1985 Burlington mayoral election
March 5, 1985
 
Nominee Bernie Sanders Brian D. Burns Diane Gallagher
Party Independent Democratic Independent
Popular vote 5,760 3,275 1,234
Percentage 55.32% 31.45% 11.85%
Results by city council distric
Sanders:
  Sanders—50-60%
  Sanders—60-70%
  Sanders—70-80%

Tied:
  Tied—39%
Mayor of Burlington before election

Bernie Sanders
Independent

 Elected Mayor of Burlington

Bernie Sanders
Independent

The 1985 Burlington mayoral election was held March 5, 1985.[1] Incumbent Mayor Bernie Sanders won with 56.09% of the popular vote against Democratic nominee Brian D. Burns, independent Diane Gallagher, and various other minor candidates.

Gallagher initially sought the nomination of the Republican Party, but later became an independent candidate. William Murray and Richard Sartelle sought the Republican nomination, but the Republican caucus voted unanimously to not nominate a candidate. Sartelle also unsuccessfully sought the nomination of the Liberty Union Party which also chose to not nominate a candidate.

Campaign

Candidates

Independents

Incumbent Mayor Bernie Sanders, who won as an independent in the 1981 and 1983 elections, initially considered not seeking a third term as Mayor of Burlington, Vermont, but announced on December 5, 1984, that he would seek a third term.[2] Sanders formally launched his campaign on December 7.[3] The Progressive Coalition had considered running Gary DeCarolis, a member of the city council from the 3rd district, or Peter Clavelle for mayor if Sanders did not run.[4]

Richard Sartelle and John Tatro also filed to run as independents while Michael Hackett filed under the Neutral Party.[5] Sartelle had worked as a aide for Sanders during the 1981 election before breaking with him during the 1983 election and later referring to Sanders as dictatorial during the 1985 campaign.[6] He sought the endorsement of the Liberty Union Party, but the party chose to not endorse any candidate.[7] Tatro, a toy maker and perennial candidate, had run numerous previous campaigns for both congress and the Burlington city council.[8] He advocated for homeless individuals to be housed in unused apartments, a ban on glass containers and the arrest of social workers who approved "underserving applicants" for social programs.[9]

Democratic

Brian D. Burns, who served as the 72nd Lieutenant Governor of Vermont and whose brother, James Burns, was a staunch critic of Sanders on the Burlington city council until a pro-Sanders candidate defeated him, announced on December 12, 1984, that he would seek the Democratic nomination for the mayoralty.[10] Burns formally announced his candidacy for mayor on December 19.[11]

Burns defeated Terje Anderson, a gay man who supported Jesse Jackson during the 1984 Democratic presidential primaries, a member of the Rainbow Coalition, and who served on the 1984 Democratic platform committee, by a vote of 109 to 19.[12] Anderson refused to endorse Burns at the convention, accusing him of abandoning liberal Democrats, and stating to The Burlington Free Press that he expected Sanders to win re-election.[12]

Republican

Diane Gallagher, a Republican member of the city council from the sixth ward, announced that she would run for the mayoralty.[13] However, on January 14, 1985, Gallagher announced that she would not seek the Republican nomination and would instead seek the mayoralty as an independent. She withdrew citing opposition to her candidacy within the Republican Party, who wanted to unite behind Brian Burns, and her desire to avoid becoming a divisive force.[14] She also stated that over sixty percent of voters in Burlington were independents.[15]

Maggie Green, who was considered as the "perfect unity candidate" by The Burlington Free Press, chose not to run for the Republican nomination.[13] William Murray and Richard Sartelle sought the Republican nomination, but the Republican caucus voted unanimously to not nominate a candidate.[16]

Libertarian

William J. Murray announced on January 16, 1985, that he would seek the mayoralty as a Libertarian and formally announced his campaign on January 28.[17][18]

Fundraising

During the campaign Sanders had raised $24,428, spent $24,384, and had remaining debts of $555. Burns raised $21,465, spent $23,753, and had remaining debts of around $3,000. Gallagher had raised $10,060, spent $9,030, and had remaining debts of $1,271.[19]

Endorsements

Diane Gallagher (I)
State officials

Polling

Poll source Date(s) Sample size Margin of Error Sanders Burns Gallagher Others Undecided
The Burlington Free Press/University of Vermont[21] February 13–15, 1985 537 people ± 5% 33.75%' 15.1% 6.40% 0.60% 25.50%

Results

1985 Burlington mayoral election[22]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Bernie Sanders (incumbent) 5,760 55.32% +3.20%
Democratic Brian D. Burns 3,275 31.45% +0.77%
Independent Diane Gallagher 1,234 11.85% +11.85%
Libertarian William Murray 72 0.69% +0.69%
Independent Richard Sartelle 34 0.33% +0.33%
Neutral Michael Hackett 20 0.19% +0.19%
Independent John Tatro 17 0.16% +0.16%
Total votes 10,412 100.00%

