Ryan Emerson, the Democratic candidate for a city council seat in Burlington’s Ward 2, has withdrawn from the race. Emerson announced his decision Tuesday afternoon, the day after Seven Days inquired about past allegations of domestic violence brought against him.
On two separate occasions in 2005 and 2006, a Chittenden County judge issued relief-from-abuse orders against Emerson, after Sarah Hart, the mother of his child, complained of allegedly violent behavior.
During an interview on Monday morning, Emerson acknowledged the orders but said he’d closed that chapter of his life. “I went through a very dark period in my life with alcoholism and depression. Now seven years later, looking back, I’m a lot different person. Sarah and I have a great relationship now, and I’m just moving on.”
Emerson, 27, emailed this statement to Seven Days on Tuesday: “This campaign has been about the issues facing Ward 2. Out of respect of the voters, and not wanting to distract from those important issues, I am formally dropping out of this race. I wish Max Tracy well in his second term of faithfully serving our ward.”
The deadline for candidates to enter the race has passed, so Emerson’s decision clears the way for incumbent Max Tracy to secure a second term. He was the only Progressive candidate facing serious opposition. Emerson’s announcement positions the party to up its representation on the 14-member council, from four seats to five.
Emerson announced his bid for the Ward 2 seat in early December, and public safety was a cornerstone of his campaign.
In particular, Emerson said, not enough police are patrolling the streets of Ward 2 on foot. He also pledged to address opiate addiction and associated crimes in the neighborhood.
Court records show that a Chittenden County judge issued the first relief-from-abuse order against Emerson in the summer of 2005. In an affidavit filed with the family court, Hart said that Emerson had smashed the front door window in her home. She then fled to her car, she wrote, and “As I sat in the driver’s seat he took a hammer and smashed open my rear windshield, glass flew everywhere.”
Both Emerson and Hart were 19 years old at the time. Their son is now 10.
In the affidavit, Hart also alleged other angry outbursts. “Ryan held his mother and I hostage with a knife after an argument we had. He had the knife to my throat in front of his mother,” she wrote. “Ryan has hit me and thrown things at me on several occasions. He has bruised my arms … from hitting me, has thrown beer bottles at me, and has thrown various other things at me when losing his temper.”
After holding an evidentiary hearing in which Emerson had the chance to respond to the allegations, Judge Linda Levitt on July 7, 2005 ordered Emerson to stay at least 200 feet away from Hart for six months, but allowed him to continue to spend time with his son.
In March 2006, less than three months after the first restraining order expired, Hart filed a second complaint. In a sworn statement filed with the Winooski police department, she alleged that Emerson had thrown things at her while she was holding their son. She added that he then took her cat and urinated on her car after she refused to let him into her house.
After another evidentiary hearing, Judge Levitt issued a second relief-from-abuse order in April 2006 — this time for two years.
In an interview with Seven Days, Emerson did not dispute Hart’s allegations. Hart has since married and has a different last name. She declined to comment out of concern for her son.
Emerson said he hasn’t engaged in violent behavior since the March 2006 incident and has sought treatment for depression and anxiety in the intervening years. “I’ve done my best to work hard and get treatment,” he said.
After stepping down as spokesman for the Vermont Democratic Party at the end of last year, Emerson went to work as the field director for a statewide campaign — still in its infancy — to improve access to early childhood education. Before that, he held a series of political posts. In 2010 he worked on Gov. Peter Shumlin’s campaign; he managed Chittenden State’s Attorney T.J. Donovan’s close, but unsuccessful, primary campaign for attorney general during the summer of 2012; and, later that fall, he ran Beth Pearce’s successful reelection campaign for state treasurer.
Emerson said Tuesday that he will donate the remainder of his campaign funds to the Burlington Democratic Committee or return contributions to donors who request them.
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I find it unsettling that you’ve posted the details of the domestic violence here. Sharing the details is both unnecessary and disrespectful to Sarah and her son. It would have been sufficient to say why Emerson dropped out of the race, and leave it at that.
I absolutely agree, this reporter seems to forget that there is a 10 year old boy involved in this! discusted!!
I also find it disturbing that explicit details of the abuse are being publicized. Doing so victimizes Sarah and her son all over again, and are intrusive and unnecessary. Releasing the fact of why Emerson has left the race in general terms would have been sufficient.
Too bad Burlington lost a strong advocate becasue of mistakes made during teen years. Mr. Emerson recieved treatment and is trying to build a good life for himslef and his son, along with the city of Burlington.
I don’t call this good reporting – maybe the enquirer needs a reporter Ms. Freece.
