At Caucus, Burlington Democrats Offer Counter to Progressives' 'Extreme Ideologies'

In a caucus stump speech on Sunday, Democratic Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger railed against city Progressives for their "rigid" ideology, saying that he, in contrast, would continue to lead by using data and expertise if reelected in March.

Weinberger, who is running for a fourth term, was uncontested in seeking his party’s nomination at Sunday's caucus. According to party results, 425 Burlingtonians cast votes in the virtual affair, which allowed for email and in-person voting between 2 p.m. and 5:15 p.m.

The sitting mayor will defend his seat against Max Tracy, the city council president who earned the Progressive endorsement on Thursday. Also running are at least two declared independent candidates: Councilor Ali Dieng (I-Ward 7) and South End resident Patrick White.

Weinberger focused much of his speech on his accomplishments, including the city’s pandemic-era face mask distribution program; an administration goal to make Burlington a net-zero city by 2030; a plan for the Moran plant; and upgrades to the Burlington bike path. He also pledged to reform policing and combat systemic racism, two issues that have come to the forefront during his current term.

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