Earlier this month, on Town Meeting Day, The Progressive Party made some headway in Burlington.Emma Mulvaney-Stanak won the mayoral election over Democrat Joan Shannon.When she’s sworn in on April 1, she will become the first Progressive to lead the Queen City since Bob Kiss 12 years ago.Mulvaney-Stanak’s approach to emphasizing community collaboration to tackle some of the cities’ most pressing issues is what why she ultimately believes she won. “We can do this in a very people-centered way,” said Mulvaney-Stanak,Josh Wronski, Vermont’s Progressive Party’s Executive Director, believes Burlingtonians have been longing to get back in office. “The way our Progressive Party and electives tend to approach politics is by going to the people and really engaging in a participatory process,” said Wronski. “We feel that’s how you get the best solutions.”It’s the same philosophy Marek Broderick strongly buys into as well and made as part of his message in his Ward 8 City Councilor campaign.Broderick would go on to beat out Democrat incumbent Hannah King.While Democrats still hold the majority, it helped Progressives grab an extra seat on the Council, bringing their total to 5 representatives. “I want to stay in Burlington as long as I can, but there are definitely factors that may prevent that,” said Broderick.He will be looking to find solutions to climate concerns, the housing crisis, and public safety issues.The caveat is Broderick will be doing all that while balancing his academics at UVM as a third-year student.“I think that everyone that lives in Burlington has a right to local democracy,” said Broderick.He joined a rare company earlier this month, becoming the second-ever active college student to be elected to Burlington’s Council.Progressive Ali House did it in 2022 but resigned just months in after citing mental health struggles from the role. “I’m anticipating it to sometimes get a little overwhelming, but I can’t waver in my commitment to the city,” said Broderick.Broderick’s mentor throughout this process has been longtime Progressive City Councilor Gene Bergman.Bergman went door-to-door with Broderick during his campaign.He believes Broderick can handle both responsibilities. “The most important thing he’s been gaining is his self-confidence to be able to talk and to feel comfortable that it’s his right to express himself,” said Bergman.Wronski said they’ve learned from the past and believes they’ve now made strides as a party to continue to grow within the Queen City.“It took us learning, reaching out, and really presenting our vision, and reaching out to more people every single election until we had this real critical mass,” said Wronski.
Earlier this month, on Town Meeting Day, The Progressive Party made some headway in Burlington.
Emma Mulvaney-Stanak won the mayoral election over Democrat Joan Shannon.
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When she’s sworn in on April 1, she will become the first Progressive to lead the Queen City since Bob Kiss 12 years ago.
Mulvaney-Stanak’s approach to emphasizing community collaboration to tackle some of the cities’ most pressing issues is what why she ultimately believes she won.
“We can do this in a very people-centered way,” said Mulvaney-Stanak,
Josh Wronski, Vermont’s Progressive Party’s Executive Director, believes Burlingtonians have been longing to get back in office.
“The way our Progressive Party and electives tend to approach politics is by going to the people and really engaging in a participatory process,” said Wronski. “We feel that’s how you get the best solutions.”
It’s the same philosophy Marek Broderick strongly buys into as well and made as part of his message in his Ward 8 City Councilor campaign.
Broderick would go on to beat out Democrat incumbent Hannah King.
While Democrats still hold the majority, it helped Progressives grab an extra seat on the Council, bringing their total to 5 representatives.
“I want to stay in Burlington as long as I can, but there are definitely factors that may prevent that,” said Broderick.
He will be looking to find solutions to climate concerns, the housing crisis, and public safety issues.
The caveat is Broderick will be doing all that while balancing his academics at UVM as a third-year student.
“I think that everyone that lives in Burlington has a right to local democracy,” said Broderick.
He joined a rare company earlier this month, becoming the second-ever active college student to be elected to Burlington’s Council.
Progressive Ali House did it in 2022 but resigned just months in after citing mental health struggles from the role.
“I’m anticipating it to sometimes get a little overwhelming, but I can’t waver in my commitment to the city,” said Broderick.
Broderick’s mentor throughout this process has been longtime Progressive City Councilor Gene Bergman.
Bergman went door-to-door with Broderick during his campaign.
He believes Broderick can handle both responsibilities.
“The most important thing he’s been gaining is his self-confidence to be able to talk and to feel comfortable that it’s his right to express himself,” said Bergman.
Wronski said they’ve learned from the past and believes they’ve now made strides as a party to continue to grow within the Queen City.
“It took us learning, reaching out, and really presenting our vision, and reaching out to more people every single election until we had this real critical mass,” said Wronski.
