By Kolby LaMarche

As polls closed on Town Meeting Day, Queen City voters delivered a message of continuity, re-electing incumbents in contested City Council wards and approving all four ballot articles.

The results maintain the balance between Democrats (7) and Progressives (5) on the 12-member council. 

In Ward 8, one of the city’s more progressive-leaning areas, incumbent Progressive Marek Broderick successfully defended his seat against Democratic challenger Ryan Nick. 

Broderick’s campaign had emphasized his role in renter protections, especially for UVM students, and opposition to large-scale developments, in a ward where student votes are critical to crossing the finish line. 

Nick, who positioned himself as a progressive alternative, faced scrutiny over his funding sources and real estate ties throughout the campaign. Controversy largely began with the University of Vermont’s Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) accusing Nick of deceptive tactics and heavy reliance on donations from real estate interests. 

The group criticized Nick’s social media messaging as misleading and pointed to his role as a landlord and partner in JL Davis Realty, arguing it conflicted with his pro-tenant stance. 

The Burlington Democratic Party pushed back, decrying “hurtful misinformation” and attack ads, including anonymous posts on Front Porch Forum questioning Nick’s family. 

Broderick, meanwhile, received SJP’s endorsement through a supportive collage. 

According to the latest campaign finance reports, Nick expended $17,863 in his efforts, but after accounting for startup costs and lacking paid staff, he effectively had about $16,000 for voter outreach—equating to roughly $87 per vote for the183 total ballots cast in his favor.

By contrast, Broderick spent around $8,000 on turnout and persuasion efforts, or about $26 per voter. Broderick won with a resounding 61%. 

In Ward 7, one of Burlington’s more conservative-minded but ideologically evolving wards, Democrat Evan Litwin bested his Progressive opponent and will return to the council for another term, where he has often been a fiery, but arguably effective, advocate. 

These incumbent victories—spanning both Democratic and Progressive parties—mark the continuation council’s power (im)balance, with Democrats holding that slight edge. 

Democrat Councilor, and President, Ben Traverse, who hasn’t yet announced if he’ll seek the council presidency again, is widely expected to do so after winning re-election to the council last night. What also isn’t clear is what Democrats expect to do with their two-seat majority. Though sparks have flown at council meetings prior, the Democrats seem largely uninterested in – in any way – impeding or questioning Progressive Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak’s agenda. Rather, council Democrats have sought to restrict their own agenda, as President Traverse argued earlier this year.

Turning to the ballot items:

Article 1: Approval of FY27 School Budget ($140.8M)

Burlington voters overwhelmingly approved the $140.8 million school budget for Fiscal Year 2027, with 67.2% yes (5,900 votes) to 32.7% no (2,879 votes). This marks the continuation of a trend where Burlington has passed its school budget for over a decade straight, even as statewide rejections hit about one-third of proposals due to tax concerns. 

Article 2: Increase in Police & Fire Tax Rate (6%)

The 6% increase in the police and fire tax rate sailed through with 70.7% yes (5,004 votes) to 29.2% no (2,064 votes). This levy hike, equating to about 5-6 cents per $100 of assessed property value, aims to bolster public safety staffing and equipment, adding firefighters and vehicles amid rising calls for service. Burlington has a history of supporting such measures; in 2024, voters approved a 3-cent increase for similar purposes, addressing shortages exacerbated by retirements and budget constraints. 

Article 3: Charter Change RE: Establishment of the Office of Racial Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (REIB)

Voters formalized the REIB office in the city charter with 59.1% yes (4,162 votes) to 40.8% no (2,871 votes), the closest margin among the measures. Established in 2019 under former Mayor Miro Weinberger to combat structural racism, REIB has focused on anti-bias training, community grants, and equity strategies, with a $478,000 annual budget—about 1% of the general fund. The charter amendment protects it from future cuts, requiring a Director appointed by the mayor and confirmed by council. 

Article 4: Compensation for School Board Members ($2,000/year)

Burlington approved $2,000 annual stipends for school board members starting 2026-2027, with 63.5% yes (4,456 votes) to 36.4% no (2,557 votes). Adjusted yearly by the Consumer Price Index, this shifts from volunteer-only service to recognize the time commitment—often 10-20 hours weekly for meetings, budget reviews, and community engagement.