Deb Richter is busy. When PolitickerVT.com tried to schedule an interview with the one-time would-be lieutenant governor candidate, she wrote in an email that her 7:30 a.m. morning commute was the best way to pin her down. "I doubt I will get a break during my ‘lunch hour,'" Richter wrote.

Having made her decision not to run for lieutenant governor earlier this week, the Cambridge physician says she is relieved not having to divide her time between her patients and a "horrendous schedule of campaigning."

But at the same time, Richter, who is deeply entrenched in the issue of healthcare reform, is disappointed that she couldn't run the campaign she would've liked to. She says the task of a statewide campaign is something she "vastly underestimated."

Asked about a future run for the state's No. 2 job, Richter, who planned to run as a Democrat, told PolitickerVT.com: "That's an option I'm leaving open." With more careful planning and preparation, Richter added, "I will definitely have to consult Howard Dean if I do this again," referring to the current Democratic National Committee chairman that doubled as a physician when he served as Vermont's lieutenant governor.

This past year, Richter utilized the Vermont Legislature as her venue for advocacy. Richter partnered with Rep. Francis "Topper" McFaun (R-Barre Town) to support H.304, a bill that would have created a statewide hospital budget.

Perhaps a result of the bill's legislative fate, Richter is not interested in running for the state legislature. The appeal of being lieutenant governor, Richter says: "Is that I could continue to work as a physician, while having a platform for healthcare reform in the statehouse."

Delivering news of her ultimate decision not to run to Democratic Party leaders was received with encouragement, graciousness and guidance, Richter said.

Absent from her post-candidacy talks was any discussion about who would fill the bottom of a ticket led by Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gaye Symington, the former state House speaker."It's their party," Richter said. "I felt it was not appropriate to suggest someone."
Who will it be? "I haven't a clue," said Richter, "I must not be in the right circles."

Though she will sit this election cycle out, Richter said she would like to see either state Sen. John Campbell (D-Quechee) or state Sen. Richard McCormack (D-Bethel) mount a challenge against the Republican incumbent, Lt. Gov. Brian Dubie.

Richter's withdrawal from politics, however temporary, will be a complete one. Richter says she will not endorse any of the candidates running for governor. "At this point," she said, "it would be a distraction."

UPDATE, 2:11 p.m.:

• A flattered McCormack won’t run for Lt. Gov.