If you’d like to be in touch with the transition team, email us at info@miroformayor.com or call Mike Kanarick at 802-448-2284.

We look forward to hearing from you!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 15, 2012
Contact:  Mike Kanarick
802.324.4296

Mayor-elect Miro Weinberger Announces Transition Team

Burlington, VT – Mayor-elect Miro Weinberger today announced a transition team that will assist him in hitting the ground running when he assumes office on the evening of April 2.

“I am eager to hit the ground running and to bring the fresh start to City Hall that the people of Burlington have asked for,” said Weinberger.  “Our transition team will be planning for the necessary changes to city government that will allow our community to move forward and thrive.  This work includes getting our finances under control, attracting the best people possible to serve in city government, and assessing city departments for improvements.”

Paul Sisson, a local financial consultant and former partner of 26 years with KPMG, and Andrew Savage, a member of AllEarth Renewables’ senior management team and former deputy chief of staff for Rep. Peter Welch, will co-chair the mayor-elect’s Transition Team.

“I am pleased to assist in leading this team to help the Mayor-elect hit the ground running as he takes office.  This is an exciting time for our City.  Our goal is to tap the excitement, experience, and top talent to help Burlington thrive under our new mayor,” said Savage, who helped lead the transition for Rep. Peter Welch from then-Rep. Bernie Sanders.

“Miro has appropriately identified getting Burlington’s finances in order as his top priority as mayor.  As we lead this transition forward, I am eager to continue the work of the budget team to help the mayor-elect manage City finances in a way that Burlington taxpayers deserve,” said Sisson.  “Miro has put together a great team that will draw on the community to assist these important efforts.”

The other transition team members include:

• Ian Carleton, attorney at Sheehey Furlong & Behm, former president of the Burlington City Council
• Rep. Joey Donovan, chair of House Education Committee, former teacher for Vermont Adult Learning, former Lund and Spectrum board member
• Carina Driscoll, owner of the Vermont Woodworking School, former state representative, former city councilor, former school board member
• Mike Kanarick, former website development executive, Miro for Mayor communications director
• Deb Lichtenfeld, community events planner, Miro for Mayor events coordinator
• Jessica Nordhaus, founder of Horny Toad Activewear outdoor clothing company, Miro for Mayor campaign manager
• Rep. Kesha Ram, House Ways & Means Committee, legal director at Women Helping Battered Women, University of Vermont and Sudan Development Foundation board member
• Jaafar Rizvi, community organizer, Miro for Mayor field director
• George Thabault, former Burlington City Councilor, former assistant to Mayors Sanders and Clavelle, former Vermont Deputy State Auditor, member of the Program Integrity Unit for the Department of Vermont Health Access (Vermont Medicaid programs)

Weinberger announced the following transition team priorities:

• Begin the top-to-bottom review of City departments.  The Mayor-elect and transition team members will meet with department heads and staff to gain an understanding of the strengths and challenges of each.
• Assist in vetting mayoral appointments.  The team will establish an appointments process and vet potential qualified candidates.
• Establish action plans for mayoral priorities.  These action plans will include Burlington Telecom, the Moran Plant, and the airport.
• Continue budget team work.  Weinberger’s previously-established budget team, chaired by Sisson and tasked with advising on City budget issues leading up to June, will continue its work under the transition team.  The members of the budget team include: Carina Driscoll, Doug Hoffer, Dawn Moskowitz, Sarah Muyskens, Pat Robins, Paul Sisson, Dan Smith, George Thabault and Frits Verdonk.

Weinberger, noting the short period of time between Town Meeting Day and April 2, said the team will continue to work on elements of the transition beyond April 2.

The transition team will work in a previously vacant office space at 77 College Street and may be reached at info@miroformayor.com, 802.448.2284, or PO Box 533, Burlington, VT 05402.  The team will provide updates on www.facebook.com/miroformayor and www.miroformayor.com.

The text of the email is copied below:

Friends,

“Burlington needs a mayor who will be responsive to the needs of working families.  As mayor, I will get our City’s finances back in order, restore economic growth that will create good local jobs and improve our tax base, and make Burlington more affordable.  I am pleased to have the support of a growing coalition of labor leaders representing hundreds of working Vermonters,” said Weinberger.  “As the son of a teacher active in the NEA, I am pleased to have the confidence of this group of workers and labor leaders.”

“The Teamsters need a mayor who will bring good local jobs, with good benefits to Burlington, and who will enhance our creative economy,” stated Dan Brush, Political Coordinator for the Teamsters.  “We believe Miro has the vision to get the job done and that’s why the Teamsters is endorsing Miro for Mayor of Burlington.”

“It’s about time Burlington had a mayor who looked out for the City and its workers,” stated Jeff Potvin, president of the Vermont Building and Construction Trades Council and business manager of the United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters Local #693.  “Miro has impressed us as a leader who will be able to bring jobs to the building trades, and we are glad to endorse Miro’s campaign.”  The Council is a coalition of 14 different building trades, including the Teamsters, Carpenters, Electricians, and Ironworkers.

A growing group of labor leaders has joined in support of Weinberger’s candidacy for Burlington mayor.  Earlier this week, theInternational Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local #300 endorsed Weinberger.  IBEW Local #300 business manager and financial secretary, Jeffrey C. Wimette, had shared the following statement:  “Following numerous discussions with Miro, the IBEW Local #300 has developed a sense of trust and respect for his vision for Burlington, as well as his potential to lead the city and its administration down a path of transparency as well as prosperity for the business community and residents alike.  Miro’s ability to collectively view the whole picture and vast needs of Burlington is a required quality to make change.  Yet Miro’s ability to concentrate and focus on the individual needs of the city as well as the residents of Burlington is an even greater accomplishment.”

