A Vermont state senator's decision to seek re-election despite facing trial next month on felony sexual assault charges is not drawing much support from senior colleagues.
Republican Senator Norm McAllister filed papers Monday seeking a third term representing Franklin County. The filing deadline is Thursday. He said Tuesday he expects to be acquitted of the charges, but by then it would be long past the filing deadline.
The Senate's top Republican, Minority Leader Joe Benning, says he wishes that McAllister had decided otherwise and that he were running as an independent.
The leader of the Democratic majority, Sen. Phil Baruth, doubts McAllister will survive the Republican primary in August. In the GOP primary, he'll face fellow incumbent Sen. Dustin Degree and Rep. Carolyn Branagan.
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