Vermont's eight mayors today endorsed Governor Peter Shumlin for a third term. The mayors represent municipalities from around the state and political points of view from Republican to Democrat to Independent. The governor has frequently been seen with the mayors at many events, groundbreakings and ribbon cuttings over the last few years and frequently cites their accomplishments in downtown development projects. In 2012, Shumlin received the endorsement of seven of Vermont's mayors. The mayors endorsing Shumlin this year are Bill Benton, Vergennes; Liz Gamache, St Albans; John Hollar, Montpelier; Thom Lauzon, Barre; Chris Louras, Rutland; Paul Monette, Newport; Mike O’Brien, Winooski; Miro Weinberger, Burlington.
Vermont Mayors Weinberger, Hollar, Lauzon, Gamache and Louras at the governor's State of the State speech in January. VTDigger photo.
"I am honored to receive the support of all of Vermont's mayors," said Shumlin. "Mayors are on the front lines of growing jobs and economic opportunity. Whether it is revitalizing downtowns in Barre, St. Albans, Vergennes and Winooski, making Rutland a renewable energy center for job growth, seeing Burlington ranked as one of the top ten most promising tech hubs in America, or bringing much-needed investment to Newport and the Northeast Kingdom, I'm proud of the partnership we have developed. We have more work to do to ensure all Vermonters have the quality of life and economic security they deserve and I look forward to continuing to work with Vermont's mayors to get that done."
Mayor Liz Gamache said, "Anyone who has been to St. Albans lately sees a Downtown that is undergoing a tremendous transformation. Without Governor Shumlin’s support we would not be experiencing the level of success we are seeing today. A tireless champion of downtowns, Governor Shumlin has a clear vision of what Vermont’s urban centers can be, and he has helped us to create conditions that foster economic development, create jobs and attract investment in our communities."
Mayor Thom Lauzon said, "Governor Shumlin knows how to roll up his sleeves and get things done. With his help, we're revitalizing downtown Barre and making it an even better place to work and live. The progress we've made has been astounding. We have more work to do and I look forward to continuing our partnership with Governor Shumlin for another two years."
Mayor Miro Weinberger said, “Governor Peter Shumlin is a bold, strong leader who tackles Vermont’s biggest challenges head-on and seizes our greatest opportunities through innovative efforts. Governor Shumlin believes in Vermont’s cities and villages, and he has devoted his administration’s resources and energy to revitalizing our downtowns. I enthusiastically support our governor in his reelection effort.”
Mayor Chris Louras said, "The City of Rutland has made great strides in developing a model crime reduction strategy resulting in improved quality of life and neighborhood stabilization, and our efforts would not have been successful without the support of Governor Peter Shumlin."
Mayor John Hollar said, "Governor Shumlin has been a strong and effective advocate for issues that Montpelier voters care about: renewable energy, downtown investment and job creation. He has managed the budget responsibly during a period of sustained economic challenges. I am pleased to support Governor Shumlin's campaign for re-election, as we need continued strong leadership to keep our economy moving while also investing in the priorities that are important to Vermonters."
Source: Governor's office 10.7.2014