YCQM - Kurt Wright - Feb. 5, 2012 - WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-
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February 5, 2012 -- Kurt Wright, Republican for Burlington Mayor, joins
Kristin Carlson and Kyle Midura to discuss his run for mayor of
Burlington.
>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
I'M KRISTIN CARLSON.
>> AND I'M KYLE MIDURA.
TODAY, THE BURLINGTON'S MAYOR'S
RACE.
>> THIS WEEK OUR NEWSMAKER IS
REPUBLICAN KURT WRIGHT.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> LET'S START WITH THE EASY AND
OBVIOUS QUESTION.
CAN YOU OUTLINE THE BIG {OFT}
PLANKS IN YOUR PLATFORM FOR US?
>> CERTAINLY.
WE HAVE SOME REALLY BIG
FINANCIAL PROBLEMS IN
BURLINGTON.
$17 MILLION HOLE AS A RESULT OF
BURLINGTON TELECOM, PROBLEMS
WITH THE PENSION SYSTEM, WE'VE
GOT TO REPAIR THE BIKE PATH, AND
SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION NEEDS, AND
SO WE NEED TO LOOK AT THAT IN A
VERY SERIOUS WAY.
I THINK WE NEED TO START WITH
EVALUATING ALL OUR ASSETS.
I MENTIONED B. E.D., AND --
>> THAT'S AN ISSUE THAT HAD COME
OUT.
>> I USE THE WORDS "CONSIDER"
AND "INVESTIGATE".
I THINK EVERYTHING NEEDS TO BE
ON THE TABLE.
IT'S NOT THAT DIFFERENT THAN ONE
OF MY OPPONENTS, MR. WINE
{BRERG}ER, WHO -- WEINBERGER WHO
WOULDN'T TAKE IT OFF THE TABLE.
HE SAID IT WOULD BE HIS PLAN Z
AND MY PLAN A.
WE'RE ALL GOING TO LOOK FOR
EFFICIENCIES IN CITY GOVERNMENT,
WE'RE GOING TO DO A
TOP-TO-BOTTOM REVIEW OF ANY
SITUATION IN CITY GOVERNMENT AND
LOOK FOR EFFICIENCIES IN ORDER
TO SAVE MONEY.
I WILL DO THAT AND SO WILL THE
OTHER CANDIDATES, BUT THAT'S THE
EXISTING BUDGET.
WE NEED TO FIND SAVINGS IF WE
CAN.
THAT'S A GOAL THAT WE ALL HAVE.
BUT THAT WON'T TOUCH THE $17
MILLION SHORTFALL OR THE $5
MILLION IN THE PENSION UNFUNDED
OBLIGATION, THAT'S NOT GOING TO
FIX THE BIKE PATH, AND ALL THE
OTHER ISSUES THAT WE HAVE.
SO I THINK THAT WE NEED TO
CERTAINLY I'M GOING TO LOOK FOR
EVERY WAY TO DEAL WITH THIS
WITHOUT GOING DOWN THE PATH OF
SELLING B. E.D., BUT IF WE HAVE
TO, I WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR TO
VOTERS THAT IT WOULD BE A
TWO-STEP PROCESS.
VOTERS WOULD FIRST GET AN
ADVISORY QUESTION WHERE THEY
WOULD TELL US IN THE
ADMINISTRATION WHETHER THEY
WANTED US TO EVEN EXPLORE IT.
IF THEY DIDN'T, WE WOULD NEVER
GO ANY FURTHER WITH IT.
IF THEY VOTED THAT THEY WANTED
US TO EXPLORE IT, I WOULD COME
UP WITH A POTENTIAL DEAL AND
COME BACK TO THEM, AND THEY
WOULD GET A SECOND VOTE, AND WE
WOULD BRING IT TO THEM ONLY IF
THERE WAS A GREAT DEAL, A $100ON
DOLLAR -- A $100 MILLION SALE
PRICE.
BUT WE WON'T IMMEDIATELY GO OUT
AND THROW A "FOR SALE" SIGN ON
IT.
>> WILL YOU REGRET SAYING THAT?
CAN YOU GO TO THE VOTERS TWO
TIMES?
>> I DON'T THINK SO.
