Shepard runs write-in campaign
By Terri Hallenbeck | Burlington Free Press Staff Writer | October 28, 2008
Contact Terri Hallenbeck at 651-4887 or thallenb@bfp.burlingtonfreepress.com
Mark Shepard, who lost the Republican primary for the U.S House two years ago to Martha Rainville, has dug his old
signs out of the basement and launched a write-in campaign.
Shepard, a former state senator from Bennington,
said the bailout package Congress recently passed drove him to act. "I'm
throwing myself out there as an option," he said.
Rep. Peter Welch, a Democrat who defeated Rainville two years ago, is running
for re-election and this time has also won the Republican nomination. Five
other candidates are also in the race.
Shepard said the $700 billion bailout package won't solve the underlying
problems that led to the credit crisis and that he thinks Congress, including
Welch, acted out of fear rather than reason. Congress should instead address
the faulty lending policies banks used and look at removing the capital gains
tax to stimulate the economy, he said.
Some of Shepard's 2-year-old lawn signs are dotting roadsides around Burlington, among other
places. He acknowledged a write-in campaign is the longest of long shots.
"I'm not measuring the drapes," he said.
Shepard said he voted a couple weeks ago, before the bailout package emerged
and before his own candidacy re-emerged. "I didn't vote for me," he
said, but cast his ballot for fellow Bennington resident Mike Bethel, an independent.
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