Maea Brandt, D-East District, announced she will not seek reelection to the Burlington City Council in March, according to a press release on Wednesday night.
Brandt’s time on the council will be short. The visual artist and St. Michael’s College lecturer won the East District seat in a Dec. 6 special election after Progressive Jack Hanson’s resignation.
Brandt posted a statement on her website announcing the decision.
“While preparing for re-election, I found out my good friend and neighbor Tim Doherty is now ready to serve as East District City Councilor, and I am thrilled that he is willing to run as a Democrat for City Council,” Brandt said.
In an interview Wednesday, Adam Roof, chair of the Burlington Democrats, said, “we’re still in the process of putting the pieces back together” following Hanson’s unexpected resignation.
Roof also said the decision by Brandt “isn’t interrupting any deadlines.” Candidates are required to turn in their petitions by Monday. Brandt had not yet done so, and Roof said he expected Doherty to meet that date.
Roof also pointed out that the Democrats are following their own bylaws in this situation, which say that if a “nominee decides not to run or is disqualified from running, the officers of the Burlington Democratic Party may select a nominee at their discretion.” The Democrats’ officers voted to endorse Doherty this afternoon, the press release said.
Doherty is set to run against Jake Schumann, who won the endorsement at the Progressives’ caucus earlier this month.