Miro Weinberger became the Democratic candidate for mayor on Sunday, winning the fourth round of voting at the party’s reconvened caucus. With 1,188 valid votes cast during three hours for voting at Memorial Auditorium, Weinberger won 655 votes to 533 for Tim Ashe. Three ballots were blank.
Less than three hours later, at the Burlington Progressive Party’s caucus, about 40 people voted to postpone a decision on whether to field a candidate until sometime in January. Ashe stopped by briefly to thank supporters, noting that Weinberger has “begun to appreciate the need to reach out” to Progressives. But some who attended still want the party to find a candidate.
Selection of a Democratic candidate to face Republican Kurt Wright began a month ago, when four candidates took part in the first three rounds of caucus voting. State Rep. Jason Lorber and City Councilor Bram Kranichfeld were eliminated early, but the third round ended in a 540-540 tie. Ashe and Weinberger subsequently participated in a series of forums and debates while attempting to sway those eligible to participate in the final voting.
By Sunday, the two rivals were calling each other friends. With Ashe standing beside him on stage, Weinberger began his victory speech by thanking his opponent and praising his knowledge of the city.
The Progressive Caucus began with a potluck supper and announcements about upcoming ballot items. But City Chairperson Abby Russell wanted members to “stretch our Progressive brains” in a discussion about how to handle the upcoming elections. “We cannot back down,” she said.
In the discussion that followed, several people urged the party to think strategically.
Vince Brennan, a first term councilor who is reported to be thinking about entering the mayor’s race, said nothing about his plans. Instead he discussed his proposal to extend local voting rights to non-citizens who have been residents for a reasonable period.
Martha Abbott, chairperson of the state party, called the outcome of the Democratic caucus “sad,” since she felt that Ashe’s candidacy represented an “olive branch.” Commenting on the political dynamics, State Rep. David Zuckerman argued that there might be “less dismantling” of progressive initiatives with Wright in office, since the council majority might be more likely to oppose him.
Others expressed doubts about how to proceed, however, and the decision to postpone passed unanimously.