Ben Johnson, president of the Vermont AFL-CIO, stated: “Miro is the best choice for working people in Burlington.  I’m delighted that the Building Trades, the Teamsters, and the IBEW Local #300, all AFL-CIO members, have endorsed Miro.  We all look forward to working hard these next five days to ensure that Miro becomes Burlington’s new mayor.”

“Today’s new endorsements — combined with others in the last week from Senator Bernie Sanders, State’s Attorney TJ Donovan, Sheriff Kevin McLaughlin, and Somali Bantu community leaders — should put to rest any debate about which campaign has the broadest base of support.  No other campaign has the support of business leaders and multiple labor unions, a broad spectrum of political leaders, New Americans and families that have lived in this City for generations, and individual endorsements from hundreds of Burlingtonians,” said Weinberger.  “This broad and deep coalition for a Fresh Start will bring much needed change to City Hall next Tuesday.”

      I want to applaud all three of the mayoral candidates for their years of service to the people of Burlington and for the respectful manner in which they have conducted their campaigns.  I consider all of them friends and, as Vermont’s senator, I look forward to working with whomever is elected mayor. 

      It is no secret that our nation, state and the City of Burlington now face enormous challenges as we try to work our way out of this horrendous Wall Street caused recession.  At every level of government we need a vigorous effort to create decent paying jobs and affordable housing; we need to improve our infrastructure and protect our environment; we need to support the most vulnerable members of our society – the elderly, the children and the sick and we need to defend the human rights of all people. We need to do all of that and more through the running of cost-effective government and respect for the taxpayer. 

     I am voting for Miro Weinberger for mayor of Burlington because I believe that he is the candidate best able to address these and other serious issues facing our city.  I have been impressed by his private sector efforts to create environmentally sound mixed-use development.  I have seen first hand his beautiful project in Richford which combines a locally-owned grocery store, a rural health center, a dental clinic, a pharmacy and affordable housing – just the kind of development Vermont needs.  I am also confident that he will use the office of mayor to push for innovative solutions to the challenges facing the low and moderate income children of our city.  Lastly, I believe that he will create an open City Hall which welcomes the ideas of people of all walks of life.

IBEW Local #300 Press Release follows:

Following numerous discussions with Miro, the IBEW Local #300 has developed a sense of trust and respect for his vision for Burlington, as well as his potential to lead the city and its administration down a path of transparency as well as prosperity for the business community and residents alike.  Miro’s ability to collectively view the whole picture and vast needs of Burlington is a required quality to make change.  Yet Miro’s ability to concentrate and focus on the individual needs of the city as well as the residents of Burlington is an even greater accomplishment.

It is the hope that through the IBEW Local #300’s support that Miro is able to accomplish his goals and work towards completing his vision for all citizens; both local and international who travel to Burlington for its independent thinking and worldly experience.  To residents and business community of Burlington, the IBEW Local #300 extends it hands and asks for your support in voting for Miro Weinberger for Mayor on March 6^th.  It is through your gesture of support that we can make change, and voice our opinion on a brighter future.

Burlington members of the Somali Bantu community Endorse Miro Weinberger for Mayor: A Fresh Start for New Americans

Burlington, VT—Miro Weinberger is honored to receive the endorsement of dozens of prominent members of the Somali Bantu community in Burlington. Yesterday, in a crowded room at the Somali Bantu Community Association in Burlington’s Old North End, Weinberger met with local residents to discuss areas of concern such as housing, code enforcement, legal representation and law enforcement, adult language learning, and community relations.

For better than an hour, the assembled group expressed their desire to find a way to better engage with City government, asking Weinberger how he would forge new connections with their community and those of other New Americans living in Burlington. Satisfied that Weinberger will be a mayor who will work hard to create connections in the community and be a proactive, responsive representative for ALL Burlington’s citizens, they closed the meeting by offering him their endorsement.

Mohamed Abdi said, “we endorse Miro for mayor because he listens to our concerns and we believe he will make changes in Burlington that will help our community.”

“I am honored to have the support of so many members of the Somali Bantu community,” Weinberger said. “It is enormously gratifying and humbling to know that some of our newest citizens are looking to me to be their mayor, a mayor who can ensure all voices in Burlington are heard. Their votes of confidence—as much as the votes on their ballots—signal a new era in Burlington where all members of our community feel empowered and engaged to create a better Burlington, one that is inclusive, equitable, responsive and responsible.”

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The Airport Commission is an advisory board that deals solely with airport issues.  The Commission has no formal authority over what type of debt the City or even the airport takes on.   My vote was a vote against the airport taking on BAN debt, not a broader statement as to whether or not the City had any better financing options.

My opposition to the BAN was effective in protecting the airport’s finances.  As a result of my resistance, the Administration reduced the amount of short-term BAN debt borrowed by the airport from an original proposal of approximately $18 million to $12 million.

In addition, my vote and testimony regarding it in front of the City Council raised awareness of the financial pressures the airport is under and has been helpful in securing City Council support for Commission positions on other matters since.

-Miro

Big thank you to Allan Nicholls who provided our awesome sound track titled: “Vote.” You can check out the album here!

Here it is in snapshots: