Please VOTE ON OR BY AUGUST 11
Data shows that, roughly speaking, the August primary vote has only a 5% turnout. That means that only 1 out of every 20 registered voters in Vermont will decide who you get to see on the November general election ballot.
This August 11th primary, you have a chance to help decide who will get to continue on to the November ballot for critical roles like House and Senate reps right up to Governor.
Perhaps most important of all given our current environment in Burlington, is who our top prosecutor (State's Attorney) will be for the next 4 years. This person decides whether to take cases sent by police or reject them. They decide what those charges and plea deals look like. And they set bail policy--effecting whether or not people show up to court or if there are even any consequences for failing to participate in alternative/restorative justice pathways. Currently that seat is held by Progressive-endorsed Sarah George who is being challenged by New North End Democrat, Bram Kranichfeld, in the Democratic Primary.
Ward 7 voters will get to have their voice on a variety of important elections because our ward crosses multiple house districts (I'm thrilled to continue to support Abbey Duke who is uncontested at this time). Voters in the northern parts of Ward 7 will have the opportunity to vote for Amy Bielawski-Branch or Ali Dieng. Dave Hartnett will appear on the November ballot running as an Independent, so you won't see his name on the August ballot if you are looking for it.
Additionally, we have a hotly contested race for Chittenden County Sheriff this year and Sheriff Dan Gamelin is facing progressive challenger Kevin Bloom in the Democratic Primary.
While there are many races and great candidates. After lots of conversation and review I want to highlight 3 folks I have chosen to endorse and urge you to strongly consider:
Bram Kranichfeld for State's Attorney: Charity Clark is one of the most respected Attorney Generals in the country right now, fighting to protect Vermonters from the Trump administration. Charity endorsed Bram early and without hesitation and to me that shows that she needs Bram on her team. Bram is a neighbor and long-time Burlington resident of both the Old and New North Ends. Raising a family here, he deeply understands the uphill battles we are facing with making headway on public safety in a county where criminal behavior is increasingly not held to account, where charges are dropped and reduced, and where bail reform has taken an equality-based approach instead of an equity-based approach. I've shared with Bram that I believe strongly that bail should be set to ensure people come to court and that bail should be set fairly based on someone's ability to pay (not just the assumption that they can't). He's also doing the job in Franklin County already after being appointed by the Governor to fill a vacancy. He loves Burlington and wants to help us bring it forward and I feel confident that if he is elected we will see the empathetic accountability many of us want to see. Looking back on my experience as a past victim of violent crime in Burlington, I believe Bram will do much more to center victims, advocate passionately for them in the courtroom, and work hard so that we have fewer victims of crime in the future.
Elaine Haney for Senate: I've had the opportunity to spend quite a bit of time speaking with Elaine and decided to join her door knocking this summer as well. She's had a lifetime of impressive experience and community service but what stood out to me most was that she spent the past two decades training and elevating huge numbers of women to ascend to leadership positions through Emerge Vermont. She also had 16 years on the Essex Selectboard and deeply understands, perhaps painfully so, what municipal governments desperately need from Montpelier. She has a real command of municipal government, taxes and affordability concerns, and the most critical issues of our moment. I'm excited to see her step up and hope you'll join me in supporting her.
Martine Laroque Gulick for Senate: What can I say?! We loved her as our Ward 4 School Board Rep, we love the hard work she has done for Burlington students and educators for years in Montpelier, and she is a cherished member of out community. She's understanding, easy to work with, and also gets Burlington's issues intimately and advocates for us in Montpelier with tenacity. I hope we will return her to Montpelier next session.
IMPORTANT NOTES:
Progressives and Republicans have nearly no one running on their primaries for these seats. That means if you want to vote for any of these people above you should request the Democratic ballot. If you wish to vote for a Progressive, Republican, or Independent in November you will still have that ability, but the critical contested seats I just discussed are all on the Democratic ballot. You have the right to choose any ballot you wish but you can only vote on one ballot. Governor Scott and Lt. Governor Rodgers will still be on the November ballot as they are not contested within the Republican Party.
You will not receive a ballot in the mail automatically. Voting for Ward 7 residents is at the Miller Center on Gosse Court on Tuesday, August 11th. We have ballot drop boxes outside of the Miller Center as well as behind the Fire Station by Brian's Old North End Auto.