AMID SCANDAL, McALLISTER LOSES BID FOR RE-ELECTION
By Gregory J. Lamoureux
Senator Norm McAllister was out campaigning on Tuesday in Swanton, meeting and greeting voters as they entered the polling place.
“It would take a miracle” McAllister quipped.
That miracle would not come for McAllister. As polls closed, the numbers very quickly began to look grim for the two-term Senator.
His bid for re-election was lost to his co-incumbent Dustin Degree and newcomer to the Senate race, Carolyn Branagan.
Branagan has served for several terms as Georgia’s representative to the Vermont House.
McAllister has been fighting against allegations of sexual assault since May 2015 when two females came out to police, telling them McAllister had sexually assaulted them.
The first of two trials ended last month when McAllister’s accuser was found to have lied on the stand.
A second trial was scheduled for this week, but was pushed back by prosecutors. That trial is anticipated to be scheduled for December.
The Republican Senator maintains his innocence, from day one. His story that the women were trying to take advantage of him and his notoriety has not changed since the scandal has begun.
McAllister was suspended by the Senate, in January 2016, when the Senate reconvened.
McAllister told the County Courier last week that if voters analyzed him based on his voting record, he would not have a problem in his re-election.
Degree said that the election provided an opportunity for the county to move forward.
“People can pontificate all they want,” said Degree. “ At the end of the day, this was the best way for us to move past this entire situation. Give the folks an opportunity to select their candidates and you know, move forward that way.”
At a Republican Party breakfast in Montpelier on Wednesday morning, Degree said that it is an “honor” to be running for office under the party’s banner for the fourth time.
Degree and Branagan will go up against Democratic challengers Sarah Brannon Kittell and Denise Smith.
Kittell has in the past successfully run for the office.
Smith is a newcomer to the political landscape in Vermont.
