Judy Stephany

Last updated

In 1981, the longtime Democratic Mayor of Burlington, Gordon Paquette, lost in an upset to independent socialist Bernie Sanders. Over the following two years Sanders and Burlington Democrats had poor relations with each other, and the party was eager to take back the mayoralty at the time of the next election in 1983. However, the Democrats faced difficulties finding a strong candidate, with several state senators and local officials refusing to run. [5] An hour before the deadline for nominations closed Stephany announced her intent to run, after being promised $30,000 in fundraising support by the Burlington Democratic Party. [6] She won the nomination by a margin of 3-to-1 over gas station owner William H. Williams. [6]

Stephany initially announced her intent to remain as Minority Leader of the Vermont House while campaigning for mayor, stating that she would turn over day-to-day duties to Assistant Minority Leader Paul N. Poirier. [6] However only a few days after winning the nomination she changed tack, announcing that she would step down from her position as Minority Leader and resign her seat in the Vermont House. [7] Oral surgeon Robert MacLellan was appointed as her replacement. [8]

Stephany attempted to distance herself from the mayoralty of the unpopular Paquette, aiming to project an image of "fresh liberalism". Her campaign stressed the view that Sanders was an ineffective mayor due to his disputes with the Burlington City Council, and she attempted to portray herself as the middle ground between the "anti-business" stance of Sanders and the "pro-business" stance of Republican James Gilson, who was also running for mayor. [9] [6]

Stephany lost the election, receiving 30% of the vote to Sanders' 52% and Gilson's 17%. [10] This result was viewed as being "not close" according to The New York Times . [11]

Executive roles

Following her defeat in the mayoral race, Stephany became a sex equity consultant for the Vermont Department of Education. [12] In 1986 she was appointed by Governor of Vermont Madeleine Kunin as one of her aides, and was given the task of managing Kunin's relations with the Vermont legislature. [13] Stephany was appointed to the role as a result of her good relations with the legislature, which was reflected in her appointment being praised by both Democratic and Republican officials. [13] She served in this role until 1991. [14]

Vermont State Senate

On December 29, 1993, Stephany was appointed by Governor of Vermont Howard Dean to the Vermont State Senate in order to fill a vacancy left by the retirement of incumbent Edwin Granai, representing Chittenden County. [14] She beat out two other candidates for the appointment; attorney David Curtis and radio host Jack Barry. [14] Stephany expressed a particular desire to work on issues of domestic violence, and also expressed opposition to the single-payer healthcare plan being advocated her by her old mayoral rival Bernie Sanders, denouncing such a plan as impractical. [14] Stephany ran for a full state senate term in 1994 but lost re-election, with Republicans winning four of the six Chittenden County State Senate seats and the two Democratic slots being taken by Jack Barry and incumbent Jean Ankeney. [15]

Political positions

Stephany was generally regarded as a liberal Democrat, but one notable exception was her position on abortion, which she was opposed to. This belief meant that Stephany's relations with feminists were often strained. [9]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2006 United States Senate election in Vermont</span>

The 2006 United States Senate election in Vermont was held November 7, 2006. Incumbent independent Senator Jim Jeffords decided to retire rather than seek reelection to a fourth term, and Bernie Sanders was elected to succeed him.

<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">1990 United States House of Representatives election in Vermont</span>

The 1990 United States House of Representatives election in Vermont was held on Tuesday, November 6, 1990 to elect the U.S. representative from the state's at-large congressional district. The election coincided with the elections of other federal and state offices.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1986 Vermont gubernatorial election</span>

The 1986 Vermont gubernatorial election took place on November 4, 1986. Incumbent Democrat Madeleine Kunin ran successfully for re-election to a second term as Governor of Vermont, defeating Republican candidate Peter Plympton Smith and independent candidate Bernie Sanders. Since no candidate won a majority of the popular vote, Kunin was elected by the Vermont General Assembly per the state constitution.

<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">1992 United States House of Representatives election in Vermont</span>

The 1992 United States House of Representatives election in Vermont was held on Tuesday, November 3, 1992 to elect the U.S. representative from the state's at-large congressional district. The election coincided with the elections of other federal and state offices, including a quadrennial presidential election and an election to the U.S. Senate.