I MET WITH CHARLIE SMITH AND
OTHER PEOPLE IN THE WORLD OF
FINANCE, AND CHARLIE BECAME MY
CO-CHAIR LATER ON, AND WE TALKED
ABOUT THAT, AND WE FIRST WERE
NOT SURE HOW WE WOULD DO THAT,
BUT WOULD REQUIRE A TWO-STEP
PROCESS.
I DON'T REGRET IT AT ALL.
WE NEED TO BE THINKING OUTSIDE
THE BOX.
WE NEED TO BE LOOKING AT BIG
IDEAS, AND THINGS HAVE TO BE ON
THE TABLE THAT WE MIGHT NOT WANT
ON THE TABLE.
AND I THINK IT HELPS TO FOCUS ON
THE ISSUES THAT BURLINGTON HAS.
WE CAN'T CONTINUE THE CITY OF
BURLINGTON CAN'T -- WE HAVE A
GREAT CITY, BEAUTIFUL LAKE WITH
A BEAUTIFUL DOWNTOWN AND A BIKE
PATH -- THOUGH WE HAVE TO FIX IT
-- AND A LOT OF GOOD THINGS, BUT
WE HAVE DEVELOPED SOME SERIOUS
FINANCIAL PROBLEMS THAT WE CAN'T
IGNORE, AND WE CAN'T CONTINUE
WITH THE DOWNGRADING IN OUR
CREDIT RATING THAT.
GOTS TO BE RESTORED.
>> THERE ARE A LOT OF ISSUES
THAT NEED MONEY.
YOU MENTION THE BIKE PATH AND
THE FINANCIAL STRAITS WE'RE IN.
HOW ARE YOU GOING TO DETERMINE
WHAT TAKES PRIORITY?
>> IN TERMS OF FINANCIAL ISSUES?
>> YEAH, FOR INSTANCE, WE'VE
RECENTLY HEARD THE BIKE PATH
COULD COST $12 TO $17 MILLION TO
REPAIR.
WE'RE ALREADY IN FINANCIAL
STRAITS.
WE TALKED EARLIER ABOUT THE
SCHOOL BUDGET AND THE 10%
INCREASE IN TAXES THAT YOU'RE
AGAINST.
HOW DO YOU DRAW THOSE LINES AND
DETERMINE WHERE BURLINGTON CAN
AFFORD SOME OF THE LUXURIES
WE'VE ENJOYED AND WHERE WE MIGHT
NEED TO CUT BACK?
>> IN MY MIND, THERE IS NO
QUESTION WE HAVE TO FIX THE BIKE
PATH.
THE BIKE PATH IS A GREAT
ECONOMIC TOOL, SO TO SPEAK, FOR
BURLINGTON, AND THE WHOLE
REGION.
IT BRINGS IN A LOT OF MONEY TO
THIS AREA EVERY YEAR.
I THINK IT'S IN THE AREA OF A
COUPLE MILLION BUCKS IT
GENERATES, WITH THE MARATHON AND
ALL THE OTHER EVENTS.
IT'S ONE OF THE JEWELS OF OUR
CITY.
I HOPE TO CREATE THE BURLINGTON
BIKE PATH TASK FORCE, WHICH I
NOW SERVE ON.
THE PRICE TAG RIGHT NOW IS $12
MILLION, CUTTING OUT SOME OF THE
BELLS AND WHISTLES THAT ARE IN
THERE, IT STARTED OUT AT 16 OR
17 MILLION, BUT WE'RE GOING TO
TRY TO RACHET THAT NUMBER DOWN
THROUGH PRIVATE CONTRIBUTIONS
AND TIF MONEY.
>> TAX INCREMENT FINANCING.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
>> WE'LL TRY TO REDUCE THAT
NUMBER AS LOW AS POSSIBLE.
WE MAY HAVE TO GO TO VOTERS NEXT
NOVEMBER POSSIBLY AND THE BIKE
PATH TASK FORCE IS WORKING ON
THAT, BUT THAT IS ABSOLUTELY
ESSENTIAL THAT WE DON'T LET IT
CONTINUE TO DETERIORATE.
WE CAN'T LET THAT HAPPEN.
IT'S TOO VITAL TO THE CITY OF
BURLINGTON.
