Burlington Mayoral Candidates Address VIA's Concerns

April 24, 2009

On February 15, a group of over 150 VIA leaders and community members gathered at the First Unitarian Universalist Society in Burlington for a Mayoral forum sponsored by VIA.

Employing a grassroots model to identify the issues for the forum, VIA leaders canvassed their neighbors in the Old North End on Martin Luther King Day, knocked on over 150 doors, and listened to 45 community members. VIA also collaborated with the Association of Africans Living in Vermont to reach refugee families during this process.

Leaders then met together to discuss which issues to focus on during emerged: Affordable and Quality Housing, Public Safety and Drug-use, and Youth Opportunities.

VIA leaders held research meetings with experts in each field, including Ted Wimpey of the Champlain Valley Office for Economic Opportunity, Burlington Police Chief Michael Schirling, and the Executive Director of the Boys & Girls’ Club, Mary A l i c e McKenzie, and presented the information they learned at the forum. Personal testimonies about experiences with each issue were also shared.

All four main candidates agreed to participate – Incumbent Mayor Bob Kiss (Progressive), City Council President Kurt Wright (Republican), City Councilor Andy Montroll (Democrat), and Dan Smith (Independent). The day of the event Kurt Wright was forced to bow out due to illness. 

The candidates answered seven questions posed by VIA, which were developed by a team of volunteer leaders who conducted the research.

The questions focused on how each candidate planned to address the concerns most pressing to the community if he were elected. Additionally, all the candidates pledged that if elected they would meet with a group of leaders within 60 days from taking office to discuss the issues raised, and to further develop a relationship with VIA.