Dear Neighbors: If you're like me -- a Democrat, interested in this month's primary -- you have been focussing on the gubernatorial candidates and have not paid much attention to the other races. So I thought I would offer a few thoughts about the state auditor's race -- because it is interesting and because some of you might find it helpful.
I voted the other day -- and, when I did so, I cast my ballot for state auditor candidate Doug Hoffer.
I did that even though I have never met Mr. Hoffer and have had no contact with him or his campaign. I'm voting for Doug Hoffer because I am familiar with his remarkable work as a policy analyst.
Many Vermonters these days support the "local first" movement, which coaleses around the notion of import substitution. In other words, a key aspect of helping Vermont's economy survive and thrive is to make and grow things here to the fullest extent possible. The most oft-cited bit of research to support this notion is the "Leaky Bucket" report that Doug Hoffer wrote in 2000. It is definitely worth a read.
Among the conclusions in the report (based on what is now outdated data): "If Vermont substituted local production for only ten percent of the food we import (10% of $1.808 billion = $181 million), it would result in $376 million in new economic output, including $69 million in personal earnings from 3,616 new jobs."
Or how about this: "Replacing $753.6 million of imports (6% of the total) with instate production would result in almost $1.4 billion in new output, $343 million in new earnings, and over 15,000 jobs."
Or this: "If we could capture $127 million of the market in revolving credit (10%), it would help retain about $20 million in interest in-state and result in $331 million in new economic activity, including $81 million in personal earnings from 3,712 new jobs."
A couple of years ago, an organization I played a small role in starting -- the Neighboring Food Coops Association (NFCA) -- commissioned Doug Hoffer to do a brief study of the economic impact of food co-ops in northwestern New England (the territory covered by the NFCA). I have a copy of what Mr. Hoffer produced and would be happy to send it upon request.
The report identified nearly $280 million in direct and indirect economic impacts through business enterprises that do not extract so much as a cent worth of wealth for outside investors.
I have never heard a candidate for high office in Vermont mention co-ops as an economic development strategy, despite their obvious advantages when compared to begging profit maximizing firms from out of state to deploy their resources in Vermont and maybe create some jobs. But even without having asked him, I know that Doug Hoffer viscerally understands the value of the cooperative sector of Vermont's economy.
In addition to the above-cited research and analysis, Mr. Hoffer (according to his campaign web site), under contract to the State Auditor from 1995 to 2000 and was the principal author of numerous performance audits and reviews. Acccording to the campaign web site, two reports dealt with performance measurement, which has been a weakness in state government for many years.
I really and truly do not have a dog in this fight. I am just someone who is familiar with Doug Hoffer's excellent reputation and am excited by the prospect of someone with his perspective and capabilities holding statewide office in Vermont -- particularly an office whose mission revolves around questions of money and accountability.
