Ranked choice voting, which was used in the two prior elections, was repealed in 2010, amid scandals and declining popularity for Kiss' administration. Kiss declined to seek reelection and the Progressives declined to run a candidate for the first time in their history.
Weinberger defeated Tim Ashe, a Progressive, for the Democratic nomination and was later endorsed by former Progressive mayors Bernie Sanders and Peter Clavelle. This was the most expensive mayoral election in Burlington's history and Weinberger had the record for most expensive campaign, besting the record set in 2006.
Jason Lorber announced his campaign in August 2011,[7]Miro Weinberger on September 13,[4] and Bram Kranichfeld on September 14, 2011.[6] Ashe, a Progressive, was allowed by his party's by-laws to run for the Democratic nomination, but a Democrat could not run for the Progressive nomination.[8]
Three candidate forums were held.[9] The caucus on November 13 failed to select a winner after three rounds of balloting and a recount produced a tie between Ashe and Weinberger.[10] Another forum was held on December 8,[11] before Weinberger won the nomination on December 11.[12]
By October 14, Lorber raised $19,305.[13] Weinberg raised $42,320 and spent $49,961 while seeking the Democratic nomination.[14]
Incumbent Mayor Bob Kiss declined to seek reelection on November 30, 2011.[16] The Progressives held their caucus on December 11, but postponed a decision on their mayoral nomination until January.[17] Ashe said that he would not accept the Progressive nomination if he lost the Democratic nomination.[18] On January 22, the caucus, which Kiss did not attend, unanimously voted to not run a mayoral candidate. This was the first time the party did not run a mayoral candidate.[19][20]
Republican
Kurt Wright announced his campaign on September 20, 2011,[21] rather than seek reelection to the city council.[19] Tayt Brooks stepped down as chair of the Vermont Republican Party so that he could help Wright's campaign.[22] Democratic city councilor Dave Hartnett co-chaired Wright's campaign with Republican Charlie Smith and Democratic Planning Commissioner John Ewing managed it.[23] He received the nomination on December 11, at a caucus attended by 12 people.[24]
Campaign
Wanda Hines launched an independent campaign on January 6, 2012.[25] Wright was the first Republican to receive the endorsement of the Burlington Police Officers Association since Peter Brownell in 1993.[26] All three candidates participated in a debate on February 22, that had questions asked from Twitter users.[27]
Wright called for Weinberger to join him in releasing weekly campaign finance reports and limited themselves to $40,000 in spending,[28] but Weinberger declined.[29] By February, Wright had raised $32,611 and spent $15,143 to be left with $16,478 on hand while Weinberger raised $67,389 and spent $63,759 to be left with $3,630 on hand.[14] Wright criticized Weinberger for an event in Washington D.C. that raised $8,000 for his campaign.[29] In total, Weinberger raised $126,343 and spent $125,015,[30] Wright raised $60,358 and spent $58,261, and Hines raised $2,930.[31] It was the most expensive mayoral election in the city's history[32] and Weinberger broke the record for most expensive campaign, which was held by Hinda Miller's $66,758 in 2006.[31]
In the concurrent city council elections the Progressives gained one seat while the Republicans lost one. This produced a composition of 7 Democrats, 3 Progressives, 2 Republicans, and 2 independents.[33]
2012 Burlington, Vermont mayoral election debates and forums
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