<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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gordon Paquette</span> American politician

Gordon H. Paquette was an American politician who served as the 36th Mayor of Burlington, Vermont from 1971 to 1981, when he was defeated by future United States Senator and presidential candidate Bernie Sanders in the latter's first electoral victory.

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">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">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">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.

John Zampieri Jr. was an American politician who served in the Vermont House of Representatives from 1965 to 1985, as a member of the Democratic Party. Following his tenure in the state house he served as director of the Vermont Buildings Division.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1995 Burlington mayoral election</span> Mayoral election

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 Vermont Senate election</span> Election

The 2022 Vermont Senate election took place on November 8, 2022, as part of the biennial United States elections. The election coincided with elections for other offices including the U.S. Senate, U.S. House, Governor, and State House. Vermont voters elected all 30 state senators from 16 districts, with each district electing between one and three senators. State senators serve two-year terms in the Vermont Senate. Primary elections were held on August 9, 2022. This election will be the first to use new districts adopted by the Vermont General Assembly to allocate for population changes across the state after the 2020 census.

References

  1. ↑ "Burlington Democrats: Everything Old is New Again". Town Meeting TV. May 10, 2017. Retrieved October 17, 2022.
  2. ↑ "Mrs. Stephany Runs". The Burlington Free Press . July 7, 1976. Retrieved December 29, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
  3. ↑ Doyle, Mavis (November 5, 1976). "Chittenden 4-6". Barre Montpelier Times Argus . Vermont Press Bureau. Retrieved December 27, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ "Stephany, Kroger Picked, Democratic Unity is Urged". Barre Montpelier Times Argus . Vermont Press Bureau. December 7, 1980. Retrieved December 29, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ Bookchin, Debbie (January 23, 1983). "City Democrats Find A Candidate". Rutland Herald . p. 33. Archived from the original on December 5, 2020. Retrieved December 5, 2020– via Newspapers.com.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Bookchin, Debbie (January 19, 1983). "Rep. Stephany Is Democratic Candidate for Mayor". Rutland Herald . p. 9. Archived from the original on December 5, 2020. Retrieved December 5, 2020– via Newspapers.com.
  7. ↑ Page, Candace (January 24, 1983). "Stephany Quitting House for All-Out Campaign". The Burlington Free Press . p. 1. Archived from the original on December 5, 2020. Retrieved December 5, 2020– via Newspapers.com.
  8. ↑ Norton, Kathleen M. (February 12, 1983). "Snelling Appoints Demo, Republican To Fill Vacancies". The Burlington Free Press . Retrieved March 4, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  9. 1 2 "Stephany Walks a Political Tightrope". The Burlington Free Press . February 13, 1983. p. 14. Archived from the original on January 2, 2022. Retrieved May 4, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
  10. ↑ "1983 election results". The Burlington Free Press . March 2, 1983. p. 17. Archived from the original on August 7, 2020. Retrieved August 7, 2020– via Newspapers.com.
  11. ↑ Burns, Alexander (November 27, 2019). "Bernie Sanders vs. The Machine". The New York Times . Retrieved November 29, 2022.
  12. ↑ Raimon, Eve (June 2, 1985). "Shuttle Astronaut Pushes Technology, Especially for Girls". Rutland Daily Herald . Vermont Press Bureau. Retrieved December 29, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
  13. 1 2 Bressor, James E. (December 9, 1986). "Kunin to name Stephany as aide". Rutland Daily Herald . Vermont Press Bureau. Retrieved December 26, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
  14. 1 2 3 4 Sneyd, Ross (December 29, 1993). "Stephany Chosen to Fill Senate Seat". Rutland Daily Herald . Associated Press . Retrieved December 26, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
  15. ↑ Sutkowski, Matt (November 9, 1994). "Barry, Sweetser leading the pack". The Burlington Free Press . Retrieved December 26, 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.
Judith Stephany
JudithStephany.png
Stephany in 1983
Member of the Vermont House of Representatives
In office
January 6, 1977 –January 30, 1983