Did you stop to think about what this would do to the little boy? NO, you did not, but you got your 5 minutes of fame at some one elses expence – nice job.
Are you trying to victimize the victim and her son all over again? What kind of reporter are you? What kind of paper are you? This is an invasion of privacy and you should be sued. Are you an abuser yourself? If you had a shred of decency you would remove this article immediately, offer a public apology to the victim and her son, and find a new career. There was absolutely NO REASON to share the personal details and the names of the victim and her son. Whatever your motivation for this horrific and damaging article, SHAME ON YOU!!!!!!!! Even the paper’s social media call to action is offensive – “stalk us”???? Really??? Have you ever been stalked? Who are you people????? Disgusting.
While I wholeheartedly agree with the sentiments calling for discretion regarding the victims’ identities, I feel compelled to voice my disgust not with the article, but with the actions of this man, as this view seems to have been largely overlooked here and on social media forums.
This doesn’t sound to me like an unfortunate “mistake made in his teenage years.” Rather, this is a heartbreaking example of dangerous and sociopathic violence towards women that far exceeds behavior that we should accept from anyone, never mind someone who would seek to represent our community while espousing progressive ideals of feminism, equality, and advocacy.
Those who would stand behind him indeed disrespect the victims of Mr. Emerson’s attacks far more than the author of this article does in reciting information that is public record. While ugly, these stories need to be told, both to shame these abusers and to protect and empower the often forgotten victims.
It’s a safe, if not certain, bet that this is not the only woman Mr. Emerson has terrorized in this way, and I would imagine with a little more digging Ms. Freese could add several enlightening addendums to this very scary story.
Can we all stop for a moment and realize it is not just the paper at fault? Ryan is the abuser and yes, the paper is bring it back into the light but what about Sarah and her son? What about other people being put into domestic violence situations day in and day out? Instead of looking at the big picture and finding ways to help those who are in these situations we are worried about the writer of the paper? Lets figure out a way to bring safety to those in need! Not to mention the fact that at the beginning of the article it states that “public safety was a cornerstone of his campaign.” …. CLEARLY ….. Why does everyone wait for a tragedy to appear before they notice an issue? Domestic violence is happening all of the time, this is not the only tragic case of domestic violence but yet everyone is still sitting back not taking a stand. However, the paper used the victims names.. why should we re-victimize and attack a family who has been through enough hut and now it is just humiliating. What about the son? It disgusts me to no end that politics becomes a battle of not who the best candidate is but who can scoop up the most dirt on the other. I am not defending Ryan, by any means but this could’ve been handled completely different, leaving the names of the victims out of the article and leaving Ryan to figure out his campaign without bring Sarah down with him… again.
I agree that it is completely cruel to exploit a mother and child that are still healing from a traumatic experience.
Please leave victims’ names out of your articles.
Shame on Mr. Emerson for running in the first place and dragging Sarah and her son through the dirt! It is not the reporters fault, it is Mr. Emerson’s fault. Did he forget about those incidences? What a disguise to Sarah and her son, that this horrific abuse was some “oversight” by the candidate. The situations quoted are sick an perverse. I am willing to bet she is lucky she got out alive.
I am stunned, for what seems like the thousandth time, by the ease with which ignorant people throw stones. Let he who is without sin cast the first stone, the great forgiver said. What someone did in their teens, ten years ago, is no predictor of what they will do or who they are in the present. Basic neuroscience tells us that the brain don’t finish developing in males until they are about 25. Impulsivity and anger are the trademarks of many adolescent boys. And then they grow up. People change, and keep changing. Have these folks never done something rash or wrong? Reading the mob-like comments above absolutely sickens me. Ryan Emerson is a bright, hard-working idealistic, dedicated young man, and the City of Burlington, or any city for that matter, would be very fortunate to have his service and leadership. I am deeply saddened by this turn of events, but respect his decision to withdraw as a noble act that demonstrates his loyalty to the people he sought to represent. I hope with all my heart that he will run for public office again. We need him. He is principled, loyal, and really really smart. How many Vermont politicians would you describe that way?
Fact of the matter is that he was fired from Schumlin’s campaign once they discovered the felony on his record. If that wasn’t a wake up call to switch careers, I don’t know what is. But now here we are. An eager reporter with absolutely no ethics and an editor who is willing to identify victims in their publication have dragged this poor women’s name through the mud causing a huge amount of emotional distress to her and her child. What do you think the conversation was like when she had to meet with the principal of her son’s school, explain the situation and ask them to not let any copies into the building in case other children saw it? How about this morning when she had to call in and make sure no copies of the Free Press (laden with typos I’m sure) made it into school? This is a woman who did it buy the book (I personally would have let my relatives have a discussion with him but to each their own) and now has to relive the whole experience all over again because this “candidate” has no common sense at all. This is the exact situation that sends victims the message to keep quiet or you could be publicly humiliated. And Ms. Freese, I hope you understand the gravity of what you have done by not keeping those names anonymous. If you had children, I think you might have handled this situation differently.
