The Burlington Free Press from Burlington, Vermont • Page 8

8A THE BURLINGTON FREE PRESS MONDAY, AUGUST 14, 2000 NATIONVERMONT SENATE: Spending spree possible in county races the county. With a population of 125,000, the district's six-member delegation is the largest in the Senate. Other counties have one or two senators, and Rutland, Washington and Windsor each have three. "After going through the campaign last time," said Leddy, who is running for a second term, "I'm convinced Chittenden County should be two three-member districts or three two-member districts." "I believe that the people would be better served," he said, "and the candidates would have a more manageable type of warned candidates shouldn't presume they are well knowa Tut Parmly, a Republican from Richmond, agrees. He's making his second run for a Chittenden Senate seat.

In 1996, he said, thought more (people) knew me than did." Break it up Many of Chittenden's 16 Senate candidates said money might be less important in their races if the Legislature divided the county into two or three smaller Senate districts. It's not the geographic area of the county that creates the challenge, it's the number of people in 16 candidates for six Senate seats Here are the 16 candidates vying for Chittenden County's six seats in the state Senate: fl DEMOCRATS: Jerry Acosta of Shelbume, Jean Ankeney of St. George, Jim Condos of South Burlington, Paul Couture of South Burlington, Karen Lafayette of Burlington, James Leddy of South Burlington, Ginny Lyons of Williston and Janet Munt of South Burlington. REPUBLICANS: Peter Brownell of Richmond, Donald Brunelle of Winooski, Gavin Mills of Burlington, William Parkinson of Hinesburg, Tut Parmly of Richmond, Leigh Pfenning of Underhill, Barbara Snelling of Shelburne and Skip Vallee of South Burlington. HELP YOUR CAR KEEP South Burlington Essex Jet.

Barre Strategies Money matters in Chittenden County, but spending lots of it doesn't always ensure victory. In 1998, Democrat Jim Leddy of South Burlington spent the most $34,000 and won. But in 1996, Democrat David Curtis was the big spender at $30,000 and lost. Republican William Parkinson of Hinesburg doesn't plan to spend half what Leddy did two years ago, he said. His less expensive strategy will be to target a mailing to potential supporters.

"I think this time, direct mail is going to be a lot more important than in past campaigns." Another Republican, Gavin Mills of Burlington, hopes motivated voters and special interest groups will help his candidacy. "If Vermonters are really interested in" repealing the civil union and school finance laws, Mills said, "they are going to have to make a special effort to seek out those candidates who share their views. I'm depending on that, as are many candidates." Likewise, Sea Jean Ankeney of St. George, a Democrat seeking her fifth term, said she will rely on a number of labor and education groups for support. Since she has yet to begin fund raising, she said, "I guess they are going to have to carry me through the primary." Several candidates said they are banking on name recognition gained through community service and business connections.

"I feel I already have a strong base," said Democrat Jim Condos of South Burlington. "I grew up in Chittenden County." He was on the South Burlington City Council for four terms and has been on many county boards. McCormack, a six-term senator from Windsor County, Chittenden spending Here is a look at spending in the Chittenden County Senate race in recent elections: 1996 JEAN ANKENEY: $16,239, Democrat, won re-election. JAN BACKUS: $10,537, Democrat, won. fl JACK BARRY: $6,397, Democrat, won.

PETER BROWNELL: 1 1 ,039, Republican, won. DAVID CURTIS: $30,638, Democrat, lost. JOHANNA DONOVAN: $1 1,415, Democrat, lost. JANET MUNT: $24,766, Democrat, lost TUT PARMLY: $9,194, Republican, lost. HELEN RIEHLE: $14,370, Republican, won.

BARBARA SNELLING: $10,715, Republican, won. fl KURT WRIGHT: $20,684, Republican, lost. JOE ZAGURSKY: $7,829, Republican," lost. 1998 JEAN ANKENEY: $10,448, Democrat, won re-election. JAN BACKUS: $9,467, Democrat, won.

PETER BROWNELL: $9,051, Republican, won. BRUCE CUNNINGHAM: $7,420, Democrat, lost. DENNIS DELANEY: $16,460, Republican, lost. MATT GARDY: $5,758, Republican, lost. DAWN HILL-FLEURY: $1,233, Republican, lost.

BRENDAN KINNEY: No report. Libertarian, lost. JIMLEDDY: $34,176, Democrat, won. fl JANET MUNT: $19,864, Democrat, won. fl TIMOTHY PALMER: $3,755, Democrat, lost.

STEPHEN POLLAK: No report, Libertarian, lost. fl HELEN RIEHLE; $24,288, Republican, won. fl SUSAN SWEETSER: $18,099, Republican, lost. 2000 Only six of the 16 Chittenden Senate candidates had begun raising money as of Aug. 1 Here's who has money: fl JEAN ANKENEY: $100, Democrat.

