Speculation begins over who will seek speakership

Who will park here? The House Speaker's reserved parking space at the State House in Montpelier: Politicker PhotoWith House Speaker Gaye Symington (D-Jericho) relinquishing her position in Vermont's Legislature to attempt to unseat Gov. Jim Douglas (R-Middlebury), the state House's top spot is up for grabs for the first time in five years when Symington was unanimously elected. While no state representatives have publicly stated if they will make a bid to wield the gavel next year, some are considering the prospect.

In compiling this list, PolitickerVT.com spoke to political experts and leaders from both sides of the aisle to see who they thought were considering running for the House Speaker's position. Some names were mentioned more than others: Majority Leader Carolyn Partridge, Assistant Majority Leader Floyd Nease, and state Reps. Mark Larson, Shap Smith, and John Rodgers.

Partridge (D-Rockingham), who represents the Windham-4 district in the state house, seems to be the easiest fit for the position, given that many have drawn parallels between herself and Symington, who both fell into politics as a result of frustration with the status quo.

Partridge told PoltickerVT.com that although she is "thinking seriously" about making a bid for the Speaker position, her current focus was on the upcoming house races. And not just a few races in particular, but "all of them."House Speaker Gaye Symington

"Those of us in leadership positions have taken a pact not to solicit votes and to focus on getting a hopefully veto-proof majority," Partridge said. For Democrats to hold a veto-proof majority in the state House, they would have to hold over 100 seats, seven more than they currently have.

Besides Partridge, state Rep. Mark Larson (D-Burlington) seems to be a key choice as well. The Burlington Free Press named him one of 2008's "standout legislators" for creating an economic stimulus package palatable to both the Democrat dominated legislature, and Gov. Jim Douglas' Republican administration. The Green Mountain Daily also named Larson a top contender to be House Speaker.

"I am thinking about it (running for House Speaker), but my first priority is getting re-elected in November," Larson said. He also emphasized Partridge's goal of obtaining a veto-proof majority in November.

State Rep. Shap Smith (D- Morristown), who is an attorney at the Dinse, Knapp & McAndrew law firm, told PolitickerVT.com that he was considering running for the House Speaker's position, but had not yet reached a decision. Yet Smith has been helping out in other campaigns around the state (a task typically for party leadership), as well as concentrating on officially launching a re-election campaign around July 4.

In addition to Partridge, Larson, and Smith, Nease (D-Johnson) and Rodgers (D-Glover) were also mentioned. Both state representatives had not returned repeated attempts to contact them by press time.