Gaye Symington:
Sunday a Mom,
Monday a Candidate
By John Freitag

On Mothers Day, Gaye Symington addresses a group of supporters in Strafford taking part in the annual "Mothers Acting Up" celebration. The next day, Symington announced she will seek the Democratic nomination for governor. The Strafford Meeting House pictured here is undoubtedly the most-photographed building in Vermont. (Herald / John Freitag)

Gaye Symington, who on Monday confirmed she is running to the bhe Democratic candidate for governor, showed a more personal side at the Mother’s Day celebration in Strafford.

Her formal announcement Monday made it certain that there will be a three-way race for governor, also including Republican Jim Douglas and Progressive Anthony Pollina.

But on Sunday she was just a mom.

In introducing her, Rep. Margaret Cheney described Symington as "focused" and "disciplined," listing her accomplishments, including an undergraduate degree from Williams College and MBA from Cornell, business experience and two terms as Speaker of the House in the Vermont Legislature.

In keeping with the theme of the day, Symington chose to talk more about the choices one makes as a mother. Having the responsibilities of raising three children has meant, she said, that she has always had to keep in mind what was going to be for dinner at home, while she wielded the gavel in the Statehouse.

Symington’s brief speech was primarily about the need to be involved in politics, even if it made you uncomfortable. There was a place, she added, for those who had the ability to listen as well as those who could speak. It seemed that on the eve of her quest for the highest office of the state, she was revisiting the core reasons she herself was in politics. For her that was, she said, her children.

A Representative from Jericho, Symington initially ran for office in her words, "to help make educational opportunities more equitable throughout our state."

She said that, for her, being involved in politics was not only at times uncomfortable for herself, but for her children, who are now teenagers, an age where parents in public can be a cause of embarrassment at times. She even admitted to having to bribe her kids at times to be in parades with her.

Dannette Harris, a science teacher at the Newton Elementary School, and one of the organizers of the event, which drew over 100 participants, said Gaye Symington came across to her as "caring, elegant, and very human." Particularly touching to Harris was the moment, at the end of her talk, when Symington asked the news camera that was present to be turned off, then sang a hymn a cappella.

"It just melted me," said Harris.