ON THE SCHOOL TAX ISSUE, I'M
COGNIZANT OF THE FACT THAT THE
SCHOOLS NEED AN INCREASE.
THERE IS AN INCREASE IN
RETIREMENT AND AN INCREASE IN
ENROLLMENT.
AN INCREASE IS NEEDED.
THINK THIS IS TOO BIG, IT'S A
DOUBLE-DIGIT INCREASE, I HAVE
HEARD ALL ACROSS THE CITY IS
IT'S TOO BIG, MY GUT INSTINCT IS
THAT THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE A
TOUGH TIME PASSING THAT WITH THE
TOUGH ECONOMY AND THE FINANCIAL
ISSUES OF THE CITY.
>> YOU OUTLINE THE PROBLEMS, THE
PENSION, B.T., BIKE PATH, $75 TO
$100 MILLION.
THAT'S DOUBLE WHAT THE DEFICIT
WAS FOR THE STATE BUDGET, THE
SHORTFALL FOR THE STATE BUDGET.
HOW DO YOU MAKE UP FOR THAT?
YOU MENTION MAYBE GOING TO
VOTERS FOR THE BIKE PATH.
IS THAT THE PATH NOW?
HOW DO YOU TRIM OR CHANGE YOUR
INCREASES?
>> THAT'S WHY YOU HAVE TO BE
EVALUATING ALL OF OUR ASSETS AND
LOOKING AT EVERYTHING.
EVERYTHING'S GOT TO BE ON THE
TABLE.
REMEMBER THAT THE PENSION SYSTEM
IS A VERY SERIOUS ONE.
WE DON'T HAVE TO JUMP IN AND SAY
IMMEDIATELY WE'RE GOING TO HAVE
TO DO THIS TO FIX THE PENSION
SYSTEM, BECAUSE WHILE IT'S A
SERIOUS SITUATION, AND YOU CAN'T
KICK DOWN THAT -- KICK THAT CAN
DOWN THE ROAD, IT IS A 30-YEAR
SITUATION.
THE PENSION SYSTEM, BEING UNDER
FUNDED, WHAT IT MEANS TO
TAXPAYERS IS SOMEONE MIGHT
THINK, WELL, IF I'M NOT EMPLOYED
WITH THE CITY, WHAT DO I CARE?
WELL, THE BACKDROP FOR THE
SYSTEM, IF YOU DON'T GET CHANGES
IN THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING
SYSTEM, WHERE WE HAVE BEEN
MAKING CHANGES, BUT IF YOU DON'T
MAKE CHANGES, THE TAXPAYERS PICK
UP THE BURDEN.
WE HAVE TO PICK UP $4 MILLION
EVERY YEAR P. WHAT COULD THE
CITY OF BURLINGTON DO IF WE
DIDN'T HAVE TO SPEND 4.5 MILLION
DOLLARS EVERY YEAR ON THE
PENSION SYSTEM FROM TAXPAYER
MONEY?
THAT'S THE SERIOUSNESS OF IT.
IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT OUR ASSETS.
WE WON'T SELL ALL OF OUR ASSETS,
LET ME BE CLEAR ABOUT THAT, BUT
THAT NEEDS TO BE IN THE MATRIX
AS A POSSIBILITY, IF ISSUES GET
WORSE AND WE CAN'T TAKE CARE OF
THEM SOME OTHER WAY.
WE ALSO NEED TO BRING GOOD
DEVELOPMENT TO THE CITY.
I'LL BE WORKING VERY HARD TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE DEVELOP ON
MAIN STREET GATEWAY ENTRANCE
INTO THE CITY, WHERE WE HAVE THE
VACANT HOTEL THERE.
IT WASN'T THAT ATTRACTIVE WHEN
IT WAS OPERATING, AND IT'S NOT A
GOOD GATEWAY NOW.
WE NEED TO LOOK AT MEMORIAL
AUDITORIUM AS WELL.
WE LOSE MONEY THERE EVERY YEAR,
AND WE NEED TO DO SO MUCH MORE
ON THE WATERFRONT.
WE NEED TO BUILD MORE HOUSING,
PARTICULARLY IN THE DOWNTOWN
AREA, OF ALL KINDS, AFFORDABLE
HOUSING, HOUSING FOR SENIORS,
BUT I ONE THING THE PART OF THE
MARKET WE'RE ESPECIALLY MISSING
IS MARKET-PRICED HOUSING.
