1981 Burlington, Vermont mayoral election

none January 2025 September 2023 1981 Burlington, Vermont mayoral election presidential 1979 Burlington, Vermont mayoral election 1979 1983 Burlington, Vermont mayoral election 1983 March 3, 1981 Portrait of Bernie Sanders in c. 1986 (1).jpg Bernie Sanders Independent (United States) 4,330 43.83% Gordon Paquette.png Gordon Paquette Democratic Party (United States) 4,320 43.72% Richard Bove.png Richard Bove Independent (United States) 1,091 11.04% 1981 Burlington, Vermont mayoral election by city council district before recount.svg 200px Results by city council district before recount Sanders: #e2807f Sanders—40–50% #c64c4b Sanders—50–60% Paquette: #A5B0FF Paquette—40–50% Mayor of Burlington Gordon Paquette Democratic Party (United States) Bernie Sanders Independent politician The 1981 Burlington mayoral election was held March 3, 1981. Bernie Sanders, who ran as an independent candidate, defeated incumbent Democratic Mayor Gordon Paquette, who was seeking a sixth term as Mayor of Burlington, Vermont, and Richard Bove. Paquette had easily won reelection to the mayoralty in the 1973, 1975, and 1979 elections and the Democratic Party controlled ten of the thirteen city council seats. Sanders ran in the election due to the amount of support he received in Burlington during his 1976 gubernatorial campaign. Bove initially ran as a Democrat, but became an independent after losing in the primary to Paquette. The Republican Party did not field a candidate and the Citizens Party endorsed Sanders after failing to run Greg Guma. Sanders initially led Paquette by twenty-two votes, but his total vote lead was later decreased to ten votes following a recount. Sanders' victory was the first time a socialist was elected mayor of a jurisdiction in New England since the election of Jasper McLevy as mayor of Bridgeport, Connecticut during the 1950s. Sanders would later be reelected as mayor in the 1983, 1985, and 1987 elections before being elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1990 and then the United States Senate in 2006.SANDERS, Bernard United States House of Representatives https://history.house.gov/People/Detail/21173?ret=True live https://archive.today/20201203205604/https://history.house.gov/People/Detail/21173?ret=True December 3, 2020 December 3, 2020 Background Gordon Paquette, a member of the city council, won election to the mayoralty of Burlington, Vermont, with the Democratic nomination in the 1971 election.March 3, 1971 William Foley Wins Bid for Rutland Mayor 2 Brattleboro Reformer https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79249178/the-brattleboro-reformer/ live https://archive.today/20210609170554/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79249178/the-brattleboro-reformer/ June 9, 2021 Newspapers.com June 9, 2021 Paquette was reelected as mayor in the 1973, 1975, 1977, and 1979 elections with him taking over seventy percent of the popular vote in each election except in 1977.March 7, 1973 Paquette Wins 70 Per Cent of Burlington Vote 17 The Burlington Free Press https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79249609/the-burlington-free-press/ live https://archive.today/20210609171350/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79249609/the-burlington-free-press/ June 9, 2021 Newspapers.com June 9, 2021 March 5, 1975 Paquette Sweeps All City Wards 15 The Burlington Free Press https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79249718/the-burlington-free-press/ live https://archive.today/20210609171718/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79249718/the-burlington-free-press/ June 9, 2021 Newspapers.com June 9, 2021 March 5, 1975 Voter Turnout Is Light For Town Meeting Day 1 The Burlington Free Press https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79249884/the-burlington-free-press/ live https://archive.today/20210609171857/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79249884/the-burlington-free-press/ June 9, 2021 Newspapers.com June 9, 2021 March 2, 1977 Paquette Reelected Easily 1 The Burlington Free Press https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79250108/the-burlington-free-press/ live https://archive.today/20210609172218/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79250108/the-burlington-free-press/ June 9, 2021 Newspapers.com June 9, 2021 March 7, 1979 Ward 4 