Via Community News Service, a University of Vermont journalism internship, on assignment for The Other Paper
A sense of duty. Purpose. An important lesson to pass on to younger generations.
These are some of the reasons voters gave for participating in Town Meeting Day in South Burlington.
In addition to voting on school and town budgets and two City Council races, they wanted to show their support for democracy.
“I feel like it’s a right that’s under attack,” said Havaleh Gagne with tears in her eyes.
“I always vote, and that’s what I taught my daughter to do. School board, budget, it doesn’t matter. Every election matters. Every time.”
Cheerful City Councilor Tim Barritt stood outside of City Hall, donning bright red “pseudo-Gore Tex” snow pants. Barritt ran unopposed in this year’s election.
“It’s my civic duty,” he said of voting. “Don’t complain about farmers with your mouthful of food. Don’t complain about politics if you don’t vote.”
The only contested race on the ballot pitted incumbent council member Elizabeth Fitzgerald against challenger Lydia Diamond.
Greg Merhar of South Burlington wished voters had more options.
“There wasn’t much choice,” Merhar said. “This wasn’t a big City Council year. It’s not like other towns where they get together and have chili in a fire station.”
Merhar, who’s lived in South Burlington for 12 years, expressed frustration at continual property tax increases.
Bridget Burkhardt stood in front of City Hall, braving the wind to show her support for Elizabeth Fitzgerald and write-in school director candidate Emilie Hoffman.
Burkhardt is a Democrat representing South Burlington in the Vermont House. She said state lawmakers have a greater role in the school budget than many realize.
“I think a lot of the challenges driving up the school budget are out of the school district’s control,” she said. “They’re much more in the control of Montpelier, and we need to get our act together to try to do some education funding reform.”
Debra Leonard said she views voting as a powerful tool. Leonard is a South Burlington resident and chair of pathology and laboratory medicine at University of Vermont Medical Center.
Leonard also hopes to see South Burlington potentially elect its first woman of color to the council, Lydia Diamond.
“There’s no more powerful way to impact what’s going on in the world than by voting. So we have to exercise our right,” Leonard said.