Article 4 of the Vermont State Constitution reads as follows: "Every person within this state ought to find a certain remedy, by having recourse to the laws, for all injuries or wrongs which one may receive in person, property or character; every person ought to obtain right and justice, freely, and without being obliged to purchase it; completely and without any denial; promptly and without delay; conformability to the laws."

On Tuesday I will receive fewer votes than the incumbent. That was a fact well known from the beginning. Third party candidates do not have a large party machine to support them. Also, in Vermont, as across the nation, the Press does not cover the campaigns of third party candidates. A well financed, well connected Incumbent is guaranteed a win in most elections. The Press marginalizes third party candidates to "Also Ran" status.

The Burlington Free Press made its endorsement of the Incumbent Attorney General without even interviewing the other candidates. That's not how the democratic process is supposed to work. Legally a newspaper can do anything it wants. That is not the issue. The issue is not about the legal rights of the Press. The issue is one of journalistic ethics.

The common practice of conceding after an election might be the nice thing to do sometimes; but, in the words of the Dixie Chicks, "I'm not ready to make nice." There are good reasons not to make nice right now. I have heard from too many who have been abused by the system. Conceding now would trivialize the abuse that they have suffered at the hands of the legal system.

My loyalty is to every disenfranchised citizen, the little guy, the underdog, not to the power structure in Montpelier or any other state capital.

Another reason for not conceding is because it would imply that the election process is a fair one and that all candidates have had an opportunity to state their case. In addition to that, conceding has always seemed to me, to be like saying that the candidate did not really mean all of the things that he said during the campaign. I meant everything that I said and I am ready to say even more. I plan to keep talking until it is time for the next election.

There are other reasons why I will not concede. As a candidate my goal was to get as many votes as possible so that a message could be sent. Reform will happen only when the voters demand it by voting for reform candidates. My battle for justice for all, young and old, rich and poor will go on.

My Thesaurus defines "concede" as yield and surrender. Now is not the time for surrender. Now is the time for every citizen to stand united in a fight for justice for all. I will not concede until every citizen is given the rights and protections guaranteed by the State Constitution, specifically Article 4. I will not concede until there is an official mechanism set up, such as a hotline, so that all citizens who have been abused by the system will have a voice. I will not concede until the influence of politics, money, and cronyism is taken out of the court system. I will not concede until there is an investigation of many of the cases handled by the Office of the AG in recent years. I will not concede because my campaign will continue until there is reform. My epitaph will read, "I told you I would not concede." I have just begun to fight. I need the help of every citizen who cares about Justice.

Rosemarie Jackowski is the Liberty Union Candidate for Vermont Attorney General. She can be reached at: dissent@sover.net.