Switches, Picks Republicans 3 The Burlington Free Press https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79250298/the-burlington-free-press/ live https://archive.today/20210609172438/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79250298/the-burlington-free-press/ June 9, 2021 Newspapers.com June 9, 2021 After the 1980 elections the Democratic Party controlled ten of the thirteen city council seats.March 5, 1980 Sweeny Is Tops in Race In North End 8 The Burlington Free Press https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79250783/the-burlington-free-press/ live https://archive.today/20210609173257/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79250783/the-burlington-free-press/ June 9, 2021 Newspapers.com June 9, 2021 Campaign Candidates Democratic Paquette announced on January 6, 1981, that he would seek reelection to a sixth term.January 7, 1981 Mayor Announces for Sixth Term 13 The Burlington Free Press https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64331827/the-burlington-free-press/ live https://web.archive.org/web/20201130194143/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64331827/the-burlington-free-press/ November 30, 2020 Newspapers.com Richard Bove, a former member of the Burlington Board of Alderman and a member of Burlington's Fire Commission, announced on January 16, that he would seek the Democratic nomination for mayor against Paquette.January 17, 1981 Bove to Seek Nod As Mayor Candidate 3 The Burlington Free Press https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64333196/the-burlington-free-press/ live https://web.archive.org/web/20201130200203/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64333196/the-burlington-free-press/ November 30, 2020 Newspapers.com Bove's decision to run was inspired by discontent with Paquette's raise of taxes, as well as a perceived lack of benefits from Burlington's "urban renewal" projects.https://jacobinmag.com/2021/03/bernie-sanders-burlington-vermont-mayoral-election-open-socialist How Bernie Sanders, an Open Socialist, Won Burlington's Mayoral Election Jacobin Marcetic Branko March 3, 2021 March 3, 2021 Paquette defeated Bove for the Democratic nomination by a vote of 133 to 19.January 20, 1981 Paquette Easily Wins Sixth Nod As Democrats' Choice for Mayor 3 The Burlington Free Press http://newspapers.com/clip/64330860/the-burlington-free-press/ live https://web.archive.org/web/20201130195056/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64330860/the-burlington-free-press/ Abbey Alan November 30, 2020 Newspapers.com Republican The Republican Party did not run a candidate in the 1979 mayoral election,October 5, 2015 Bernie Sanders, the Socialist Mayor The Atlantic https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/10/bernie-sanders-mayor/407413/ live https://archive.today/20210609170204/https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/10/bernie-sanders-mayor/407413/ June 9, 2021 June 9, 2021 after unsuccessfully asking former Chief of Police Robert G. Abare and state Representative Theodore M. Riehle III to run.October 30, 1980 Burlington's Republicans Seek Mayoral Candidate 6 The Burlington Free Press https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64275226/the-burlington-free-press/ live https://archive.today/20201129230028/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64275226/the-burlington-free-press/ November 29, 2020 Abbey Alan Newspapers.com November 29, 2020 Other candidates Bernie Sanders announced on November 8, 1980, that he would seek the mayoral office and formally announced his campaign on December 16, at a press conference in city hall.November 9, 1980 Liberty Unionite to Run For Mayor of Burlington 19 The Burlington Free Press https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64275859/the-burlington-free-press/ live https://archive.today/20201129230427/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64275859/the-burlington-free-press/ November 29, 2020 Newspapers.com November 29, 2020 December 13, 1980 UVM Pair to Work for Independent Coalition 3 The Burlington Free Press https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64276236/the-burlington-free-press/ live https://archive.today/20201129230834/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64276236/the-burlington-free-press/ November 29, 2020 Newspapers.com November 29, 2020 Sanders had been