LIKE FOR EXAMPLE, DEALER.COM ON
PINE STREET, WHAT A GREAT
BUSINESS THAT IS, AND IT'S
GROWING, WE WANT THEM TO STAY
HERE AND GROW HERE IF WE CAN,
BUT THEY HAVE PARKING ISSUES.
I MEAN, THIS IS YOUNG
PROFESSIONALS MAKING GOOD
SALARIES, $65, $70,000 A YEAR.
WOULDN'T IT BE GREAT IF WE HAD
MORE MARKET-PRICED HOUSING RIGHT
DOWNTOWN WHERE THEY COULD LIVE,
IT WOULD HELP OUR ENTIRE
DOWNTOWN, AND PROBABLY HELP THE
PARKING ISSUE.
>> THE DEALER.COM PEOPLE ARE
MAKING $70,000 A YEAR CANNOT
AFFORD A HOME IN BURLINGTON?
>> THERE IS A LACK OF HOUSING
THAT IS IN THE RIGHT MARKET,
YES.
WE HAVE HIGH-PRICED
CONDOMINIUMS, AND THAT'S OKAY,
THAT WORKS, AND WE WANT SOME OF
THAT, TOO.
WE HAVE A LOT OF AFFORDABLE
HOUSING, WE NEED TO ALWAYS WORK
ON THAT, BUT WE'RE MISSING THAT,
YEAH, THE MODERATE MARKET-PRICED
HOUSING, AND THAT'S SOMETHING
THAT I THINK WE'RE LACKING AND
NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB OF.
AND BTTV, AT CITY HALL, IS GOING
TO IDENTIFY IN THE SPRING SPOTS
THAT ARE RIGHT FOR DEVELOPMENT
AND REDEVELOPMENT, PARTICULARLY
IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA.
I THINK THAT THERE -- AND THERE
WILL BE CHANGES THAT WE'LL NEED
TO MAKE TO ORDINANCES TO MAKE
SOME OF THESE THINGS HAPPEN.
I THINK IT'S AN EXCITING
PROCESS, AND I'M EAGER TO WORK
TO MAKE THESE THINGS HAPPEN.
>> THERE WERE A LOT OF BIG AND
SMALL PROPOSALS.
WHEN WHAT WERE SOME YOU LIKED
THE MOST AND SOME YOU DIDN'T
AGREE ABOUT?
>> I'M NOT SURE ABOUT OPENING UP
THE ROAD ON THE WATERFRONT, THE
ONE-WAY ROAD.
I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THAT IDEA.
THERE ARE SOME OTHER THINGS, BUT
I DO LIKE THE IDEA -- THEY
TALKED ABOUT WAS A DEVELOPMENT
ON THE GATEWAY ENTRANCE INTO THE
CITY, AND THEY TALKED ABOUT
DOING A LOT MORE THINGS ON THE
WATERFRONT, WHICH I'M VERY
EXCITED ABOUT, I ALSO LIKE THE
IDEA POTENTIALLY -- THE DEVIL IS
ALWAYS IN THE DETAILS, AS THEY
SAY -- BUT I LIKE THE IDEA OF
ADDING FLOORS ONTO SOME OF THE
DOWNTOWN BUILDINGS.
I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THAT YET, BUT
I THINK THAT'S WORTH EXPLORING
IN TERMS OF STUDENTS.
SO I THINK THAT'S AN INTERESTING
IDEA.
BUT WE NEED TO KNOW MORE ABOUT
IT, WE NEED TO FLESH SOME OF
THOSE DETAILS OUT, BUT THERE ARE
SOME REALLY INTERESTING IDEAS
THERE, AND I THINK IT'S -- I'M
VERY EAGER TO HEAR WHAT THEY
FINALLY COME OUT WITH AND WHAT
THE PROPOSALS ARE AND
RECOMMENDATIONS ARE IN THE
SPRING.
ONE GENTLEMAN STOOD UP AND SAID
-- AND I THOUGHT THIS WAS ALSO
INTERESTING -- "BEFORE WE TALK
ABOUT WHAT COULD BE, LET'S TALK
ABOUT WHAT SHOULD BE."
