Former Vermont governor to end run as town moderator

MIDDLEBURY, Vt. (AP) - Former Vermont governor Jim Douglas says he is ending his run as longtime Middlebury town moderator.

Douglas tells Vermont Public Radio after 30 years, it is time to give someone else a chance at running.

Moderators are responsible for overseeing Town Meeting Day gatherings across the state.

Douglas says the most memorable town meeting he moderated was in 2003 after he was elected governor.

He says he believes “the tradition of direct democracy” is worth preserving.

When asked about next year’s presidential election, Douglas says he’s “open to credible alternatives.”

But, he says he would not participate in a “quixotic” attempt to unseat the president.

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Information from: WVPS-FM, http://www.vpr.net