Everyone — I had to delete a few comments that resorted to personal attacks on other users. Please be civil and respectful. Thanks.
I am saddened to see people come to Mr. Emerson’s aid, and am ever grateful that he will never see a place in public office again. Perhaps it is time he takes responsibility for what he did to that poor mother and her child. We do not need him representing us as his loyalty is nonexistent. When people commit these types of sick and disgusting acts, it is absolutely much deeper than the maturing of a young man. Ryan is a bright man, who got away with pulling the wool over Shumlin, Pierce, and Donovan, but not over 7 days.
I am saddened to see that so many people this day and age don’t believe in second chances. I truly feel bad for the haters that are unable or unwilling to forgive. Fortunaltly, not all people feel that way or we would have a very limited number of people who could run for public office. Mr. Emerson got the help he needed , paid his price and was never unable to see his son. The fact that the three of them have a healthy relationship now should be self explainatory. It sounds to me like a troubled young man who dramitcally changed his life. He has spent his adult life in public service because he truly cares about people. He is bright, energetic and just the kind of person we need to represent us. I for one, am looking forward to Ryan’s next attemp at running for office. He will certainly have my vote.
The leaps and inferences we’re willing to make to dilute what are so clearly disturbing and horrific facts never cease to amaze. I’m ashamed to see the lengths we go to justify behavior simply because there is a (D) next to his name. The truth is few of us, save for his victims and those close to him, knew any of this but took him at his word when he stepped forward as a potential voice for our community. And yet we continue to take his word, even now? It’s frightening to see some so quickly and adamantly minimize the impact and significance of his actions.
This is not some challenge he’s had to overcome, he is not the victim here. He had a choice when he attacked with a hammer or pulled a knife. His victims, on the other hand, did not.
Sure, I understand second chances, but I would not want my daughter anywhere near this man. And no, he will not have my vote should he choose to ever run again.
From someone that observed it all when it came down ! why do we continue to even think about these people for Public Office ? I wonder how others would feel if it was your Family or Friends that had to go thru this abuse. Could not let it alone, now this Mother has to tell her Son all about it . I know first hand she has not told him the negative things about all of it ! What is our Country coming to ? How could he with this record even begin to think about Politics ? And for anyone who thinks the Mother should have told the Son right from the start , you have no idea what she was going thru !!! She has done a good job raising her Son ! The best anyone could do under the circumstances ! God help her whole family ! give her the strength to get thru this ! THIS TOO WILL PASS !
I’m not sure whether this should’ve been exposed by the media–especially any identifying details. I have two young children, and I’m always aware of who is around them. I probably would be worried, for instance, if I knew my building’s repairman had been accused of violence in the past. But many people mess up and as a society, we have to help them. We can’t just lock everyone up and throw away the key for everyone who did something bad in the past. We rely on the criminal justice system to sort out whether they are still a treat or not. I wouldn’t automatically not voe for Mr. Emerson because of what he did ten years ago. I would probably want to meet with him personally and see how he is now. People DO get better. Perhaps he should’ve let the cat out of the bag before getting involved in politics and let the people decide–I don’t know. I know some reader is getting mad at me as they read this, thinking I’m sticking up for a batterer, but please know that I am making NO excuses for what he did. I would like to ask this question to society though–what if we knew of all the people who had done something wrong–and had served whatever time the law allowed–would we never forgive them no matter how much therapy/help they got–how much they changed? Should no one ever give a job to anyone like Mr. Emerson? Maybe it all comes down to whether we want to blame a particular person/crime….how about the twenty year old college woman who’s blissfully texting while driving and kills a family in a car accident? She should’ve known better right? Maybe ten years later we’d forgive her, but somehow one you’ve been accused of abuse, you society wants you to just go away permanently.
I’m just raising questions here. I don’t have all the answers. If Mr. Emerson was still running and came to my door campaigning, I’d be a little tentative. You can see it either way….once violent always violent or once violent/ can completely become non-violent. It’s hard not to judge! I say a young priest today and my first thought when I looked at his face was–does he abuse kids? There are just too many stories in the news about pedophile priests for me not to think of it. Anyways, to make a long ramble short–I can see both sides, but I ultimately think people deserve a chance to show that they have become better.