IN OTHER WORDS, SOME OF THESE
IDEAS ARE GREAT IDEAS, SOME ARE
VERY GRANDIOSE IDEAS, SOME ARE
GOING TO TAKE A GOOD DEAL OF
TIME.
AND THAT'S OKAY.
WE NEED TO PLAN FOR THE FUTURE.
BUT THERE ARE ALSO THINGS IN THE
PRESENT THAT WE NEED TO DO, AND
WE NEED TO MOVE ON MORE QUICKLY.
THE BIKE PATH BEING ONE OF THEM,
WHAT THE GENTLEMAN MENTIONSED
MONDAY EVENING.
THAT'S {OOPS} SOMETHING YOU
CAN'T IGNORE.
IT'S DETERIORATING NOW, AND WE
NEED TO DEAL WITH.
LET'S MOVE ON PROJECTS THAT WE
CAN MOVE ON QUICKER, AND THEN
LOOK AT THAT LONG-RANGE VISION
ALSO.
>> LET'S TALK ABOUT NUMBERS.
CITY COUNCIL REJECTED MAYOR BOB
KISS'S PROPOSAL FOR A TAX
INCREASE.
HE SAID WITHOUT IT, THEY WILL
LOSE POSITIONS PERHAPS IN THE
SAFETY SECTOR.
HOW DO YOU SOLVE THAT PROBLEM?
>> WELL, THE COUNCIL REJECTED
PUTTING IT ON THE BALLOT, AND I
THINK THAT WAS WISE THAT THAT
WAS DONE THAT WAY.
WE DON'T HAVE A COMPLETE
FINANCIAL PICTURE YET, {OOPS} SO
WE DON'T WANT TO GO TO THE
VOTERS WITHOUT A COMPLETE
FINANCIAL OUTLOOK FOR VOTERS,
AND PLUS WE HAVE A NEW
ADMINISTRATION COMING INTO PLACE
AFTER MARCH 6TH.
SO I TALK TO PEOPLE IN THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE FIRE
DEPARTMENT, I TALKED TO BOTH
CHIEFS, I TALKED TO PEOPLE IN
BOTH DEPARTMENTS, AS I SAID, AND
THEY UNDERSTAND WHY WE WOULD
WAIT.
LET THE NEW MAYOR HAVE TIME TO
GO THROUGH THE BUDGE WET A
FINE-TOOTH COMB, EVERY
DEPARTMENT, SEE IF THERE ARE
SAVINGS -- LAST YEAR WHEN THERE
WAS AN INCREASE THAT WENT DOWN
ACROSS THE CITY, THAT WAS
SOMEWHERE IN THE VICINITY OF A
MILLION AND A HALF DOLLARS THAT
WAS GOING TO BE RAISED, WE FOUND
OUT AFTER IT WAS REJECTED THAT
WE DIDN'T NECESSARILY NEED ALL
THAT MONEY.
ABOUT HALF OF IT WAS REPLACED
RIGHT AWAY BY BETTER PROJECTED
REVENUES.
SO IT'S -- WE CERTAINLY WANT TO
KNOW THAT FIRST.
LET'S SEE IF THE REVENUES COME
IN BETTER, AND THEN WE CAN FILL
THAT HOLE THAT WAY, OR WITH
SAVINGS AND EFFICIENCIES THAT
THE NEW MAYOR CAN FIND.
I HAVE COMMITTED THAT IF {OOPS}
WE AREN'T ABLE TO FIND THOSE
EFFICIENCIES, IDENTIFY THOSE
QUICKLY, THAT I WILL FIND THAT
OUT QUICKLY, AND I'LL PUT A
SPECIAL ELECTION -- CALL FOR A
SPECIAL ELECTION, AND WE'LL PUT
THAT TWO-CENT INCREASE FOR FIRE
AND POLICE BACK ON THE BALLOT,
AND IF WE HAVE TO DO THAT --
THAT WOULD BE THE LAST RESORT,
BUT IF WE HAVE TO, I WILL
CAMPAIGN VIGOROUSLY ACROSS THE
CITY TO GET THAT PASSED.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO LEAVE FIRE
AND POLICE IN A POSITION WHERE
YOU HAVE TO SLASH OUR PUBLIC
SAFETY SERVICES.
