1979 Burlington, Vermont mayoral election

1979 Burlington, Vermont mayoral election

← 1977 March 6, 1979 1981  →

Nominee Gordon Paquette Party Democratic Popular vote 5,089 Percentage 98.70%

Mayor of Burlington before election Gordon Paquette Democratic Elected Mayor of Burlington Gordon Paquette Democratic

The 1979 Burlington mayoral election was held on March 6, 1979 in order to elect the Mayor of Burlington, Vermont. Incumbent Democratic Mayor Gordon Paquette was easily re-elected to a fifth term.

Background

Gordon Paquette, a member of the city council, won election to the mayoralty of Burlington, Vermont, with the Democratic nomination in the 1971 election. ^[1] Paquette was reelected as mayor in the 1973, 1975, and 1977 elections with him taking over seventy percent of the popular vote in each election except in 1977. ^{[2] [3] [4] [5] [6]}

General election

Terence O'Brien, a member of the city council from the 4th ward, considered running against Paquette, but resigned on December 11, 1978, and accepted a job in Virginia. ^[7] Paquette announced that he would seek reelection on January 26, 1979, ^[8] and received the Democratic nomination on February 2. ^[9]

The Republican Party did not nominate a candidate. ^[10] Carol Brown launched a write-in campaign on February 28, in response to the Republicans not fielding a candidate. ^[11]

Results

General election results, March 6, 1979 ^[12]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Gordon Paquette (incumbent)	5,089	98.70
	Write-In	Carol Brown	67	1.30
Total votes			5,156	100.00
	Democratic hold

References

1. "William Foley Wins Bid for Rutland Mayor". Brattleboro Reformer . March 3, 1971. p. 2. Archived from the original on June 9, 2021. Retrieved June 9, 2021– via Newspapers.com.
2. "Paquette Wins 70 Per Cent of Burlington Vote". The Burlington Free Press . March 7, 1973. p. 17. Archived from the original on June 9, 2021. Retrieved June 9, 2021– via Newspapers.com.
3. "Paquette Sweeps All City Wards". The Burlington Free Press . March 5, 1975. p. 15. Archived from the original on June 9, 2021. Retrieved June 9, 2021– via Newspapers.com.
4. "Voter Turnout Is Light For Town Meeting Day". The Burlington Free Press . March 5, 1975. p. 1. Archived from the original on June 9, 2021. Retrieved June 9, 2021– via Newspapers.com.
5. "Paquette Reelected Easily". The Burlington Free Press . March 2, 1977. p. 1. Archived from the original on June 9, 2021. Retrieved June 9, 2021– via Newspapers.com.
6. "Ward 4 Switches, Picks Republicans". The Burlington Free Press . March 7, 1979. p. 3. Archived from the original on June 9, 2021. Retrieved June 9, 2021– via Newspapers.com.
7. "Alderman O'Brien Calling It Quits". Burlington Free Press . November 21, 1978. p. 1B. Archived from the original on May 15, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
8. Polumbaum, Judy (January 26, 1979). "Paquette Seeks His Fifth Term". Barre Montpelier Times Argus . p. 6. Archived from the original on May 15, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
9. "Paquette Officially Gets Democrats' Nod". Burlington Free Press . February 3, 1979. p. 2B. Archived from the original on May 15, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
10. Polumbaum, Judy (January 26, 1979). "Burlington GOP Can't Be Beaten, If No One Runs". Barre Montpelier Times Argus . p. 14. Archived from the original on May 15, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
11. "Burlington Woman Running For Mayor". Barre Montpelier Times Argus . March 1, 1979. p. 6. Archived from the original on May 15, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
12. "Burlington, VT Mayor" . Retrieved November 20, 2023.