convinced to run for the mayoralty by Richard Sugarman, an Orthodox Jewish scholar at the University of Vermont, had shown Sanders a ward-by-ward breakdown of the 1976 Vermont gubernatorial election, in which Sanders had run, which showed him receiving 12% of the vote in Burlington despite only getting 6% statewide.June 13, 2019 Bernie's Red Vermont Zeitlin Matthew The New Republic https://newrepublic.com/article/154086/bernies-red-vermont live https://archive.today/20200309035903/https://newrepublic.com/article/154086/bernies-red-vermont March 9, 2020 December 6, 2020 Sanders selected Linda Niedweske to serve as his campaign manager.February 18, 1981 Sanders Opens Campaign Office 14 The Burlington Free Press https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64331883/the-burlington-free-press/ live https://web.archive.org/web/20201130194700/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64331883/the-burlington-free-press/ November 30, 2020 Newspapers.com The Citizens Party attempted to have Greg Guma run with their nomination for mayor, but Guma declined as it would be "difficult to run against another progressive candidate".January 16, 1981 Citizens Party Fails To Nominate Candidate 2 The Burlington Free Press https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64330793/the-burlington-free-press/ live https://web.archive.org/web/20201130193422/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64330793/the-burlington-free-press/ November 30, 2020 Newspapers.com The party did not run a candidate, instead endorsing Sanders. After losing the Democratic primary, Bove announced that he would seek the mayoral office as an independent candidate.January 21, 1981 Mayor Challenged To Debate Series 11 The Burlington Free Press https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64333395/the-burlington-free-press/ live https://web.archive.org/web/20201130200939/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64333395/the-burlington-free-press/ November 30, 2020 Newspapers.com Joseph McGrath, a retired building superintendent, also filed to run as an independent candidate.January 28, 1981 Associated Press Fourth files in Burlington mayoral race 22 Bennington Banner https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64334110/bennington-banner/ live https://web.archive.org/web/20201130201120/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64334110/bennington-banner/ November 30, 2020 Newspapers.comhttps://www.newspapers.com/clip/93949080/four/ Four-Way Mayoral Race a Hot One in Burlington Rutland Daily Herald Bookchin Debbie February 23, 1981 February 1, 2022 Newspapers.com Results and demographics thumb|upright|250px|Mayor Gordon Paquette's recount petition Though The Burlington Free Press had projected that Paquette would win by over thirty percentage points, Sanders was elected mayor at the March 3 general election. He was initially declared the victor by a margin of twenty-two votes over Paquette, but the lead was later reduced to ten votes after a recount. His campaign spent around $4,000.February 2, 1983 Gilson Rejects Campaign Fund Limit 17 Mackay Scott The Burlington Free Press https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64643579/the-burlington-free-press/ live https://archive.today/20201205074550/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64643579/the-burlington-free-press/ December 5, 2020 Newspapers.com December 5, 2020 Paquette did not contest the results of the recount. On April 6, Sanders was sworn in as Mayor of Burlington, becoming the first socialist mayor in New England since Jasper McLevy in Bridgeport, Connecticut during the 1940s and 1950s.March 14, 1981 Sanders' Victory Affirmed United Press International 1 Barre Montpelier Times Argus https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64539653/the-times-argus/ live https://web.archive.org/web/20201203204055/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64539653/the-times-argus/ December 3, 2020 Newspapers.comMarch 10, 1981 Board to Conduct Mayoral Recount Friday Abbey Alan 11 The Burlington Free Press https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64504803/the-burlington-free-press/ live https://web.archive.org/web/20201203043453/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64504803/the-burlington-free-press/ December 3, 2020 Newspapers.comMarch 19, 1981 Mayoral Recount Unchallenged 