1995 Burlington mayoral election

Last updated

1995 Burlington mayoral election
Flag of Burlington, Vermont (1990-2017).jpg
←  1993 March 7, 19951997 →
  Peter Clavelle.jpg No image.svg Paul Lafayette.png
Nominee Peter Clavelle Peter Brownell Paul Lafayette
Party Progressive Coalition Republican Democratic
Popular vote5,0554,8151,793
Percentage43.00%40.96%15.25%
1995 Burlington, Vermont mayoral election by city council district.svg
Results by city council district
Clavelle:
  Clavelle—60-70%
  Clavelle—50–60%
  Clavelle—40-50%

Brownell:
  Brownell—50-60%
  Brownell—40-50%
Mayor of Burlington before election

Peter Brownell
Republican

Elected Mayor of Burlington

Peter Clavelle
Progressive Coalition

On March 7, 1995 a mayoral election was held in Burlington, Vermont, United States. Progressive Coalition nominee Peter Clavelle, the former mayor who had lost reelection in the 1993 election, defeated incumbent Republican Mayor Peter Brownell, Democratic nominee Paul Lafayette, and other candidates.

Contents

Brownell ended the Progressive's control over the mayoralty with his victory in the 1993 election, but during his tenure the Progressives gained control over the city council. Michael Monte and Sharon Bushor, independent members of the city council, considered running for the mayoralty with the Progressive nomination, but declined after Clavelle announced his campaign. Lafayette, the Democratic mayoral nominee from the 1987 election, ran in the election.

Clavelle won in the election with a plurality of the vote after outspending Brownell and Lafayette. His victory was attributed to Brownell and Lafayette splitting the vote and his campaign organization. He was the first mayor since James Edmund Burke in the 1933 election to return to the position after losing reelection. Brownell is the most recent Republican to have served as mayor of Burlington.

Background

Peter Brownell's victory in the 1993 election against Progressive Coalition Mayor Peter Clavelle was the first time a Republican had won Burlington's mayoralty since Edward A. Keenan left office in 1965, and ended the Progressive's control over the mayoralty which started with Bernie Sanders' victory in the 1981 election. [1]

The Progressive Coalition gained control of the city council after the 1994 election after gaining two seats and having three independent members caucus with them. [2] [3] During the 1994 elections there were two ballot initiatives to increase taxes, one was a $3.5 tax increase and another was a $1.26 school tax increase, and Brownell supported both ballot measures, but both were defeated in the election. [4] [5]

Campaign

Candidates

Democratic

Paul Lafayette, a Democratic member of the city council who ran in the 1987 election, announced that he would run for the Democratic mayoral nomination on November 17, 1994, and formally launched his campaign on January 3, 1995. [6] [7] The Democrats gave Lafayette at their caucus on January 12, after former Governor Philip H. Hoff nominated him. [8]

Progressive Coalition

Clavelle announced on November 17, 1994, that he would seek the Progressive Coalition's mayoral nomination. [6] Michael Monte, an independent member of the city council, announced on November 21, that he would not run in the mayoral election and would instead support Clavelle stating that he "only considered running for mayor if Peter Clavelle didn't throw his hat in the ring". [9] Sharon Bushor, another independent member of the city council, announced on November 23, that she would not run for the Progressive Coalition's nomination and gave her support to Clavelle. [10] Clavelle received the Progressive Coalition's nomination at its caucus on November 29, after being nominated by Bushor and formally launched his campaign on January 7, 1995. [11] [12] [13]

Republican

Brownell announced that he would seek reelection on January 9, 1995, and was given the Republican nomination at the party's caucus on January 18, after being nominated by Sara Gear, a member of the Vermont Senate. [14] [15]

