people in South Burlington.

Gibbs said Monday that he bought the e-mail list from a vendor and paid 4 cents for each address – a total of $120.

View the article here.

MANCHESTER JOURNAL ENDORSES GIBBS FOR SECRETARY OF STATE

Thu, 21 Oct 2010 18:12:20 +0000

“Endorsements, Part One”

Manchester Journal, Editorial, Wednesday, October 20, 2010

“Secretary of State: As we said about two months ago when the primary elections were being held, we have a very

high regard for Jason Gibbs, the former Commissioner of the Forests, Parks and Recreation Department, and

before that, a press spokesman for Gov. Jim Douglas. That hasn’t changed. Gibbs has talked a lot about

transparency and open government during this campaign, as has his opponent, but Gibbs has lived it and done it. No

phone call went unreturned, no matter was too small to be dismissed as unworthy of his time when he was the

governor’s press spokesman. He is highly qualified, in our view, for this step up in the ranks, and Vermonters have an

opportunity to enlist a real talent on their behalf. We hope they seize it.”

Read the full editorial by clicking here.

HERALD OF RANDOLPH ENDORSES GIBBS FOR SECRETARY OF STATE

Thu, 21 Oct 2010 14:20:41 +0000

“Down the Ballot”

Herald of Randolph, Editorial, Thursday, October 21, 2010

“So far in this election campaign, we have not been persuaded that either of the top candidates for governor deserves our vote, but we are impressed by three candidates farther down the statewide ballot…

In the contest for Secretary of State, we are persuaded by Vermont’s association of town clerks and treasurers that the best bet would be Republican Jason Gibbs.

Asked to rate Gibbs and his principal opponent, Democrat Jim Condos, on five different criteria, the clerks, polled by the association, chose Gibbs in each case. (The criteria included their stands on the silly proposed amendment Proposition 5, which Gibbs opposes and Condos favors.)

Town Clerks & Treasurers Say Gibbs is a “Plus”

Fri, 15 Oct 2010 13:44:22 +0000

VMCTA scorecard shows Gibbs is clear choice for Secretary of State

DUXBURY – The Vermont Municipal Clerks’ & Treasurers’ Association has released a voters’ scorecard that finds Jason Gibbs, Republican candidate for Secretary of State, is the clear choice on the issues most important to maintaining efficient, productive and responsive local government.

“Vermonters value local control and local government as a cornerstone of our way of life,” said Colleen Haag, Shelburne Town Clerk and member of VMCTA. “The Secretary of State acts as a liaison and advocate for local government and it’s important to us that the next Secretary of State be a partner and promoter of the issues that most directly affect Vermonters at the local level on a day-to-day basis.”

President of Vermont sugar makers supports Gibbs for Secretary of State

Tue, 12 Oct 2010 15:57:19 +0000

SOUTH ROYALTON – The president of the Vermont Maple Sugar Makers Association is supporting Jason Gibbs for Secretary of State.

Is that sweet or what?

“Like all lifelong Vermonters, Jason knows how very important the maple sugar industry is to our state’s economy and quality of life,” said Rick Marsh, president of the sugar makers association.

Gibbs, the former commissioner of the Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation, recognized government’s responsibility to one of Vermont’s legacy industries and helped revitalize the state’s role in maintaining Vermont’s reputation as the No. 1 maple syrup producer in the nation.

That’s the type of entrepreneurial thinking that should be tapped at the Secretary of State’s office, Marsh said.

Voice of Vermont’s Small Businesses Endorses Gibbs for Secretary of State

Fri, 08 Oct 2010 14:50:26 +0000

NFIB will ‘Go with Gibbs’

MONTPELIER – Vermont’s chapter of the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) today said it is endorsing Jason Gibbs for Secretary of State.

As Vermont’s largest organization and most influential voice of its entrepreneurs, the Vermont NFIB said it is going with Gibbs because of Jason’s innovative focus on making government more innovative, more efficient and a more valuable partner in the creation of economic activity is exactly what small businesses need to succeed.

“Small business is the economic engine of Vermont,” said Shawn Shouldice, state director for NFIB. “Jason will transform the Secretary of State’s office into a true partner of prosperity.”
Read more…

Gibbs Lays Out Taxpayer Protection Proposal

Thu, 30 Sep 2010 14:56:36 +0000

Calls for Stronger Public Audit & Actuarial Report Requirements

Duxbury, VT – Secretary of State Candidate Jason Gibbs today announced a taxpayer protection proposal that would require all financial audits of municipalities–and detailed actuarial reports related to their pension funds–be presented in plain language at warned public meetings. Gibbs also proposed to more clearly prohibit the discussion of financial management matters in executive session.

Gibbs said his proposal–which he will ask the Legislature to consider in January–would increase citizen participation and reduce the potential for mismanagement that puts taxpayers and public employees at substantial financial risk. He cited the South Burlington pension crisis and the Burlington Telecom fiasco as examples of where this new requirement could have prevented significant problems before they developed.