Results by ward

Ward Sanders Votes Burns Votes Gallagher Votes Murray Votes Sartelle Votes Hackett Votes Tatro Votes Total votes[13] Votes
Ward 1 63.11% 982 28.15% 438 7.84% 122 0.39% 6 0.19% 3 0.19% 3 0.13% 2 100.00% 1,556
Ward 2 71.45% 911 21.33% 272 6.12% 78 0.71% 9 0.00% 0 0.16% 2 0.24% 3 100.00% 1,275
Ward 3 69.34% 995 21.74% 312 7.32% 105 0.49% 7 0.70% 10 0.28% 4 0.14% 2 100.00% 1,435
Ward 4 39.61% 1,083 39.61% 1,083 18.98% 519 0.95% 26 0.48% 13 0.15% 4 0.22% 6 100.00% 2,734
Ward 5 53.22% 958 37.06% 667 8.78% 158 0.67% 12 0.06% 1 0.22% 4 0.00% 0 100.00% 1,800
Ward 6 51.55% 831 31.20% 503 15.63% 252 0.74% 12 0.43% 7 0.19% 3 0.25% 4 100.00% 1,612

References

  1. ↑ Johnson, Sally (March 6, 1985). "Sanders Is Triumphant". Rutland Herald. p. 1. Archived from the original on December 5, 2020. Retrieved December 5, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ↑ "Mayor Sanders to run again". Brattleboro Reformer. United Press International. December 7, 1984. p. 2. Archived from the original on December 5, 2020. Retrieved December 5, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ↑ "Sanders Makes It Official". Rutland Herald. Associated Press. December 8, 1984. p. 6. Archived from the original on December 5, 2020. Retrieved December 5, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ "Progressives Mull Possible Successor to Sanders". The Burlington Free Press. November 15, 1984. p. 11. Archived from the original on June 19, 2021. Retrieved June 19, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ Youngwood, Susan (January 28, 1985). "Not All Candidates Have Filed In Burlington; Deadline Today". The Burlington Free Press. p. 14. Archived from the original on December 5, 2020. Retrieved December 5, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ↑ Melvin, Don (January 16, 1985). "Sartelle Says Sanders 'Dictatorial'". The Burlington Free Press. p. 14. Archived from the original on December 5, 2020. Retrieved December 5, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ↑ "Liberty Union Party Does Not Endorse". The Burlington Free Press. January 29, 1985. p. 13. Archived from the original on December 5, 2020. Retrieved December 5, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ↑ Powell, Mitchell (February 10, 1985). "Three other candidates offer some unusual ideas". The Burlington Free Press. Retrieved January 20, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ↑ "Tatro urges housing for street people". The Burlington Free Press. March 2, 1985. Retrieved January 20, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ↑ Freyne, Peter (December 14, 1984). "Brian Burns to Announce Bid for Burlington Mayor". Rutland Herald. p. 18. Archived from the original on December 5, 2020. Retrieved December 5, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ↑ Melvin, Don (December 19, 1984). "Brian Burns Joining Mayoral Race Today". The Burlington Free Press. p. 13. Archived from the original on December 5, 2020. Retrieved December 5, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. 1 2 "Democrats Back Burns for Mayor; GOP Passes". The Burlington Free Press. January 24, 1985. p. 15. Archived from the original on December 5, 2020. Retrieved December 5, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. 1 2 3 Freyne, Peter (December 1, 1984). "Burlington Campaign Begins". Rutland Herald. p. 1. Archived from the original on December 5, 2020. Retrieved December 5, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ↑ Melvin, Don (January 15, 1985). "Gallagher Doffs GOP Hat, Will Run as Independent". The Burlington Free Press. p. 1. Archived from the original on December 5, 2020. Retrieved December 5, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ↑ "Burlington Mayoral candidate won't seek GOP endorsement". Brattleboro Reformer. United Press International. January 16, 1985. p. 2. Archived from the original on December 5, 2020. Retrieved December 5, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ↑ "Brian Burns Gets Democrats' Nod". The Burlington Free Press. January 24, 1985. p. 1. Archived from the original on December 5, 2020. Retrieved December 5, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ↑ "Libertarian Murray Enters Burlington's Mayoral Fray". The Burlington Free Press. January 17, 1985. p. 18. Archived from the original on December 5, 2020. Retrieved December 5, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ↑ "Libertarian candidate enters mayor's race". Brattleboro Reformer. United Press International. January 18, 1985. p. 2. Archived from the original on December 5, 2020. Retrieved December 5, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ↑ Melvin, Don (March 16, 1985). "Financial Reports Show Burns Big Spender in Mayoral Bid". The Burlington Free Press. p. 11. Archived from the original on December 8, 2020. Retrieved December 8, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ↑ Melvin, Don (December 21, 1984). "Gallagher pressured to drop out of race". The Burlington Free Press. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
  21. ↑ Bookchin, Debbie (February 22, 1983). "Polls Show Sanders Ahead; But Who's Second?". Rutland Herald. p. 4. Archived from the original on December 5, 2020. Retrieved December 5, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ↑ "City Elections At-a-glance". The Burlington Free Press. March 6, 1985. p. 2. Archived from the original on December 5, 2020. Retrieved December 5, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
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