Danny Gore Lobbies the Vermont Senate for Permission to Build a Casino in Essex County

In a pre-April Fool’s Day visit to the State House, Danny Gore lobbied the Senate Committee on Economic Development, Housing, and General Affairs to allow for the construction of a gambling casino in Essex County.

Legislators in Montpelier have been known to introduce some pretty foolish bills, but on Friday, March 30, a special and beloved legislator wannabe, lobbied senators to support one of his bills. He testified in front of the Senate Committee on Economic Development, Housing, and General Affairs to seek support for plans to build a gambling casino in the wilderness of Essex County, in a region known as Avery’s Gore.

Decked out in the campaign outfit that he wore during his 30-plus year run for governor, Norm Lewis, more commonly known by his alter-ego, Danny Gore, stated his case before the senate committee (a committee that is chaired by Senator Vince Illuzzi of Derby) for allowing his Cousin Casper to open a casino in the Gore. Danny suggested that a portion of the revenues could go toward the cost of education, which in turn would reduce the property tax burden for Vermonters.

While in Montpelier, Gore tried to spread some of his Avery’s Gore wisdom amongst the other legislators, including to Representative Duncan Kilmartin (left) of Newport, and Senator Vince Illuzzi of Derby.

The following is part of Gore’s petition that he provided the Senate.

“WHEREAS Avery’s Gore struggles to keep an affordable place to live, and …

WHEREAS a casino coupled with S.515/H.69 “Leave No Hunter Behind” will enhance income and jobs, and…

WHEREAS Cousin has created educational games of fun, skills, and chance far exceeding the mindless numbers games of the Vermont Lottery…

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Governor Jim accept this diorama of a wee-jack (egg-laying woodchuck) as a reminder to favor proposed legislation S.515/H.69 and an Act granting a mobile gaming license for Cousin’s Horse shed Casino…”

To those who don’t know Lewis, his run for governor was a good natured political satire in which he humorously fought to keep the rural Vermont character and culture in Vermont politics after political reapportionment shifted the balance of power from rural Vermont to the state’s urban centers. The retired school superintendent, who now lives in Danville, began his run for office in 1962. His days on the campaign trail ended in 1992 when, while standing on the State House steps, he declared victory and appointed himself the governor of the state. He quickly abdicated the governor's seat and went home to the Gore. To the best of his knowledge, at least in Danny Gore’s mind (I’m not sure what Norm Lewis thinks), while his race lasted 32 years, his time in office lasted for about seven minutes, minutes that he borrowed from the legally elected governor, Howard Dean, without the governor even knowing it.

Although he is no longer on the campaign trail, that hasn’t stopped Gore from keeping people laughing and thinking. Lewis has been playing Gore for so many years, that the two personalities, Gore, and Lewis, have virtually become intertwined into one. Unlike other so-called comedians who rely on crudeness as an excuse for humor, and who laugh at Vermonters and their way of life, each piece of Gore’s humor brings more than laughter, it provides a deeper moral meaning about life in Vermont, and life in general. And when he laughs, he laughs with Vermonters and all of our idiosyncrasies, not at us. There is a big difference.

This pre-April Fool’s trip to the State House isn’t the first time Gore has walked its halls spreading his wisdom and goodwill amongst the legislators. Among the other pieces of legislation that he has fought for is the protection of the single-lipped sucker and the egg-laying Woodchuck.

With the presidential campaign now heating up, I suggest that Danny consider a new race – for president.

Draft Danny Gore for President!

I have never kept it a secret that I think Danny Gore is by far the funniest Vermont comedian. He is a man that I admire and respect.