Other

Haik Bedrosian, who ran in the 1991 election, announced that he would run for mayor as an independent on November 23, 1994. [9] [13] However, he dropped out and ran to succeed Brian Pine, a Progressive Coalition member of the city council, who was retiring due to the upcoming birth of his first child. [14] [16] Bedrosian defeated Democratic nominee John Patch in the election. [17] Michael Brown ran as an independent and Louis Beaudin ran under the A Concerned Voter ballot line. [13] [18] Paul Cook, who previously ran for mayor in the 1993 election, ran on the People for Effective Efficient Government ballot line, but dropped out and endorsed Clavelle although Cook remained on the ballot as they were already printed. [19] [20]

General election

There was a public forum held by the Downtown Burlington Development Association and attended by Brownell, Clavelle, and Lafayette. During the forum Beaudin took control of the microphone to complain about the exclusion of other mayoral candidates from the forum. [21] Another forum was held by the Ward 4 and 7 Neighborhood Planning Assembly with all of the mayoral candidates in attendance. [22] There were three debates held during the campaign. [23]

During the campaign Clavelle had raised $41,020 and spent $40,644, Brownell raised $22,263 and spent $16,527, and Paul Lafayette raised $16,152 and spent $16,040. 1,166 people donated to Clavelle's campaign, 283 to Brownell's campaign, and 200 to Lafayette's campaign. Lafayette received an $1,000 donation from Alan Bjerke, a member of the Vermont House of Representatives, and a $425 donation from Hoff. [24] During the 1993 campaign Clavelle had 220 volunteers working on his campaign while during the 1995 campaign he had over 300 volunteers. [25] [26]

Clavelle won the election and placed first in four wards while Brownell placed first in three wards. [27] Clavelle received more than the forty percent of the popular vote required to avoid a runoff election. [28] The composition of the city council changed from five Progressives, four Democrats, three independents, and two Republicans to five Progressives, four Republicans, three independents, and two Democrats after the election. [17] [2] Clavelle was the first mayor of Burlington since James Edmund Burke in the 1933 election to return to the position after losing reelection. [29] Brownell is the most recent Republican to have served as mayor of Burlington. [30]

Lafayette stated on March 3, that his supporters were tactical voting for either Brownell or Clavelle and not for him as they were afraid of splitting the vote and allowing the candidate they liked less to win. [31] Garrison Nelson, a political science professor at the University of Vermont, stated that Clavelle won due to his campaign organization and Lafayette splitting Brownell's vote. [32]

Results

1995 Burlington mayoral election [27]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Progressive Coalition Peter Clavelle 5,055 43.00% -2.46%
Republican Peter Brownell (incumbent)4,81540.96%-11.52%
Democratic Paul Lafayette1,79315.25%+15.25%
Independent Michael Brown420.36%+0.36%
A Concerned VoterLouis Beaudin370.31%+0.31%
People for Effective Efficient GovernmentPaul A. Cook140.12%-0.32%
Total votes11,756 100.00%

Results by ward

WardClavelleVotesBrownellVotesLafayetteVotesBrownVotesBeaudinVotesCookVotesTotal votes [27] Votes
Ward 154.86%76833.57%47010.93%1530.07%10.57%80.00%0100.00%1,400
Ward 263.98%69820.99%22913.20%1441.37%150.37%40.09%1100.00%1,091
Ward 357.44%83024.64%35616.96%2450.55%80.07%10.35%5100.00%1,445
Ward 429.00%64556.29%1,25214.16%3150.09%20.31%70.13%3100.00%2,224
Ward 538.07%74742.97%84318.30%3590.36%70.31%60.00%0100.00%1,962
Ward 647.76%79941.54%6959.98%1670.18%30.36%60.18%3100.00%1,673
Ward 728.96%56849.46%97020.91%4100.31%60.25%50.10%2100.00%1,961

Endorsements

Brownell endorsements
Newspapers
Clavelle endorsements
Federal officials
Local officials
Organizations
  • Burlington Police Association [35]
  • Champlain Valley Labor Council, coalition of AFL–CIO affiliated unions [36]
Notable individuals
  • Paul Cook, mayoral candidate [20]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peter Clavelle</span> American politician

