State Rep. Mulvaney-Stanak first to announce bid for Burlington mayor
On Monday, Oct. 16, Vermont state representative Emma Mulvaney-Stanak became the first candidate to officially launch a bid for Burlington mayor in the March 2024 election. If elected, she would become the city's first female mayor.
Mulvaney-Stanak's declaration, made over social media and via press release, comes just weeks after incumbent Miro Weinberger, Burlington's longest continuously running mayor, announced he will not vie for a fifth term.
"I am running for Mayor because this election represents a turning point for Burlington," Mulvaney-Stanak said her Oct. 16 press release. "I have built my career on collaboration, deep listening, and tenacious problem solving. These are the skills and values that Burlington deserves today."
Prior to Mulvaney-Stanak's two-year stint as a Progressive state representative for Burlington's Old and New North End, she served on the Burlington City Council from 2009 to 2012, as the state chair of Vermont's Progressive Party from 2013 to 2017 and on multiple non-profit boards. Additionally, Mulvaney-Stanak founded EMStrategies, a consulting business that works with non-profits, labor unions, school districts and municipalities to craft strong community engagement strategies.
"I am a proud Progressive with a long history of successful collaboration with Democrats, Republicans, and Independents at the state and local level ...," Mulvaney-Stanak said in her press release. "I am seeking the Progressive nomination for mayor because I believe that core, economic, social, and environmental justice values of the Progressive Party are the values our city needs most today ... Regardless of political affiliation, people share these values."
Although Mulvaney-Stanak is the first to cast her hat in the ring, several other notable public figures have expressed interest in replacing Weinberger next year, many of them women, including former Burlington Democratic Party Chair C D Mattison and Democratic Burlington City Councilor Joan Shannon, according to VTDigger.
The March 4 election will also mark the return of ranked choice voting in Burlington's mayoral contest, as well as the first time legal non-citizen residents will be able to vote in the city.
Community safety, affordability and climate resilience
In her candidacy announcement, Mulvaney-Stanak centered her campaign around three core issues: community safety, affordability and climate resilience.
Mulvaney-Stanak labeled her top priority as community safety, which she said has been negatively impacted by Burlington's substance abuse, mental health and affordable housing crises. If elected, she said she would champion policies such as needle recovery, "evidence-based" enforcement methods to discourage negative behavior and improving city responses to requests for help.
"Everyone deserves to feel and be safe in Burlington," she said. "Right now, the city is not meeting this standard."
Mulvaney-Stanak also emphasized the importance of improving Burlington's affordability so that residents of all income levels can continue to live in the city. To do so, she expressed interest in adopting a "progressive income-based municipal tax system," funding energy efficiency measures through the expansion of current affordability programs, and enforcing the city's recent crackdown on short-term rentals.
"When people can meet their basic needs, find affordable and stable housing, and find a dignified job, our community will be safer and more vibrant," she said.
Lastly, Mulvaney-Stanak touched on climate resilience, advocating for increased focus on the adoption of renewable heating sources and prioritizing Lake Champlain's health. She also called for improving Burlington's public-private bus system, gradually removing the city's dependence on fossil fuels and developing secure walking and biking networks.
"Improving our city and quality of life cannot be solved with one approach or by one person," Mulvaney-Stanak said. "In the coming weeks, I will meet with city councilors, state legislators, and community leaders to gather research and best practices to strategically address these challenges together."
Megan Stewart is a government accountability reporter for the Burlington Free Press. Contact her at mstewartyounger@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: Mulvaney-Stanak seeks to succeed Weinberger as Burlington mayor