KAREN LAFAYETTE: $2,500, Democrat. JIM LEDDY: $700 plus $115 from 1998 campaign, Democrat. LEIGH PFENNING: $800, Republican, fl BARBARA SNELLING: $32,448 from 1998 cam-: paign. Republican. SKIP VALLEE: $11,178, Republican.

WoftAtA -J PfS Crab Legs Claa Chowder on osir lavish Ssaday Salad Bar. Opening at 1pm Sundays, and serving dinner exclusively. Reservations 1 -800-367-71 66 mi Sept. 12, the field of Democrats and Republicans will shrink, but independents and minor party candidates who do not face primaries will likely lengthen the list of candidates on the November ballot. The unique challenge for the crowd of Chittenden Senate candidates is to be noticed by voters.

No other Senate district in the state ever has as many candidates. "It's clearly difficult to get one's position known and stand out from the other candidates," said Sen. Peter Brownell of Richmond, a Republican seeking his third term. It becomes every candidate for him or herself, Brownell said. To finish in the top six on election day, he said, "You are competing against (candidates in) your own party." Considering Human loin Our Birth Control Study The Vermont Women's Health Center, providing comprehensive gynecology and obstetrical care for over 25 years, is seeking women ages 18-35 to participate in a birth control study comparing five different types of spermicide, VWHC Participants will be compensated.

Continued from Page 1A of getting our message out." Virginia Lyons, a Williston Democrat, worries about the money game, since she's never raised more than $1,000 for her selectboard races. "I don't know how much is going to win this race," she said. "I hope we can be sane about it" At stake Two retirements in the Chittenden Senate delegation Democrat Jan Backus and Republican Helen Riehle created slots that politicians from both parties have rushed to fill. Across the state, three other senators have retired, creating a scramble in Washington, Addison and Windsor counties, too. Republicans are anxious to add to their 13 Senate slots, while Democrats are determined to hold onto their 17-seat majority.

The party that controls the Senate and House next year will not only direct the legislative agenda, but also will be in charge when the Legislature redraws the boundaries for House and Senate districts after the census. Currently, the Chittenden district includes every town in the county but Colchester, which is in a district with Grand Isle. Because it's home to nearly a quarter of the state's population, the district has the largest delegation in the Senate. Senate Republican Leader John Bloomer of Rutland says the two open seats in Chittenden are key in his party's effort to take back the Senate. "We can't afford to lose (Riehle's) seat," Bloomer said.

"It is critical that we retain the one seat and pick up another." When a party is looking to add, Bloomer said, "It's always easier to pick up a seat when it's open." Senate Democratic Leader Richard McCormack of Bethel also sees opportunity and risk in Chittenden County. "It's really important that we hold that Chittenden seat" vacated by Backus, McCormack said, "because we do face some real challenges in other parts of the state." He added, "Chittenden County is a place that ought to elect Democratic candidates." Eight Democrats and eight Republicans are vying for the county's six seats. After the primary that the package responds to problems the union had found with earlier company offers. "We now believe we have gone a good distance down that road," Rabe said Sunday. "We continue to believe we've got the right package here." Discussions resumed, mostly on an informal basis, as the unions reviewed the updated pro-posaL CWA officials said later, however, that the company still has not answered their most pressing issues adequately.

"Verizon really has not addressed these critical issues," said CWA spokeswoman Candice Johnsoa "We still have a lot of ground to cover." More than a week has passed since contracts expired for 87,000 workers. The company's 30,000 managers have jumped in to tackle a daily running total of 90,000 repair orders, a problem exacerbated because of inclement weather in parts of the Northeast. The strike affects Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia and Washington, D.C. Free Press Staff Writer Adam Silverman contributed to this report Please call 802-863-1386 For more information. 336 North VERIZON: Strike continues Burlington Evening hours available If you ski or ride every day or just a few times-we've got a pass or badge for you! Find a pet to love Free Press Classified a career in Services? Find ii ic of I 7 EVnuggs Continued from Page 1A "We're out here until the end." The phone system in the area continues to work fine, but the strike is delaying repair work and preventing altogether the installation of new phone lines, said Joan Jamieson, a Verizon spokeswoman in Vermont.

New lines probably won't be installed until the strike ends, she said, while other services such as directory assistance and customer service remain slow or inaccessible. Jamieson said company managers, who are filling in for striking workers, are doing their best to keep up with demand for services. She also said the relationship between pickets and managers remains good as Verizon is providing portable toilets and water on the picket lines. "We all know each other, so I guess picketing is a little different in Vermont," she said. "We worry about their safety, and we want them under the circumstances to be as safe as they can be." On Sunday, the company offered what it called a "revised comprehensive offer" to the Communications Workers of America and the IBEW.

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