In support of Bill Sorrell

In the race for Attorney General, T.J. Donovan has stated that Bill Sorrell should have steered legislators away from passing bold progressive legislation that might draw lawsuits. As a former Speaker of the House, I want to speak up for Bill Sorrell, and for Vermont’s right to push the envelope in defense of our values.

Mr. Sorrell’s opponent argues that Vermont should be wary of big corporations with deep pockets. Wariness shouldn’t translate into passivity. It’s not good enough to pass laws that accommodate the demands of big companies with deep pockets when doing so falls short of protecting Vermonters.

Mr. Sorrell warned the Legislature that campaign finance and prescription drug privacy laws would draw court challenges, but he was willing to protect Vermonters from powerful corporate interests. In approaching the prescription drug privacy suit, Bill earned the support of the United States government, 35 states, and a number of medical, consumer and privacy groups.

When he defended Vermont’s campaign finance laws, he won in appeals until it reached the Supreme Court, where he faced the same conservative justices that ruled for corporate personhood and unlimited anonymous donations in the Citizens United case.

While Vermont did not prevail in these cases, Bill has only spent $5.7 million on attorney fees over the years, but has brought in over $120 million in the last three years alone.

I am voting for Bill Sorrell in the primary election because he has shown he will both provide the counsel to pass strong legislation and defend that legislation in court in order to best serve the interests of Vermonters.

GAYE SYMINGTON

Jericho

Former House Speaker Donovan for attorney general

It must be near election time again in Vermont because roadsides are awash with campaign signs and our mailboxes are flooded with flyers. We both unequivocally endorse TJ Donovan for attorney general in the Aug. 28 Democratic primary, and this is the major statewide race grabbing all the attention.

As a mediator and paralegal, Maggie is deeply committed to a restorative justice model that involves the community in the corrections’ process. We first met TJ Donovan in 2006 during his Chittenden County State’s Attorney campaign, and he made impressive promises. More importantly, TJ delivered on those promises by involving the stakeholder community in a task force that looked at Chittenden County’s criminal justice system through a new lens, sought grant money and made organizational changes to assure that transition did happen.

Vermont is a brand. It symbolizes clean air and water, healthy food, and a safe place to live. Powerful corporations leaking toxic substances into our waterways and aquifers and pushing GMO’s are thwarting Vermont’s laws and regulations. Arnie’s nuclear safety and engineering expert testimony keeps Fairewinds working with national and international attorneys every day. We know first hand that law is nuanced and attorneys require skill and perseverance. We are voting for TJ Donovan as Vermont’s next attorney general because we want an attorney general who puts Vermonters, their needs, and their laws ahead of corporate malfeasance.

Remember Town Meeting Day? This Aug. 28 primary is no less important.

Your primary vote’ chooses the candidates for the November ballot. We are voting for TJ Donovan for attorney general and ask you to do the same.

Visit www.donovan2012.com to learn more about TJ and why he is the only choice for Vermont’s next AG.

Maggie Gundersen is the president and founder of Fairewinds Associates in Burlington.

Arnie Gundersen is the nuclear engineer who served on the Vermont Yankee Oversight Panel, consulted to the Vermont Legislature, and testifies worldwide.

MAGGIE and

ARNIE GUNDERSEN

Burlington