Campbell’s aide, Conor Kennedy, joins Windsor Senate race

There's going to be a state senate primary for Windsor County Democrats this August .

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Windsor County Senator Dick McCormack Sings
'Hippies Bought the Old Farm Round the Bend'

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http://www.vermonttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/RH/20160517/NEWS02/160519587 http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20160517/NEWS02/160519587 Published May 17, 2016 in the Rutland Herald Campbell’s aide, Conor Kennedy, joins Windsor Senate race By SUSAN SMALLHEER HARTLAND – There’s going to be a state senate primary for Windsor County Democrats this August . Conor Kennedy of Hartland announced Monday he would be seeking one of Windsor County’s three state Senate seats, and hopefully the seat now occupied by his former boss, Sen. John Campbell, D-Windsor, who is not seeking re-election. Kennedy, 27, joins Windsor County’s two longtime incumbents, Sen. Dick McCormack, D-Windsor, and Sen. Alice Nitka, D-Windsor. Rep. Alison Clarkson, D-Woodstock, announced last month that she would also run for the state Senate. Both Nitka and McCormack are expected to run for re-election. Kennedy held an announcement at Damon Hall in his hometown, and his parents, Tom Kennedy and Mary O’Brien, both of Hartland, were there to cheer him on. Kennedy has worked for Campbell, the president pro tempore, for the last two years as his administrative assistant or deputy chief of state. Before that he had an internship with Campbell’s office. Kennedy has also worked for the state Democratic Party and U.S. Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vt., in his Burlington office. He grew up in Hartland, attended local schools, attended both Hartford High School and Woodstock Union High School, as well as Okemo Mountain School in Ludlow. He plans on completing his degree from the University of Vermont this summer. “I have one more course,” he said Monday. Kennedy said that he plans on a series of community meetings during the month of June across the county to gauge public concerns. But he said his biggest concern is that Vermont remain “sustainable” and affordable. He said he disagreed with Campbell on the issue of legalization of marijuana. Campbell, a former prosecutor and police officer, took an officially neutral stand, Kennedy said. He favors legalization, but is unsure about the implementation process, and said that would be one thing he would want to hear about from Windsor County residents. He said he campaigned in Springfield on Saturday, and was greeted with enthusiasm, with several people saying it was great that a young person was running for the Senate. Clarkson, 61, has represented the Windsor County towns of Woodstock, Plymouth and Reading since being elected in 2005. She has served on both the Judiciary and Ways and Means Committee, and is also one of a handful of House members on the Legislative Council Committee. Clarkson moved to Vermont in the early 1990s when her husband Oliver Goodenough started teaching at Vermont Law School. Her background is in theater, and she is a former theatrical producer with the New York Theatre Workshop. Clarkson couldn’t be reached for comment Monday. McCormack, 69, said he would be running for a 13th term. McCormack’s tenure was interrupted with a four-year break, but he’s been one of Windsor County’s senators since 1988, except for during that break. Speaking of breaks, McCormack said that his badly broken arm has finally healed after a long process and he’s in good health. “I’m back playing the guitar,” said McCormack, who is a folksinger and guitarist. Nitka also couldn’t be reached on Monday, but McCormack and others said she planned on seeking another term. The state primary this year is slated for Aug. 9, and Kennedy said voter turnout would be key.