If elections were decided by the number and quality of plans a candidate produced Miro Weinberger would be way out in front.
Since last September the Democrat has released a five-point financial plan, a rescue plan for Centennial Field, leadership and downtown housing plans, and strategies for improving education. Last week, at a press conference with local entrepreneurs held at Union Station plaza near the waterfront, he added another one – a development plan to “jump start” the city’s economy.
At debates with Kurt Wright and Wanda Hines, Weinberger frequently refers listeners to the details on his website. But he can also tick off the key points when needed and relate them to the vision captured in his campaign slogan – “Burlington at its Best.”
The approach could hardly be more different from Hines’, who began a CCTV televised debate at City Hall Thursday by declaring, “I’m going to wing it.” In the remarks that followed she mentioned “getting back to basics,” said the city faces a 30-year crossroad, pledged to pick “the right team” (but hasn’t named anyone), and argued that “everything I’ve done has prepared me for this.”
Hines has also put her vision on paper, a six-point plan of action providing views on accountability, job creation, social issues, transportation, immigration and Burlington as a “community of choice.” In debates she sometimes rushes through a reading, even if it takes extra time.
Last week was a tough one for Hines, who began campaigning full time in February. Wright and Weinberger have been at it for at least six months. On Tuesday and Wednesday she missed back-to-back debates, in the latter case to appear on a women’s history panel with former Gov. Madeleine Kunin. The fundraising event, held at Burlington High School, came off well, but Kunin, a Weinberger endorser, didn’t show due to a “conflicting engagement.”
Hines also received mixed reviews on her community work in a Seven Days feature provocatively titled, “Has Wanda Hines Improved Race Relations in Burlington? Depends Who You Ask.” Reporter Paul Heintz wrote: “Her critics contend that she has turned off potential partners and failed to take concrete steps to bring diversity to city hall.”
The day after the article appeared, Hines went public with a harsh attack on Weinberger, local Democrats and especially City Councilor David Berezniak, who supports Weinberger.
A month earlier, after Hines announced her mayoral plans, Berezniak had questioned the choice in a personal email that urged her to run instead for the City Council. His Jan. 14 message concluded, “I am asking you to consider this option and step up to a real challenge that would both serve our community and, I believe, benefit you and your future political aspirations.”
Hines responded on Feb. 16 with an angry press statement that called the suggestion offensive and inappropriate. She also questioned whether Berezniak can “accept me as a powerful, free, independent, black, serious, confident, qualified candidate.”
Weinberger was responsible for his supporters, she added, while “at least Kurt Wright is being up-front, honest and open.” As for the Democrats, she charged that “honesty and integrity are in shortage” and their actions “are starting to speak louder then their words.”
Wright had an easier week. Looking relaxed and ready in a series of debates, he also added another backer to his cross-party alliance, Ward 1 Councilor Sharon Bushor. “Although we don’t always agree on all the issues he has my respect and confidence,” she said.
The endorsement sends a subtle message. In 1987 Bushor originally joined the City Council as a Progressive-leaning independent by defeating a Democrat incumbent. This time around, without a Progressive in the race, she has decided to back a Republican she knows well.
Selling distinctions
From the start Weinberger cast himself as an outsider, a change candidate who thinks Burlington has lost its way, but one who also has the vision and mix of skills to give it a needed “fresh start.” The challenge has been to convince voters that his knowledge and expertise as a housing developer, and on the Airport Commission, adequately compensates for political inexperience.
The first step was to win a tough party caucus, a feat he accomplished, at least partly, by outspending his three opponents. Since then, Weinberger has stuck to his core message, combining face-to-face campaigning and detail-rich proposals with a series of high-profile endorsements.
In an admiring cover story, Thread, a new local culture magazine, compares him to Kyle MacLachlan, a fictional mayor in the TV series “Portlandia.” Adjectives like amiable and innovative convey the central thesis that Weinberger’s social media-savvy approach to campaigning, along with a sensitivity to youth issues, will turn the “fresh expectations” of his campaign into a working reality.
He has also sharpened his critique of Wright, while basically ignoring Hines. In an earlier forum that led to trouble when he attempted to directly challenge the Republican. Feeling snubbed, Hines came to Wright’s defense.
During last Thursday’s City Hall debate, Weinberger used a question about Burlington’s latest audit to remind people he is the only candidate who has a concrete plan to fix city finances. Then he pivoted to criticize Wright as “a co-equal partner” in making past faulty decisions.
“I’ve taken responsibility,” Wright replied. “He hasn’t been involved.”
Weinberger also took the Republican to task for his previous support of a zoning provision that creates barriers to building new downtown housing. “His party blocked [changing] it,” Wright snapped back.
As usual, Weinberger tried to draw a clear distinction with Wright on the sale of the Burlington Electric Department. Wright floated the idea at the start of campaign season, suggesting that under the right circumstances privatization may be the best way to reduce the city’s debt.
Weinberger repeated that he considers BED an important asset he “would fight to keep.” Selling it would be “Plan Z,” a last resort, he explained. Wright again insisted that their positions really aren’t so different. “We’ll try other things first,” he clarified, but “all assets need to be evaluated.”
