The battle of the endorsements is on in the Burlington mayoral campaign.
Mayor Miro Weinberger on Monday trotted out a dozen supporters to sing his praises, including Burlington city councilors, legislators and union employees. The incumbent Democratic candidate also rehashed the list of endorsements he’s tallied during his reelection campaign and announced another key backer: Republican Kurt Wright, a longtime city councilor, state representative and one of Weinberger’s opponents in the 2012 mayoral race.
The laudatory press conference Monday appeared to be a direct response to independent candidate Carina Driscoll’s announcement last week that the local chapter of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees had voted to back her campaign. The union represents more than 200 city employees, some of whom later pushed back against Driscoll’s assertion that the endorsement was unanimous.
“I was extremely concerned when I read Carina’s announcement characterizing her union support as ‘the unanimous endorsement of the city’s workers,’ a statement that, as you can see here, is patently untrue,” said City Councilor Joan Shannon (D-South District), a Weinberger supporter. “If there’s one position in this city that’s more important than the mayor, it’s the one of city workers, collectively.”
Weinberger noted pointedly that he had received the support of three of the four unions that negotiate contracts with the city of Burlington: the Burlington Police Officers Association, the Burlington Fire Fighters Association, and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 300. Weinberger had announced those endorsements in press releases earlier in the campaign.
“We are just over two weeks from Town Meeting Day and the broad coalition supporting our campaign is coming into focus,” Weinberger said.
At Monday’s event, City Councilor Dave Hartnett (D-North District) read a statement from Wright, who was too sick to attend in person.
The Ward 4 councilor, who had previously said he was undecided, noted in the statement that he backed Weinberger despite “many differences” between the two on certain issues, including the North Avenue bike lane.
“I am endorsing the mayor on the basis of issues such as fiscal responsibility, growing our economy, renovating the bike path, permit reform, and his unwavering support of the Vermont National Guard and the basing of the F-35s,” Wright’s statement read.
The third mayoral candidate, independent Infinite Culcleasure, has avoided the endorsement debate.
“Rather than seeking any sort of endorsement, our campaign is more interested in hearing from people who live or work in the Queen City about what matters to them,” Culcleasure wrote on his campaign Facebook page as he advertised a dinner and community conversation event. “We hope to connect to each other the various struggles we are engaged in our workplaces and communities.”
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The MiroMoney-bots are out in force now . . . you can see them all over 7 Days comment sections.
Our Real Estate Huckster mayor is in high gear now knowing that he has been anointed by the Fates to conquer and lay waste to all who stand in His Way, to build in His own Image and bend and convulse this city to His Will no matter how much it screams.
The Mayor is certainly going into high gear now, spending more time and money than any other candidate. But no matter how much money he spends or how many friends he has made, he’s still on the wrong side of many issues that the residents of this lovely city deeply care about. I invite all his supporters to dislike this letter. [As FDR said, “I welcome their hatred.” ]
I have never voted for Miro but I might have to this election. He has been diligently working to repair the financial stability of the city and put fiscal protocols back into place, while he is far from the smartest tack in the box, means well and is social liberal, and he surrounds himself with smart people who can pick up the slack where he is less able. Miro is less than ideal when it comes to support for low income housing, or any non pro big development move, but he is also willing to listen when voters speak up.
On the other hand, Carina should be disqualified until she has been cleared by the feds of any wrong doing when it comes to the financial dealings with her mother and Burlington College. Any one who benefited from a criminal enterprise has no business being mayor. And even without potential criminal element, her lack of honestly and sincerity is a big red flag that she is not fit for office.
Finally, Infinite has the making of a great public servant but he has no experience in government or in a leadership capacity. Mayor of the biggest city in the state is not the right job to start at. That is like applying for CEO right out of college. I hope to see Infinite run for city councilor, get appointed to local committees, work for the state or municipal government where he is overseeing large projects, grants, people, etc. And I hope he isn’t discouraged by the outcome of this race but uses the momentum to build his next steps.
Mittens, perhaps you won’t give Miro so much credit for “repairing” the financial stability of the city when it was he and his cronies on the Burlington Airport Commission who stole money from Burlington Telecom to finance the illegal second floor of the BTV Airport parking garage. Millions of dollars were mis-allocated and with the resulting scandal and fines, the city’s bond rating was trashed, worse than Detroit, Michigan. So maybe give him minimal credit for negotating some of the debt, but don’t forget that Miro was the one who created the fiscal mess with his illegal actions. His time on the Commission also coincided with the beginning of VT Air Guard operations that changed the use of afterburners from 20% to 95% of the time, necessitating the purchase of 200 SoBu residential homes. This is just what he and his friend Ernie Pomerleau (Sen. Leahy’s cousin-in-law) orchestrated so that the Airport could get FREE land at SoBu’s expense to start building commercial developments around the airport entrance. This deception and deceit continued as Vermont was “selected” for the F35 basing, despite scoring much less that other sites. Miro’s hands have been filthy since day one of his mayorship and he continues to support the dangerous F35 basing that will negatively impact thousands of Vermonters, and harm young children and the elderly the most. Shame on you, Miro.
We know he has the Don Sinex endorsement.
At least Miro doesnt rely on mommy to give him a woodworking job and stepdaddy to hand him a fake endorsement of the city AFSCME union.
Hard to imagine too many other places where Miro would be considered the right wing candidate. Welcome to the glorious socialist republic of Burlington where you can never be too left .
What is really off-putting about politics and all politicians. Old Miro with his sign, Hooray For Me!
You gotta want it really badly.
Thruthbeknown” is an interesting name to use, just before you spew many lies. How about the real “Truthbeknown” instead of the garbage you are posting here.