Gaye Symington

Democratic gubernatorial candidate and Vermont House Speaker Gaye Symington's campaign revolves around an automobile motif. Her campaign likes to argue that Vermont is "stuck in neutral" and needs to "get in gear." She's sponsored a "Symington for Governor" racecar at Thunder Road and energy reform and improving the state's transportation infrastructure are on the list of her top issues.

And the car theme makes sense. The woman has drive.

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.

House Speaker Gaye Symington: Symington for GovernorGubernatorial candidate and House Speaker Gaye Symington (D-Jericho) challenged Gov. Jim Douglas (R-Middlebury) this morning to a series of at least fourteen debates that would take place in the fall.

Symington called for the governor to meet with her in each of Vermont's fourteen counties to discuss issues that are most pressing for Green Mountain State residents to provide the most information to the most people while allowing constituents to directly access candidates.

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gaye Symington: Symington for GovernorHouse Speaker Gaye Symington (D-Jericho) criticized Gov. Jim Douglas (R-Middlebury) and his Lake Champlain environmental policy, Clean and Clear, this afternoon after the Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) issued a report scoring the wellbeing of the lake and the progress taken to reverse the effects of pollutants.

The Democratic gubernatorial candidate assailed the legislation because of its lack of benchmarks to track progress, despite its $85 million price tag. Symington noted that this year, she tried to pass a bill that would introduce benchmarks into the Clean and Clear program.

The House Speaker said, "As Governor, I am not going to spend $85 million on a program without knowing what we're getting for the money."

Gov. Kathleen Sebelius (D-Kan.): Getty Images PhotoWASHINGTON – Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, the chairwoman emeritus of the Democratic Governors Association, met briefly with Vermont House Speaker Gaye Symington (D-Jericho) on Tuesday, as Symington, a Democratic candidate for the Green Mountain State’s governorship, consulted with staff of the DGA about her bid.

Taxes have once again fueled the political mudslinging between Gov. Jim Douglas (R-Middlebury) and gubernatorial challenger House Speaker Gaye Symington (D-Jericho), with both candidates issuing dueling remarks Thursday about their tax policy.

At a press conference, Douglas attacked the state legislature, Symington and state Senate President Pro Tempore Peter Shumlin (D-Putney) for failing to respond to rising property taxes.

Gubernatorial candidates are vying to occupy The Pavilion's fifth floor: Politicker PhotoWith the kick-off tours for the top gubernatorial candidates finished, and the race to be the state's top executive officer currently underway, Gov. Jim Douglas (R-Middlebury), House Speaker Gaye Symington (D-Jericho) and Progressive Party candidate Anthony Pollina have hunkered down for a long run until Election Day on Nov. 4.

Earlier in the week, leaders from all three candidates' campaigns spoke with PolitickerVT.com about their plans along the campaign trail. Today, political experts give their take on the race and how it's shaping up for the fall.

State Auditor Tom SalmonVermont Republican Party Chairman Rob Roper's remarks regarding the military deployment of State Auditor Tom Salmon to the Middle East have sparked wide controversy among politicians across the state.

An Associated Press article cited the state GOP leader as saying that "the voters in Vermont should have the option of having someone in the office who will be on the job on day one. Salmon won't even be here when the Legislature gets back."