For a moment Hines almost agreed with Weinberger, saying she “would not look to sell.” But then she turned to Wright to discuss “what we will do,” and backed his point that everything should be on the table.
Progressive expectations
A key group Weinberger has sought to persuade is the local Progressive Party, whose Steering Committee (plus other stalwarts) met privately with the candidates on Feb. 12. For the party, the goal was to bring attention to issues affecting the Old North End, where the party still has representation on the City Council. There is also the possibility of a late endorsement.
All the candidates have reached out, according to Vice Chair Elijah Bergman, although Wright says he doesn’t anticipate an endorsement and Hines didn’t seek the party’s nomination when the chance arose.
For Weinberger, it is one of the few remaining gestures of support that could make a difference. The other would be from independent U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders. The former Burlington mayor’s 1981 victory launched Vermont’s modern progressive movement.
When the candidates were asked about having Progressives in their administration, Weinberger pointed to his budget task force and mentioned former CEDO staffer – and 2010 Democratic candidate for state auditor – Doug Hoffer. However, Wright has promised a “tri-partisan” administration, and more crucially, has worked closely over the years with council Progressives.
The underlying issues are familiarity and the ability to connect, both with independents and key constituencies not directly aligned with the Democratic Party. Although Weinberger has been active in Burlington for almost a decade, until now he has not been a public figure or built a political organization.
He began his campaign by pointing to “a mood of anger and anxiety about our future.” Since then, he has been careful to stress that this does not mean he would “clean house.” Yet some city employees, as well as others who take pride in Burlington’s innovations and successes over the years, worry that their priorities (or jobs) are more apt to be at risk with someone they don’t know.
Still others, including some who have been active in the Burlington Progressive Party, calculate pragmatically that Wright will be a relatively safe caretaker, and figure Progressives will have a better chance to stage a comeback with a Republican in charge. Weinberger’s public comments, while usually frank and thoughtful, haven’t always helped.
Asked at City Hall last week to recall their first jobs, Wright talked about working at the Basin Harbor Club and Hines about working on the assembly bench at General Electric. Wright also mentioned picking apples.
Weinberger, who in the past has brought up building houses with Habitat for Humanity as a formative experience, this time picked an eight-month internship with Sen. Patrick Leahy’s Washington staff. “I left inspired,”he recalled.
The answer helped explain why he has attracted so much mainstream Democratic support. But it was not especially persuasive for skeptical Progressives. It also suggested some inexperience in crafting his image, and reinforced a sense that this outsider is also a well-connected insider with clearly partisan allegiances.
“It’s OK to have a plan”
Differences in knowledge and approach have come through in the mounting number of interviews and issue inquiries conducted by the media and interest groups. Weinberger’s responses tend to stress knowledge of the details, Wright is open and self-deprecating but sometimes vague, and Hines tends toward grand pronouncements.
In an AARP Voters’ Guide to the race mailed to local households last week, for example, the candidates provided answers to six key questions. One was about the specific changes they would pursue to improve public transit for older residents.
Hines was brief, listing sidewalk benches and better signage before saying that “public transportation should always work.” Wright promised to push for expanded bus service and routes, and also mentioned the need for a new downtown transit center.
Weinberger’s response was more than twice as long. As he often does, the candidate broke his reply into three parts: increased evening and weekend service to reduce social isolation, finding the right site for the transit center, and enhancements such as helping riders “track buses on their phones, reducing the frustration of wait times.”
The same distinction came through in transcribed interviews on environmental issues conducted by Burlington Free Press reporter Joel Banner Baird. Hines and Wright were sincere and concerned, but had trouble with some questions that called for specific knowledge, including where local sewage goes and details about neighborhood flora and fauna. Weinberger had an answer, often with technical references, to almost every question.
The issue is nevertheless whether his knowledge base, experience outside government, and plethora of plans will be persuasive. The problem was apparent at a debate last week on the UVM campus.
Wright and Weinberger were speaking to a student audience in Brennan’s, a busy campus eatery in Davis Hall, while Hines participated in a panel at Burlington High. Toward the end, someone asked how the two men would make Burlington more small-business friendly.
Weinberger rapidly ticked off the high points of his just-released economic development plan. He wants to finish the transformation of Burlington’s waterfront, extend the boardwalk, enlarge park space, and add shops and more marina facilities. He hopes to unleash economic potential on the west side of Pine Street, stalled for decades due to the Barge Canal Superfund site. A new transit center, including a restored Amtrak route, is also part of the solution, as well as “an ecosystem of companies that attracts new employees and more businesses.”
When Wright’s turn came, he spoke generally about a new property tax exemption for small businesses, which is up for a vote in March, repeated his intention to replace some department heads, and touted developer Ray Pecor’s vision for a hotel and conference center on private waterfront property.
But Wright’s most effective rebuttal came in his closing statement. It was one of several effective jabs he has deployed during the campaign to contrast his own “proven leadership” with Weinberger’s supposed lack of readiness. “It’s OK to have a plan,” he said dismissively, “but it has to be a plan that works.”
