Emerson Lynn on Politics

Symington Misses Golden Opportunity

Wednesday had all the trappings of a slow-pitch softball game for Gaye Symington. She unveiled her Bridge to Opportunity program, the intent of which is to provide aid to first generation students going to college, and she was batter-up before the state’s teachers’ union in a gubernatorial debate held last night in Randolph, a friendly group if ever there was one.

She struck out with both.

It’s symptomatic of her politically tin ear that she would have approved the name – Bridge to Opportunity – something the opposition can easily morph into “Bridge to Nowhere.” [And they have.] The cost of the program, an estimated $3.5 million when fleshed out, would largely depend on donations. That’s a promise that is cigarette paper thin to Vermonters, or a “bridge to nowhere.” It also compares poorly to the governor’s Promise Scholarship program proposed in 2006, which did have a firm financial commitment – $170 million from the tobacco settlement fund - no donations needed.

Ms. Symington’s proposal, if anemic, does include some positive initiatives. Those who would be first in their families to attend college are the ones we should target for help. Statistically, they are the least likely to attend college and if this cycle is broken we have a better chance of seeing this cohort include a college education as part of their life’s plan. It’s also important, as proposed, to work with the curriculum of high schools so that the course work accomplished is accepted as college credit – an idea that Rep. Gary Gilbert of Fairfax has been championing for some time.

But Ms. Symington’s program would target, at most, about 300 students, which is a small fraction of the state’s school population. If this is all she has to offer for a policy paper on the educational challenges facing Vermont, then it is lacking. We would hope this is the first of much more to come.

But if last night’s debate was any indication of what’s ahead, Vermonters are likely to be disappointed with Ms. Symington. This was her audience. The Vermont NEA is about as solidly Democratic as any special interest group in Vermont.  They were eager to be energized, to be given the fresh momentum necessary to hit the hustings for their candidate. She disappointed.

She was flat, and unfocused. If anyone brought energy to the teachers, it was Anthony Pollina, who is now running as an independent. He was articulate, rhetorically on point, and in sync with his audience’s wishes. Governor Douglas – who spoke more to the camera audience than to the teachers – probably won the audience at large because he did not make any mistakes [and because Ms. Symington showed so poorly.] He was also astute enough to understand that the debate’s coverage would focus on what concerns rank and file Vermonters the most, which is the cost of education. The most compelling line to the audience was his refrain that  “We want to make sure every Vermonter has a tax burden that is tolerable.” Or, “We need to spend less, not more.”

The issue center stage was the Legislature’s passage of the so-called “two-vote” provision that allows the public to separate school budget votes between that part of the budget that falls within inflationary guidelines, and that part that exceeds it.

Pollina said the law needs to be repealed and that he would never have supported it. The governor favors it, and had proposed a stiffer test. Ms. Symington approved it, but then changed her mind when the bill’s weaknesses [and the opposition to it from the teaching establishment] became more politically apparent.

This bind is one common to Ms. Symington. Ironically, she continually finds herself on the same side with the governor, and it’s difficult for her to decry his lack of leadership, or accomplishment since she has been so closely tied to many of the same issues. If there is a crisis in leadership, then she has yet to show how she is not part of the problem, or what successes she can point to that give Vermonters the confidence necessary to feel comfortable with her as the state’s chief executive.

She had a double opportunity yesterday, and she failed to deliver on both, which is discouraging because there are few issues that deserve more attention than the quality of education in Vermont and how our limited resources can best be used to deliver that quality.

(Emerson Lynn is editor and publisher of the St. Albans Messenger where this essay first appeared.)

Comments

[tim vincent]

So, the writer thinks that Vermont needs to send more kids to college - so they can leave Vermont.
If there is a large number of job vacancies in Vermont requiring a college degree, it's a big secret.
Even IBM (the "biggest" private employer) is a production facility; not an R/D facility.

[Planman]

I have to ask why Emmerson Lynn professes to be so disappointed in Gaye Symington. His two most recent posts, "Where Is Gaye Symington" and "Symington Misses Golden Opportunity" seem to reflect his continuing dissatisfaction with her performance. Is he not familiar with all that she "accomplished" during her tenure in the house. Indeed, the only good thing that has come from her running for higher office has been her giving up her seat in the House. Now that, as one recent commentator said, "Is a breath of fresh air." Mr. Lynn, she is what she is. Let the poor woman rest in pieces, framed by the unforgettable words she uttered during the recent NEA "debate"..."I don't know, I'm confused, I don't understand the question".