Peter A. Clavelle is an American politician who served as the 38th and 40th mayor of Burlington, Vermont, and was the first member of a third party to hold the office since James Edmund Burke in 1935. Bernie Sanders also won several elections as an independent candidate in the 1980s, defeating both Republican and Democratic candidates. Sanders and Clavelle founded the Vermont Progressive Party during Sanders' time as mayor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bob Kiss</span> American politician

Bob Kiss is an American politician and former mayor of Burlington, Vermont. Kiss was a member of the Vermont House of Representatives from January 2001 until he stepped down to assume office as mayor of Burlington, following his election to that office in March 2006. He is a member of the Vermont Progressive Party. Kiss won re-election in 2009, and was endorsed by Vermont's Independent U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders. In November 2011, Kiss announced that he would not seek re-election in the 2012 Burlington mayoral election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Terry Bouricius</span> American politician

Terrill G. Bouricius is an American politician who served in the Vermont House of Representatives from the Chittenden-7-4 district from 1991 to 2001, as a member of the Vermont Progressive Party. Prior to his tenure in the state house, he served on the city council in Burlington, Vermont, from 1981 to 1991, from the 2nd district, and served as president of the city council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dean Corren</span> American politician and scientist (1955–2023)

Dean Russel Corren was an American politician and scientist who served in the Vermont House of Representatives from the Chittenden 7-3 district from 1993 to 2000, as an independent and member of the Progressive Coalition. He unsuccessfully ran for lieutenant governor of Vermont in 2014. Corren was the third member of the Progressive Party elected to the state legislature.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1988 United States House of Representatives election in Vermont</span> Congressional election

The 1988 United States House of Representatives election in Vermont was held on November 8, 1988. Republican nominee Peter Plympton Smith defeated independent candidate Bernie Sanders and Democratic nominee Paul N. Poirier.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1981 Burlington mayoral election</span> Election in Vermont, U.S., won by Bernie Sanders

The 1981 Burlington mayoral election was held March 3, 1981. Bernie Sanders, who ran as an independent candidate, defeated incumbent Democratic Mayor Gordon Paquette, who was seeking a sixth term as Mayor of Burlington, Vermont, and Richard Bove.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1983 Burlington mayoral election</span> Mayoral election

The 1983 Burlington mayoral election was held March 1, 1983. Incumbent Mayor Bernie Sanders won with 52.12% of the popular vote against Democratic nominee Judith Stephany and Republican nominee James Gilson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1985 Burlington mayoral election</span> Mayoral election

The 1985 Burlington mayoral election was held March 5, 1985. Incumbent Mayor Bernie Sanders won with 56.09% of the popular vote against Democratic nominee Brian D. Burns, independent Diane Gallagher, and various other minor candidates.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1987 Burlington mayoral election</span> Mayoral election

The 1987 Burlington mayoral election was held on March 3, 1987. Incumbent Mayor Bernie Sanders won election to his fourth and final term as mayor with 55.23% of the popular vote against Democratic nominee Paul Lafayette, a member of the city council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1989 Burlington mayoral election</span> Mayoral election

The 1989 Burlington mayoral election was held on March 3, 1989. Incumbent Independent Mayor Bernie Sanders did not seek reelection to a fifth term. Peter Clavelle ran as an independent candidate, with the support of the Progressive Coalition, and defeated Democratic nominee Nancy Chioffi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carina Driscoll</span> American politician

Carina Nicole Driscoll is an American politician who served in the Vermont House of Representatives from Chittenden County from 2001 to 2003, as a member of the Vermont Progressive Party. She also served on the city council in Burlington, Vermont, and unsuccessfully sought the city's mayoralty in the 2018 election.

