BURLINGTON — Newcomer Zoraya Hightower defeated longtime incumbent Councilor Sharon Bushor for the Progressive Party endorsement for the Ward 1 seat at the party’s caucus Wednesday, 42-17.
Bushor, an independent who has served on the council for 32 years, said she would remain in the race as an independent but without Progressive support for the first time in her career.
In speeches to the caucus, Hightower, who works at an international development firm in the city, said she would improve housing and transportation in Burlington, while Bushor highlighted her lengthy record.
The Progressives endorsed candidates for seven of the eight City Council seats that are up for grabs on March Town Meeting Day, with no candidates for the seat held by Councilor Karen Paul, D-Ward 6.
Two new Progressives won seats in March, with Councilor Jack Hanson, East District, and Councilor Perri Freeman, Central District, joining the council. Freeman, like Hightower, defeated a longtime incumbent for the party’s endorsement when she ousted then-councilor Jane Knodell.
Hightower said before the vote she would not run if she was unable to gain the support of the party. After the vote, she said that she was encouraged by the result.
“Sharon’s been doing a really good job for a long time,” she said. “If I felt my platform was more Progressive than hers in terms of a little more environmental and social justice focused, if the Progressive Party wasn’t behind me, it didn’t seem like I should run.”
Bushor said she was disappointed by the result but said she knew she had some support in the community.
“Certainly, this is a parting for me from the Progressive Party, and one that’s sad,” she said. “This is a group of people that has the vision, and the ideas, and I value everything they offer.”
Other Candidates
Incumbent Councilors Max Tracy, P-Ward 2; Brian Pine, P-Ward 3, and Ali Dieng, D/P-Ward 7, were all re-endorsed.
The party endorsed three challengers who are running for two seats currently held by Democratic-endorsed councilors and one held by a Republican.
In Ward 5, the party endorsed Nathan Lantieri, a UVM graduate who works in wilderness therapy in Waitsfield, to run against Democrat incumbent Chip Mason. Lantieri worked for the city’s Church Street Marketplace Department for about a year after graduating from UVM before moving on to his current position.
Lantieri said residents want the city to fight for climate justice, fight economic inequality and promote inclusion. He said concerns about the CityPlace development, the Burlington Telecom sale, the Champlain Parkway project and the transparency of commission appointments all played a role in his decision to run.
“What I’m hoping to do is be able to come in and really be a voice for the people, represent all of these individuals that make Burlington a special place, as opposed to representing the interests of capital, of developers and outside interests,” he said.
In Ward 8, the party endorsed Jane Stromberg to run against incumbent Adam Roof, I-Ward 8, who runs with Democratic support. Stromberg graduated from UVM in the spring with degrees in environmental science and political science, and does research at the university and works at Trader Joe’s.
“I want to stand up for an underrepresented voice in our city,” she said. “I’m fiercely committed to addressing the climate crisis and affordability issues throughout the ward and the greater Burlington area.”
Stromberg said she believes the city should push UVM to divest from fossil fuels, and that the city should divest its pension fund. She said the city should focus on weatherizing housing stock and institute rent control and landlord licensing to address the affordable housing crisis.
In Ward 4, Progressives endorsed Sarah Carpenter, who retired from her position as the executive director of the Vermont Housing Finance Agency last year. With the exception of a couple of years in graduate school, Carpenter has lived in Burlington her entire life.
“When I retired, I thought, I’ve got time, I’ve got energy, I’ve got a lot of experience in government and working with organizations,” she said. “I’d really like to give that back locally and get more involved.”
Carpenter said providing housing for all and improving the water quality of Lake Champlain would be her priorities on the council. She said she would also be seeking the Democratic nomination and planned to run as a Democrat.
“This party ‘politic-ing’ is complicated,” she said. “I’m sort of examining all of the possibilities. I really want to be responsive to the people who live out here in the New North End.”
The seat’s incumbent, Council President Kurt Wright, a Republican, said he will be announcing whether or not he is seeking re-election Thursday morning on his radio show.
Contested Ward 1 Caucus
Bushor and Hightower made their pitches to around 60 Ward 1 residents who attended the caucus at Edmunds Middle School.
Bushor said during her time on the council, she had pushed for the livable wage ordinance for city employees and contractors and the city’s inclusionary zoning ordinance, among other issues.
“I think I’m broad thinking, I know issues,” she said. “What I have to offer to all of you is that I’m there at the council, if something comes up, I know how it hits all of you. Because I listened to all of you.”
Bushor said she has the energy and commitment to continue in the role.
“I’m energized, I’m active, I’m committed to this ward and the issues,” she said.
Hightower said the city needs more housing and needs to push UVM to lower their housing prices.
“We need to be doing more to help house everyone in Burlington, not just certain people,” she said.
Hightower said while the city has effective infrastructure for car transportation, that is not the case for pedestrians and bikers.
“There are not complete streets, there are not completed sidewalks, there are not complete bus routes,” she said. “We have the right to expect that, and we need to be doing more to make that happen.”
Both Hightower and Bushor had said if endorsed, they would run as independents with Progressive support.
Bushor said she always voted independently and Hightower said while she feels her values are completely aligned with the party, she wanted to take the time to get to know the party better.
Former city councilor Erhard Mahnke nominated Bushor and said Bushor had been a solid vote for the Progressives. Appealing to Sen. Bernie Sanders supporters, Mahnke said that Bushor had been a solid Progressive vote since the presidential candidate was mayor.
“She’s always been there when the chips are down on major Progressive issues,” he said. “She brings an incredible amount of dedication, integrity, and plain old hard work to this position.”
Councilor Jack Hanson nominated Hightower, and said that Hightower would bring new energy and perspective to the council. He said Hightower would join him in the fight for climate justice.
“I see Zoraya as a champion on this issue and so many other issues that are connected to it, and are impacted by it that have to do with justice and the way we treat one another in our community and on the planet, and the planet itself and the environment,” he said.
