Independent gubernatorial candidate Anthony Pollina's involvement with Vermont Milk Company has become a sour point in the final days of his race for the state's top office.

Incumbent Gov. Jim Douglas' (R-Middlebury) campaign continued to highlight Pollina's ties to the Vermont Milk Company and their apparent failure to pay due wages to local farmers.

The Douglas camp said that the Vermont Milk Company has unpaid debts owed to local businesses and quoted Wayne Lamberton, owner of Lamberton Electric, as saying he did not received two checks for compensation but they had to be returned due to insufficient funds.  

"It is disingenuous for Anthony Pollina to travel around the state saying we should all invest in farmers and ‘buy local' when the company he started still owes small businesses money for work they did for him in good faith," said Douglas' campaign manager, Dennise Casey in a statement.  "Anthony Pollina's smooth talk rings hollow when his record shows that he did not fulfill his obligations to farmers and small businesses."

Vermont Milk Company Board Members Dexter Randall and Robert Thouron issued their own statements attacking the governor for politicizing the company. Pollina also responded stating: "It is really sad that Vermont politics has stooped so low. There are so many important issues and difficult struggles Vermonters are dealing with and this type of political maneuvering does nothing to address them." He also called Douglas "out of touch."

The controversy over the Vermont Milk Company began on Monday, when Pollina criticized Douglas over his agricultural policies. The governor's camp shot back pointing to Pollina's involvement in the company and has assailed the independent candidate over the issue ever since. The Douglas camp has also increased the frequency and intensity of their attacks on Pollina, and recent polls show the Independent has gained significantly in the polls.