Editor’s note: This commentary is by H. Brooke Paige, a historian, writer and Gov. Peter Shumlin’s 2014 Democratic primary election opponent.
The media regularly tells us that we shouldn’t look at a candidate’s personal and business affairs as part of our analysis of the individuals running for office. Oddly, they only seem to remind us of this when the candidate is one of their “chosen ones” with lots of issues in their “portfolio.” This year, those challenging Peter Shumlin remained silent on his cornucopia of “issues.” With the election behind us and the Legislature now responsible for selecting a winner from the three top vote-getters – it seems it might be an appropriate time to take a closer look at Peter Shumlin.
“Born capitalist” without mentors or “formative influences”
In the May 19, 2013, Times Argus article “From nickel candies to Vt.’s budget,” Peter Hirschfeld chronicled what Shumlin called the “formational moments.” Shumlin retold the story of “the origins of his fiscal policies” explaining that his first enterprise was buying penny candies at the Putney General Store and, rather than enjoying the candies himself, would “keep the candies in my drawer … and at the appropriate time, when I knew my brother or sister had loot, I would sell it to them when they were really desperate for sugar” for a nickel apiece. Wouldn’t the good brother have given (or “loaned”) his siblings a couple of his candies until they could go to the store and buy their own penny candies? Where is the virtue in exploiting one’s siblings by hustling them a nickel quick fix for their sugar jones? Sadly, neither Shumlin nor Hirschfeld realized how the tale made Shumlin out as a real scoundrel. Real entrepreneurial youths get their start cutting the neighbor’s lawns, delivering newspapers, shoveling snow in winter or setting up lemonade stand on a hot summer’s day – not by taking advantage of their siblings!
In the same story, Shumlin brags what a self-made man he is – “a born capitalist” – without mentors or “formative influences.” Talk about arrogance and egotism! Shumlin was raised in a business household where his parents, George and Kitty, ran a student travel service arranging summer adventures for the children of wealthy folks. Peter’s parents provided him with the finest education available, first at the prestigious Buxton Preparatory School in Williamstown Massachusetts, and then at the exclusive Wesleyan University in Middletown Connecticut. Surely, Peter should have recognized his instructors and professors at these noble institutions as “formative influences” or at the very least he should understand how important, supportive and “influencial” George and Kitty have been.
Little rich kids never seem to grow up
Shumlin is far from the “self-made” man he constantly brags of being. After college, he returned to Putney to join his parents thriving “student travel” business. Along with his brother Jeffery, Peter help running the family business, under the continued guidance and support of his parents. Shumlin, in less than flattering terms toward his parents, has described how he and Jeffery took over the little business that mom and dad ran from their basement and transformed it into a real enterprise, moving it to the barn out back of their house. Shumlin rarely mentions how important George and Kitty were to his success – this waywardness is reminiscent of Donald Trump’s lack of respect for his father Fred, a prominent New York real estate investor, who backed and supported Donald’s rise to fame and fortune. This is the shameful behavior of self-centered, narcissistic rich kids — born with silver spoons in their mouths – they lack respect or admiration for anyone except themselves.
Character matters, even if you are the governor, and in the case of Peter Shumlin good character is something that is sorely lacking!
Over the years, Shumlin has become a successful real estate speculator in and around Putney. Some of his more recent real estate deals have come under much scrutiny. One was the outrageously deal in which he convinced out-of-state friends to buy a prime 182 acre East Montpelier farmstead for over $600,000, using Foster Road LLC, a corporate entity formed to shield the identities of the participants. The limited liability corporation immediately sectioned off the best 27 acre parcel and “sold” it to Shumlin for about 25 percent of its market value. When the sweetheart deal, involving individuals who had previously supported Shumlin’s political ambitions, came to light, the governor refused to provide the press with details and walked out of a press conference when the questioning became too pointed.
Shortly after moving into his new 2,200 square foot East Montpelier home in 2012, Shumlin became interested in acquiring the Dodge family farmstead that adjoined his new “digs.” His neighbor, Jeremy Dodge — an individual of modest means — had inherited his parents’ farm. Unfamiliar with legal dealings, Jeremy had fallen into troubles relating to paying his property taxes. Not understanding the tax relief available to individuals with modest income, he had failed to file for relief that would have reduced his taxes and helped him to keep current on his taxes. When the town of East Montpelier listed his property for tax sale, Dodge had not understood the protections available to him and his family. Ever the opportunist, Shumlin seized upon the occasion to attempt to acquire the modest farmstead for pennies on the dollar.
Shumlin chose to use the Foster Road LLC entity to keep the deal from being associated with him. Shumlin was well aware of the law governing tax sales and that the deal he negotiated with Jeremy, without the advice of family or legal counsel, was outrageously advantageous to himself and exploitive toward Dodge. The complicated and convoluted deal was for Shumlin to pay Jeremy $58,000 for the homestead valued at $233,700. Unbelievably, Dodge would not receive $58,000 in cash; rather Shumlin would distribute the proceeds as follows: $18,994 deposit to allow Dodge to pay his overdue property taxes and $2,708 to satisfy a lien on the property for child support that had been owed by Dodge; $4,597 to pay the current year’s property taxes (customarily the responsibility of the buyer); $12,000 as a unspecified hold-back plus holdbacks of $9,000 for “repair credits” (apparently Dodge was to use his own money to fix up the dwelling); $9,000 for “prepaid occupancy charges” (Dodge was to pay Shumlin $1,000 a month to live in his own home for up to a year); and lastly $30 in settlement fees. At settlement, Dodge would receive only $1,670 in cash and presumably some portion of the $12,000 “holdback” distributed to Dodge when Shumlin was satisfied that Dodge had fulfilled his commitments and had vacated the premises. Shumlin’s deal would “net” Jeremy a little over $12,000 in cash when he finally vacated his $233,700 family farmstead – not exactly a neighborly deal!
In time, pressure from Dodge’s family, public outrage and an FBI investigation would convince Shumlin to abandon his efforts to acquire the Dodge property. Shumlin converted the monies he had paid to Dodge as “a deposit” into a $20,000+ mortgage in his favor, which is still outstanding and in force.
These are but a handful of Shumlin’s seemingly endless indiscretions. Shumlin is an individual unguided by ethical, moral or spiritual beacons; it is evident that wealth, power and self-interest are his only guiding lights — it is unreasonable for us to believe that this fellow will treat the citizens of Vermont with greater regard or more respect than he has his own parents, siblings, wife or neighbors. Character matters, even if you are the governor, and in the case of Peter Shumlin good character is something that is sorely lacking!
This January, Vermont’s Legislature has a unique opportunity to replace the rascal currently serving as Vermont’s governor with an honest, experienced individual a person of character. It is this writer’s considered opinion that Scott Milne (or Dan Feliciano) would provide Vermont with a fresh perspective and a more moderate course to renew and improve our mutual future and prosperity. We can only pray that our legislators will be inspired to do so!
Read the story on VTDigger here: H. Brooke Paige: Character matters.
