Wow, look at those gin blossoms on Kurt's face! Looks like Quik-Stop Kurt's been hitting the booze down at the store...

 

Another great interview. Well, aside from all the whining about IRV. I can't wait to see how big the majority of Burlingtonians who say they liked using IRV is after this election.

Wright breaks down the whole Montroll retirement thing rather nicely.

The more I hear from this candidate the more I want to put him as #2 on my ballot after Bob. I think he's going to do better than expected.

It's too bad that Rep. Wright and Councilor Wright are such different people. Try as I might I can't justify a vote for Kurt knowing his right-wing & anti-environment record in Montpelier.

 

This interview is classic Wright: all allusion and no real content.

Kurt Wright has done well in Burlington politics, and here is how: Kurt has enormous support in Wards 4 and 7. He tells the voters out there everything they want to hear behind closed doors: that he'll fight to raise taxes, that the schools and teachers have all the money they need (he has no kids), that he'll fight civil unions and equality for same sex couples, that he's moderate and into compromise and 'working together'. He is a classic politician: he tells whoever he's talking to exactly what they want to hear to get their vote.

Wards 4 and 7 are the most conservative in our city, and he has played his cards there perfectly.

The voters of Burlington better WAKE UP and realize that if they are not careful, they're going to elect a very conservative, right wing, barely educated person (Kurt did not finish college) to be mayor of our great city. I like Dan Smith for mayor, but the 2 other candidates running are far more qualified to lead then Kurt.

In Haik's interview, there are very few answers and a lot of blaming of Bob, Andy, and others. Let's not forget, Kurt is City Council PRESIDENT and has had significant opportunity to make a difference. He has done a few small things, but his biggest accomplishment has been to play the political game very well and rise through the ranks.

Come on people, we are BURLINGTON and we are far smarter than to elect this man our next mayor.

 

I've been watching Kurt Wright's career since the 80's when he did a talk show with Matt Gardy on public access television. I've had occasion to drink two (or ten) drinks with him on a number of occasions at downtown watering holes. Kurt's a nice enough guy, but his core is very conservative, and it always has been. Since becoming city council president, his rhetoric has toned down a bit, but underneath the sheeps clothing this man is still a hard core Republican. Although he couldn't do much irreparable harm in one term as mayor, he'd likely set the city back.

It might have been much more informative if you had conducted the interview after ordering two (or ten) drinks for Kurt and listened to him tell you his philosophy on life and politics. You'd have likely encountered a version of Kurt much different than the one you interviewed.

The irony here is that without IRV Kurt wouldn't stand a chance in this race. I see a slight possibility of his electability if he carries those he says he has on the second ballots of a close four way race. More likely though, I'd bet on his second place votes being a major contributor to this race. I think Kurt will be the third candidate eliminated, after Andy and the other guy. I believe that his second place votes will ultimately determine the winner of this election.

Crazy fun in Burlington. Wish I could vote. Thanks for the website Haik. Great job as usual.

 

IRV Sucks.

 

I've been thinking more about what Kurt said about the Montroll Retirement proposal being purely political and I'm starting to worry about what a Dem majority on the City Council might look like.

Do all the Dems support Andy's defined-contribution idea? If so, why? I mean, even the Dem candidate in my (very progressive) neighborhood who claims to be all about healing the split on the left supports this anti-worker idea.

What about the W7 Dem? He might win. Does he support this? Is he gonna be part of the Dem Party group-think too?

I'm pretty sure the only way we're ever going to have a 'post-partisan' world is when we get rid of political parties or build a whole bunch more of them.

 

I think Anonymous is completely wrong. Without IRV, Kurt would likely be our next mayor. (With IRV, it's a crapsoot.) He's evolved over the years. On key issues, such as economic development, he's on the money. (Andy's support comes from every NIMBY in the city; Bob's no leader; and Dan would bring the ineffective GBIC-style of non-economic development.)

 

That's crapshoot.

 

George, it's illusion, allusion.

 

not

 

Thhanks for this