11 The Burlington Free Press https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64541733/the-burlington-free-press/ live https://web.archive.org/web/20201203210717/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64541733/the-burlington-free-press/ December 3, 2020 Newspapers.com Paquette's loss of the election was attributed to his own shortcomings. He did not actively campaign, as he did not consider Sanders and Bove serious challengers, with Sanders having never previously won an election.https://www.nytimes.com/1982/02/28/us/it-s-new-politics-vs-old-in-vermont-as-mayor-strives-to-oust-alderman.html It's new politics vs. old in Vermont as mayor strives to oust alderman The New York Times Clendinen Dudley March 2, 1982 Paquette was also considered to have lost because he proposed an unpopular 65 cent per $100 raise in taxes that Sanders opposed.Conroy 2016 5https://newrepublic.com/article/122285/bernie-burlington Bernie of Burlington The New Republic Margolis Jon March 15, 1983 January 19, 2020 There was also a significant student population in Burlington caused by the University of Vermont ending the building of dormitories in 1972.March 19, 1989 SOCIALISM FLOURISHES IN ONCE-CONSERVATIVE VERMONT Sun-Sentinel https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-1989-03-19-8901150157-story.html live https://archive.today/20210609164925/https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-1989-03-19-8901150157-story.html June 9, 2021 June 9, 2021 Murray Bookchin and his friends supported Sanders and Bookchin claimed that Sanders won due to "ten anarchist votes" and that he personally knew those voters.Biehl 2015 208 Results 1981 Burlington, Vermont mayoral electionMarch 14, 1981 Recount Puts Sanders Up By 10 Votes 4 The Burlington Free Press https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79135684/the-burlington-free-press/ live https://archive.today/20210607200326/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79135684/the-burlington-free-press/ June 7, 2021 Newspapers.com June 7, 2021 Independent (politician) Bernie Sanders 4,330 43.83% +43.83% Democratic Party (United States) Gordon Paquette (incumbent) 4,320 43.72% -54.98% Independent (politician) Richard Bove 1,091 11.04% +11.04% Independent (politician) Joseph McGrath 139 1.41% +1.41% 9,880 100.00% Results by ward before recount Ward Sanders Votes Paquette Votes Bove Votes McGrath Votes Total votesMarch 3, 1981 Statement of Votes Annual City Meeting Burlington, Vermont 6 VotesWard 144.33%51643.30%50411.43%1330.95%11100.00%1,164Ward 253.29%61630.97%35814.79%1710.95%11100.00%1,156Ward 349.08%63935.18%45813.13%1712.61%34100.00%1,302Ward 436.69%1,04548.10%1,37013.52%3851.69%48100.00%2,848Ward 541.75%61043.60%63713.35%1951.30%19100.00%1,461Ward 643.07%60948.51%6867.36%1041.06%15100.00%1,414 Endorsements Gordon Paquette 60em Statewide officials Philip H. Hoff, Governor of Vermont (1963–1969) Newspapers The Burlington Free PressFebruary 24, 1981 Free Press Backs Paquette United Press International 4 Rutland Herald https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64500640/rutland-daily-herald/ live https://web.archive.org/web/20201203033328/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/64500640/rutland-daily-herald/ December 3, 2020 Newspapers.com Bernie Sanders 60em Individuals George Albee, Professor of Psychology at the University of Vermont and former President of the American Psychological Association Huck Gutman, Professor of English at the University of Vermont Richard Sugarman, Assistant Professor of Religion at the University of Vermonthttps://www.newspapers.com/clip/102072054/professor-endorsements/ Sanders picks up more support March 2, 1981 May 18, 2022 The Burlington Free Press Organizations Burlington Police Patrolmen's AssociationConroy 2016 7 Citizens Party References Works cited Biehl Janet Janet Biehl Ecology or Catastrophe: The Life of Murray Bookchin Oxford University Press 2015 https://archive.org/details/ecologyorcatastr0000bieh 9780199342488 Conroy W. Bernie Sanders and the Boundaries of Reform: Socialism in Burlington Temple University Press 2016 10.2307/j.ctvrdf3gv https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctvrdf3gv 978-1-4399-1481-6 Burlington, Vermont Category:1981 Vermont elections Category:March 1981 in the United States 1981 Category:Bernie Sanders Category:20th century in Burlington, Vermont