Peter C. Brownell is an American politician who served as the 39th Mayor of Burlington, Vermont. Prior to his tenure as mayor he was active in local politics with him serving on the school board and the city council. After his tenure as mayor he served in the Vermont Senate. He is the most recent Republican elected as mayor of Burlington.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert K. Bing</span> American politician (1930–2023)

Robert Kendrew Bing was an American politician and lawyer who served as the 33rd Mayor of Burlington, Vermont.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mayoralty of Bernie Sanders</span> 1981–1989 mayoralty of Burlington, Vermont

Bernie Sanders served as the 37th Mayor of Burlington, Vermont, from April 6, 1981, to April 4, 1989. Sanders' administration was the first socialist one in New England since the mayoralty of Jasper McLevy. He was regarded as a successful mayor that instituted multiple economic policies in Burlington, and was selected as one of the twenty best mayors in the United States by U.S. News & World Report in 1987. He was active in foreign affairs, primarily in Latin America in which he criticized the policy of the United States and visited Cuba, Nicaragua, and the Soviet Union, and was criticized for it by his opponents.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 Burlington mayoral election</span> Mayoral election

The 2021 Burlington mayoral election was held on March 2, 2021. Incumbent Democratic Mayor Miro Weinberger defeated Progressive nominee Max Tracy, independent Ali Dieng, and various other minor candidates. Weinberger's victory by 129 votes was the smallest margin of victory in Burlington's mayoral elections since Bernie Sanders' ten vote victory in 1981.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Selene Colburn</span> American politician from Vermont

Selene Colburn is an American politician currently serving in the Vermont House of Representatives from the Chittenden-6-4 district since 2017 as a member of the Vermont Progressive Party. Prior to her tenure in the State House, she served on the city council in Burlington, Vermont. She is the first female chair of the House Progressive Caucus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1991 Burlington mayoral election</span> Mayoral election

The 1991 Burlington mayoral election was held on March 3, 1991 to elect the mayor of Burlington, Vermont. Incumbent independent Mayor Peter Clavelle ran as the candidate of the Progressive Coalition, and defeated Haik Bedrosian, Daniel Gregory, and Michael Hackett, who all ran as independent candidates. The Democratic and Republican parties did not run candidates in this election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1993 Burlington mayoral election</span> Mayoral election

The 1993 Burlington mayoral election was held on March 2, 1993. Republican nominee Peter Brownell defeated incumbent Progressive Coalition Mayor Peter Clavelle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2006 Burlington mayoral election</span>

On March 6, 2006 a mayoral election was held in Burlington, Vermont, United States. Incumbent Mayor Peter Clavelle declined to seek reelection and Progressive nominee Bob Kiss was elected to succeed him.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emma Mulvaney-Stanak</span> American politician

Emma Mulvaney-Stanak is an American politician who serves in the Vermont House of Representatives from the Chittenden-17 district as a member of the Vermont Progressive Party. Prior to her tenure in the state house she served on the city council in Burlington, Vermont, and as chair of the Vermont Progressive Party.