>> WE'LL CONTINUE OUR DISCUSSION
WITH KURT WRIGHT.
THERE IS A LOT MORE TO GET TO.
WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.
B.T. WANDA HINES HINES WANDA
HINES.
>> WELCOME BACK TO "YOU CAN
QUOTE ME".
LAST WEEK WE HEARD FROM MIRO
WEINBERGER.
TODAY WE'RE SPEAKING TO KURT
WRIGHT.
WE'RE ALSO REACHING OUT TO WANDA
HINES TO GET HER POSITIONS.
>> LET'S START OFF WITH SOME OF
THE ISSUES THAT YOU'RE TACKLING,
SPECIFICALLY THE BUDGET
ADJUSTMENT ACT.
YOU WERE TAKEN TO TASK FOR
VOTING "NO" ON A $12 MILLION
INCREASE THAT WOULD HAVE PAID
FOR RECUPERATING FROM IRENE AND
THE SPRING FLOODING.
HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO SOME OF
THOSE?
>> I'LL BE HAPPY TO RESPOND.
FIRST I WANT TO MENTION, WE
TALKED ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY.
I WANT TO SAY HOW PLEASED I WAS
TO GET THE BURLINGTON POLICE
ENDORSEMENT.
I DON'T WANT TO NEGLECT TO
MENTION HOW PROUD AND HONORED I
AM TO HAVE MET WITH THEM.
THEY DID IT JUST BASED ON
LEADERSHIP AND EXPERIENCE, NOT
IN DIFFERENCES IN ISSUES THAT
THEY HAD, BUT THEY BELIEVE I'M
THE RIGHT PERSON AT THIS TIME TO
LEAD THE CITY INFORMED.
I'M HONORED AND PROUD OF THAT
ENDORSEMENT.
THERE IS NO FINER POLICE
DEPARTMENT, I THINK, IN THE
COUNTRY, AND IT'S SECOND TO
NONE.
ON THAT ISSUE, LET ME JUST SAY
THIS: WHEN LEGISLATORS CAST
VOTES A LOT OF TIMES ON THE
FIRST READING OF A BILL, AND
THEY CHANGE ON THE FINAL PASSAGE
OF THE BILL -- THAT {BHIL} WAS
GOING TO BE PASSED OVER
OVERWHELMINGLY.
YOU'RE ABLE TO CAST A VOTE TO
EXPRESS CONCERNS ABOUT A BILL,
KNOWING THERE IS FINAL PASSAGE
OF IT COMING, AND MY CONCERN WAS
ABOUT THE DIFFERENT POSITIONS
THAT WERE BEING ADDED IN BUDGET
ADJUSTMENT, WHICH IS VERY
UNUSUAL.
A REALLY SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF
POSITIONS WERE ADDED.
ULTIMATELY I VOTED IN FAVOR OF
THE BILL BECAUSE OF THE OTHER
GOOD THINGS IN THE BILL:
DISASTER RELIEF AND THINGS FOR
THE CITY OF BURLINGTON.
I COULDN'T VOTE "NO" ON THAT.
MY VOTE "YES" ON FINAL PASSAGE
WAS ALREADY THERE ON RECORD, AND
OUT CAME A PRESS RELEASE FROM
BOTH THE STATE DEMOCRATIC PARTY
AND MY OPPONENT AFTER THAT BILL
WAS ALREADY RECORDED, ATTACKING
ME FOR THE "NO" VOTE AND SAYING
THAT ALL I DO IS CAST PARTISAN
VOTES AT MONTPELIER, AND THAT
WAS A WASHINGTON-STYLE ATTACK.
I HEARD FROM MANY RESIDENTS
ACROSS THE CITY, SOME OF WHOM
ARE UNDECIDED IN THIS RACE, WHO
TOLD ME THIS IS THE TYPE OF
THING THAT'S GOING TO PUSH THEM
AWAY FROM MY OPPONENT
MR. WEINBERGER AND TOWARD ME.
>> IT IS SORT OF RARE TO HAVE
SOMEONE VOTE "NO" AND THE NEXT
DAY VOTE "YES" WHEN THE FACTS
HAVEN'T CHANGED.
THAT'S A REAL THING.
DOES YOUR CONSIDERATION IN
RUNNING FOR MAYOR COME INTO PLAY
AT ALL?
