Addison County State’s Attorney Eva Vekos, left, and Windsor County Sheriff Ryan Palmer have not filed paperwork to run for their current positions again. Photos by Glenn Russell/VTDigger Two elected county law enforcement officials in Vermont who rebuffed calls to resign that came from politi cal leaders across parties, including Gov. Phil Scott, did not file for reelection. Addison County State’s Attorney Eva Vekos and Windsor County Sheriff Ryan Palmer, both Democrats, did not submit paperwork by the May 28 deadline to appear on the ballot for the primary election in August. Neither Vekos nor Palmer had publicly announced whether they would be running for reelection.  Both Vekos and Palmer have faced legal troubles, with Vekos convicted in December of driving under the influence and Palmer arrested in January on several felony charges, including lewd and lascivious conduct.  Both Vekos and Palmer had rejected calls to step down from their posts.  They’re only two of the latest in a long recent list of county law enforcement officials who have been accused of breaking the law or who resigned amid controversy.  Another countywide law enforcement official in Vermont facing legal trouble — Grand Isle State’s Attorney Douglas DiSabito — did file for reelection. He pleaded not guilty last month to a charge of driving under the influence. Vekos, in response to a reporter’s question in December about whether she planned to resign, wrote, “absolutely not.” Palmer, asked by a reporter after a court appearance in January, said he would not be resigning, though he did say he would step away from overseeing the day-to-day operations of the department. Vekos, in response to questions Friday about her decision not to seek reelection, sent an emailed statement to VTDigger that was addressed to the press and the Addison County community. “With a heavy but resolute heart, I write to confirm that I will not be seeking re-election as State’s Attorney for Addison County,” Vekos wrote. “The last three and a half years have been the most challenging and rewarding of my 30-year career as an attorney, litigator and advocate.” Vekos wrote that highlights during her tenure included work to seek justice, while challenges included staffing constraints.   “As my term comes to a close, I look forward to exciting new opportunities in the future,” Vekos added. “The decision to step aside from public office is a complicated one.” Vekos, in a follow-up email, confirmed that she planned to serve out her term that runs through January. Palmer did not return messages Friday seeking comment. DiSabito, the Grand Isle state’s attorney, also could not be reached Friday for comment.  Vekos and Palmer were each serving their first four-year term in office, having been elected to their posts in November 2022. DiSabito had announced in March, before his arrest, that he would be seeking a fourth term.  The Vekos backstory  The drunken driving charge against Vekos stemmed from her arrest in January 2024, when she was accused of driving impaired to the scene of a suspicious death investigation in Bridport.  Vekos pleaded no contest to the charge in December, and her sentence was deferred for six months, meaning her record could be wiped clean if she commits no violations during that time. Jon Alexander, counsel for the state board that regulates lawyers in Vermont, then moved to have Vekos’ law license suspended in anticipation of disciplinary proceedings against her.  He contended in court filings that Vekos tried to use her position to interfere with the officers’ investigation of her for drunken driving, an allegation she disputed through her attorney. READ MORE The Vermont Supreme Court in April suspended Vekos’ law license while disciplinary proceedings stemming from her drunken driving conviction play out. Despite the suspension, Vekos continues to serve as state’s attorney, as state law does not require a person in that post to have a law license. But that person is limited in what duties they can perform, mainly restricted to administrative tasks, since they can’t practice law and can’t take part in court hearings. Peter Bevere, a Middlebury Democrat and deputy state’s attorney in Rutland County, is the only candidate who has stepped forward to run for Addison County state’s attorney, according to filings with the Vermont secretary of state’s office.  The Palmer backstory and possible successors Palmer pleaded not guilty earlier this year to several charges, including lewd and lascivious conduct and soliciting prostitution. The charges stem from a Vermont State Police investigation into Palmer’s alleged actions with several women. After his arrest, the Vermont Criminal Justice Council temporarily suspended his police certification. Palmer has said he has since stepped away from running the day-to-day operations of the sheriff’s department, with another person in the department carrying out those duties.  READ MORE Several candidates have filed to run for Windsor County sheriff. Richard King, of Springfield, a lieutenant in the Windsor County Sheriff’s Department, is the only Republican running.  The Democrats include Claude Weyant, the chief deputy of the Windsor County Sheriff’s Department, who is currently overseeing day-to-day operations there and lives in Windsor.  The other Democratic candidates are Bellows Falls Police Patrolman Joshua Lake, of Chester, and Christopher Norton, a Windham County Sheriff’s Department sergeant who lives in Springfield. The DiSabito case In Grand Isle County, DiSabito is the only candidate running for the state’s attorney post, filing in the Democratic primary, according to the Vermont secretary of state’s office listing of candidates.  DiSabito was arrested in April after police alleged he arrived at Franklin County Superior Court in St. Albans displaying signs of intoxication, according to charging documents. A later breath test revealed an alcohol concentration of 0.084%, higher than the 0.08% legal limit for driving in Vermont, the documents said. The case against DiSabito remains pending. The next hearing is set for July 15, according to court records. Read the story on VTDigger here: County prosecutor and sheriff who rebuffed calls to resign don’t file for reelection. ...read more read less