“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.”

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“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.

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