References

  1. ↑ "Brownell Wins". The Burlington Free Press . March 3, 1993. p. 1. Archived from the original on May 18, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. 1 2 "City GOP gains spirit, not seats". The Burlington Free Press . March 10, 2002. p. 11. Archived from the original on May 18, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ↑ "Voters Demonstrate Mood of Generosity". Rutland Herald . March 2, 1994. p. 1. Archived from the original on May 18, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ "Brownell supports 6¢ tax increase". The Burlington Free Press . January 21, 1994. p. 15. Archived from the original on May 18, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ "Tax measures go down to defeat in Burlington". The Burlington Free Press . March 2, 1994. p. 17. Archived from the original on May 18, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. 1 2 "Clavelle wants mayoral rematch". The Burlington Free Press . November 18, 1994. p. 1. Archived from the original on May 18, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ↑ "6-year city councilor joins 6-man race to be mayor". The Burlington Free Press . January 4, 1995. p. 13. Archived from the original on May 18, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ↑ "City Democrats endorse Lafayette". The Burlington Free Press . January 13, 1995. p. 17. Archived from the original on May 19, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. 1 2 3 "Monte decides against run for mayor's seat". The Burlington Free Press . November 22, 1994. p. 3. Archived from the original on May 18, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. 1 2 "Bushor drops out of mayoral race". The Burlington Free Press . November 24, 1994. p. 19. Archived from the original on May 18, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ↑ "Clavelle candidacy official". The Burlington Free Press . November 30, 1994. p. 15. Archived from the original on May 19, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ↑ "Clavelle Officially Running for Mayor". Rutland Herald . December 1, 1994. p. 14. Archived from the original on May 19, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. 1 2 3 4 "Former mayor kicks off campaign". The Burlington Free Press . January 8, 1995. p. 9. Archived from the original on May 18, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. 1 2 "Brownell to seek re-election". The Burlington Free Press . January 10, 1995. p. 15. Archived from the original on May 18, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ↑ "GOP: '2 more years' for Brownell". The Burlington Free Press . January 19, 1995. p. 3. Archived from the original on May 19, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ↑ "2 seek council seat held by Progressive". The Burlington Free Press . January 27, 1995. p. 17. Archived from the original on May 18, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. 1 2 "Progressives hold council". The Burlington Free Press . March 8, 1995. p. 11. Archived from the original on May 18, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ↑ "Experience changes Brownell". The Burlington Free Press . January 16, 1995. p. 13. Archived from the original on May 19, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ↑ "Mayor: Candidates offer alternative". The Burlington Free Press . February 25, 1995. p. 15. Archived from the original on May 19, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. 1 2 "Mayoral hopeful drops out of race". The Burlington Free Press . March 3, 1995. p. 3. Archived from the original on May 19, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ↑ "Contenders press Brownell on economy". The Burlington Free Press . February 2, 1995. p. 13. Archived from the original on May 19, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ↑ "Hopefuls pitch services to New North End". The Burlington Free Press . February 17, 1995. p. 19. Archived from the original on May 19, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ↑ "Candidates converge on New North End". The Burlington Free Press . February 21, 1995. p. 13. Archived from the original on May 19, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. ↑ "Clavelle coffer tops opponents'". The Burlington Free Press . March 21, 1995. p. 13. Archived from the original on May 18, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. ↑ "Campaigns take divergent paths". The Burlington Free Press . February 26, 1993. p. 13. Archived from the original on May 19, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  26. ↑ "Clavelle gears up for last leg of race". The Burlington Free Press . March 3, 1995. p. 3. Archived from the original on May 19, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  27. 1 2 3 Statement of Votes Annual City Meeting (Report). Burlington, Vermont. March 7, 1995. p. 258.
  28. ↑ "Clavelle wants consolidation". The Burlington Free Press . February 23, 1995. p. 7. Archived from the original on May 19, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  29. ↑ "No end to politics in this state". The Burlington Free Press . November 23, 1994. p. 15. Archived from the original on May 19, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  30. ↑ "The Elephant in the Room: Are Burlington Republicans a Dying Breed?". Seven Days . February 7, 2018. Archived from the original on May 19, 2022.
  31. ↑ "Lafayette makes promise of harmony". The Burlington Free Press . March 4, 1995. p. 19. Archived from the original on May 19, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  32. ↑ "Clavelle squeaks by Brownell". The Burlington Free Press . March 8, 1995. p. 1. Archived from the original on May 19, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  33. ↑ "Brownell for re-election". The Burlington Free Press . February 27, 1995. p. 4. Archived from the original on May 19, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  34. ↑ "Reappraisal burden". The Burlington Free Press . February 26, 1995. p. 36. Archived from the original on May 19, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  35. ↑ "Brownell likely headed for defeat". The Burlington Free Press . March 3, 1995. p. 1. Archived from the original on May 19, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  36. ↑ "Unions endorse Clavelle". The Burlington Free Press . January 24, 1995. p. 5. Archived from the original on May 19, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.