The Race For Mayor
On Town Meeting Day in March, Burlington voters will go to the polls to elect a
new mayor. While the Progressive Party has held the mayor’s office for 28 of the
last 30 years, some voters say it is now time for a change.
At the Democratic mayoral caucus in mid-November a vote ended in a tie between State Senator Tim Ashe and Airport Commissioner Miro Weinberger. Burlington Democrats reconvened in December and nominated Weinberger.
With Progressive Mayor Bob Kiss having decided that he won’t seek reelection, Burlington Progressives say they won’t nominate their own candidate.
City Councilor Kurt Wright is the only Republican who has entered the race, kicking-off his campaign in December by announcing that he would like to sell the Burlington Electric Department.
Wanda Hines, a graduate of Burlington High School, is running for mayor
as an Independent. The former Director of the Chittenden Emergency
Food Shelf promises a more equitable Burlington for community
members and businesses.
Analysis: Burlington Mayoral Race Taking Shape
The Candidates
Miro Weinberger – Democrat
Airport Commissioner Miro Weinberger describes himself as a small business
owner who wants to restore Burlington’s fiscal responsibility. On his
campaign website, he says the most important job of the next administration
must be to put Burlington’s
finances in order. Wienberger says the next mayor must define the full extent
of the City’s financial problem and obligations, identify savings and
efficiencies. He says what everyone loves about Burlington
has been put at risk by the Kiss administration.
In His Own Words
Kurt Wright – Republican
City Councilor Kurt Wright would be Burlington’s first Republican mayor in
16 years. In 2009, Wright lost the mayor’s race to Progressive Bob Kiss. Wright says, if
elected, his top priority would be to restore the city’s fiscal responsibility
and its credit rating. To do so, Wright, a sales representative in the food
industry, has proposed that the city sell its municipal electric utility,
Burlington Electric.
Campaign Website 
@KurtWright2012
In His Own Words
Wanda Hines – Independent
Wanda Hines, a graduate of Burlington High School, is running for mayor as an Independent. Hines received her Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration and Community Development at Burlington College after several years of strategic organizing for social change. Hines says the City needs to ensure that all are welcome to participate in governmental decision making. As the former Director of the Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf, she promises a more equitable Burlington for community members and businesses.
VPR wants to hear from you:
• What characteristics are
you looking for in Burlington’s
next mayor?
• What issues are most important
to you in this race?
Post your comments below.
Earlier Candidates
Bram Kranichfeld – Democrat
City Councilor Bram Kranichfeld is seeking the Democratic nomination for
mayor of Burlington. Kranichfeld
was the first Democrat elected to his City Council seat in over 20 years, and
the criminal prosecutor says he wants to renew Burlington’s
focus on safe neighborhoods and a vibrant downtown. If elected, he says his top
priority would be to improve the city’s public schools. UPDATE: Kranichfeld went out in the second round of the first Democratic mayoral caucus.
In His Own Words
Jason Lorber – Democrat
State Representative Jason Lorber says the next mayor of Burlington needs
to be the city’s chief marketing officer as well as its chief diversity
advocate. The marketing professional says he has the background to connect
people by being the face of Burlington.
Like his counterparts in the democratic race, Lorber says his top priority as
mayor would be to restore trust and financial stability by increasing
transparency and accountability. He has pledged to defend what he calls Burlington’s
greatest values of protecting workers’ rights and collective bargaining. UPDATE: Lorber bowed out of the race after losing the first round of voting in the Burlington Democratic mayoral caucus.
Campaign Website @VermontJason
In His Own Words
Tim Ashe – Democrat
Progressive-Democratic State Senator Tim Ashe
joined the large field of potential democratic nominees just days before the
party’s first debate. Ashe said he entered the race because he believes he’s
best equipped to move the city forward. Ashe, a former congressional staffer
for Senator Bernie Sanders, has served three terms on the Burlington City
Council and he’s currently in his second term as a state senator.
Campaign Website @TimAsheforMayor