Stern to seek GOP nomination for governor

Keith Stern, 62, of North Springfield, has been planning to run for governor since last summer. Stern said the state is “broken.” “Something has to be done about it," he said. "I didn’t hear anybody else with tangible ideas so I said, ‘let me do it."



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Stern to seek GOP nomination for governor By KATY SAVAGE ksavage@eagletimes.com May 17, 2018 Updated 29 min ago 0 [Image: stern] Stern SPRINGFIELD, Vt. —Keith Stern has been planning to run for governor since last summer. He told Vermont Public Radio last July that he would run as a Republican, hoping to face Gov. Phil Scott in the primary election. A day later, Stern decided to run as Democrat instead. “I was thinking out loud,” said Stern, of his decision to change parties. Stern, 62, of North Springfield, Vermont, explained he was "angry" because he didn’t feel he had support from the Vermont Republican Party. “(They) told me, ‘Don’t challenge Phil Scott,’” he said. Attempts to reach Vermont Republican Party chair Deb Billado weren’t successful. Mike Donohue, the Chittenden County chair of the Vermont Republican Party, said he’s never met Stern, but he said he personally supported the governor. Stern switched back to the Republican Party a few days after trying unsuccessfully to get support from the Democrats. Stern officially announced his candidacy for the Republican Party in November. Stern has owned Stern’s Quality Produce, a retail and wholesale business in White River Junction, for the past 35 years. Stern ran for U.S. Senate as an Independent in 2004 and 2006. He ran for Congress in 2010 as a Republican. “I was never a serious candidate," Stern said of his previous campaigns. "But I wanted to get my ideas heard.” This election is different, said Stern who is working at his business full time while campaigning throughout the state. “This time around the state has so much to lose,” he said. Stern’s ideas vary significantly from Scott’s. One of his campaign goals is to save taxpayers money. Stern wants to save money by shrinking or eliminating the Agency of Education. "We don’t need a secretary of education that’s making well over $100,000 a year,” he said. Stern, a Second Amendment rights supporter, also took issue when the governor changed his position on gun control and signed bills in April that established gun restrictions. Many gun owners protested outside the state Capitol building as Scott signed the bills. “He flat out lied to the people,” said Stern of the governor’s decision. “He shouldn’t be rewarded for that by being re-elected.” Scott signed the bills following a school shooting in Parkland, Florida in February and a near shooting at Fair Haven High School in Vermont that was averted by authorities. “As I’ve said many times throughout my political life, public safety is the top priority of government—aresponsibility I take seriously as governor,” Scott said in a news release. Stern said the state is “broken.” “Something has to be done about it," he said. "I didn’t hear anybody else with tangible ideas so I said, ‘let me do it." Stern has raised about $42,600 toward his campaign far. “It’s coming in slow,” he said of his fundraising efforts. Stern is selling stickers to raise money for his campaign. One sticker reads, “No new gun laws in Vermont.” Another sticker reads, “Ammosexual.” Stern has an extensive list of events and public appearances planned throughout the state. Stern is hoping to garner support. The Republican primary election is Aug. 14.