BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – Town Meeting Day is Tuesday and over 3,000 Burlington voters have already cast their ballots. It comes as the two major party candidates for mayor — Democrat Joan Shannon and Progressive Emma Mulvaney-Stanak — make their final pitches of the campaign,
Democrat Joan Shannon and Progressive Emma Mulvaney-Stanak were knocking on doors Thursday making final pitches to voters ahead of Town Meeting Day.
Public safety has been a top issue this campaign season.
“It’s hard to wonder, are you safe or not going to be safe? Can you let your kids outside and play, because you don’t know if there’s going to be a drive-by,” said Ariel, who had a chance to speak with Shannon in the Old North End. She says she’s not even sure if she’s going to vote. “I’m not against or for anybody. I guess whoever can do better but I don’t know who that is going to be. I don’t know if anybody can really help this situation right now.”
The parties are making their final pitches to voters for why they should vote. “We’re going to elect the first woman mayor, which is incredibly exciting. We think that should be Joan. She has the vision, the courage, the leadership, the track record of leading through hard times. And so we’re really excited about her potential,” said Burlington Democratic Party Chair Adam Roof
“Emma is running a really strong campaign for mayor. You can just feel the momentum everywhere we go in the city. She’s done tons of events. Just in the past couple of weeks, talked to hundreds of voters and we’re feeling really good. It’s an exciting time,” said Vermont Progressive Party Josh Wronski.
Around the city, lawn signs dot the landscape. There appear to more Shannon than Mulvaney-Stanak signs in the New North and South End, traditional Democratic wards. Mulvaney-Stanak seems to have the majority in places like the Old North End and downtown, where Progressives usually dominate.
Bert Johnson, a political science professor at Middlebury College, says the race will come down to voters’ views on public safety. “I think that’s where Joan Shannon has certainly felt the most comfortable. I think Emma Mulvaney-Stanak has been trying to talk about that issue in ways that benefit her as well, but I think the story of the last few years in Burlington is that people’s concerns about that,” he said.
The campaigns are urging voters if they still want to send in their ballots, to not mail them and instead drop them at City Hall or one of six ballot boxes around the city to ensure they get counted. Voters can also always bring them to their ward or vote in-person on Town Meeting Day.
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