>> NO.
PATTY WAS SITTING NEXT TO ME,
AND I SAID, "TOMORROW, PATTY,
THE CORRECT VOTE FOR ME IS "YES"
BECAUSE OF THINGS IN BURLINGTON
AND THE OVERALL GOOD OF THE
BILL," AND SHE IS VERIFY THAT,
SO I SAID, "TOMORROW ON FINAL
PASSAGE, I'LL BE VOTING YES."
IF YOU GO BACK AND LOOK, YOU'LL
SEE LEGISLATORS VOTED ONE WAY ON
FIRST READING.
THERE WAS AN AMENDMENT THAT
IMPROVED THE BILL THAT I
CONSIDERED, AND IT WAS PASSED
UNANIMOUSLY.
THE BILL WAS APPROVED ALSO.
BUT, AGAIN, MOST PEOPLE DON'T
PAY ATTENTION TO THOSE OTHER
VOTES, THOSE OTHER CHANGES THAT
HAPPEN, BECAUSE OF MAYORAL
POLITICS.
THAT'S WHY PEOPLE ARE PAYING SO
MUCH ATTENTION TO THAT.
AND I KNOW PEOPLE ARE PAYING
ATTENTION.
BUT THE REALITY THAT I HEARD
FROM PEOPLE IS THEY DIDN'T LIKE
THIS WASHINGTON-STYLE ATTACK,
WHERE YOU CAST A VOTE AND THERE
IS AN ATTACK LAUNCHED.
YOU MIGHT ATTACK THE ISSUE,
THAT'S ONE THING, BUT TRY TO
PORTRAY THAT I AM THIS PARTISAN
REPUBLICAN WHO CAST NOTHING BUT
PARTISAN VOTES, MOST PEOPLE KNOW
THAT'S NOT THE CASE.
I'M AN INDEPENDENT-MINED
REPUBLICAN WHO HAS NOT -- MINDED
REPUBLICAN WHO HAS NOT GONE
ALONG WITH THE PARTY ON MANY
ISSUES, LIKE SAME-SEX MARRIAGE.
I THINK PEOPLE CAN GET TURNED
OFF TO THAT KIND OF THING THERE.
WAS A FUNDRAISER IN WASHINGTON,
D.C., AND THERE IS A WASHINGTON
CONSULTANT HELPING HIM.
WE'RE NOT GETTING MONEY FROM OUT
OF STATE.
THIS IS A BURLINGTON RACE, NOT A
WASHINGTON, D.C. RACE, WE DON'T
WANT WASHINGTON STYLE POLITICS
IN THIS RACE.
>> THERE WAS A FUNDRAISER, AND A
LOT OF THEM WERE VERMONTERS WHO
WERE IN D.C., SENATOR LEAHY IS
VERY FIRMLY BEHIND MIRO
WEINBERGER.
DO YOU THINK THAT'S GOING TO
INFLUENCE THE RACE?
>> NO, I DON'T.
WHEN WE HAD THE REPEAL I.R. V.
CAMPAIGN A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO,
EVERY SINGLE BIG PLAYER IN
WASHINGTON FROM GOVERNOR DEAN
AND GOVERNOR LEAHY AND SENATOR
SANDERS -- EVERYONE CAME OUT AND
ASKED VOTERS TO OPPOSE IT, BUT
PEOPLE DID WHAT THEY WANTED
BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T LIKE THE
SYSTEM.
THIS VOTE IS GOING TO BE DECIDED
BY LOCAL ISSUES, ABOUT WHO IS
THE BEST PERSON TO LEAD
BURLINGTON FORWARD, WHO HAS THE
LEADERSHIP SKILLS, WHO HAS
DEMONSTRATED THAT, WHO IS GOING
TO BRING REAL CHANGE TO
BURLINGTON, BRING IN NEW,
DYNAMIC PEOPLE, BUT ALSO WHO
KNOWS HOW CITY GOVERNMENT WORKS,
WHO HAS LED THE CITY, WHO HAS
LED VOTERS.
IT'S EXTREMELY CRITICAL THAT THE
NEXT MAJOR -- MAYOR NOT ONLY
KNOW -- MAKE THE CHANGES THAT
ARE NECESSARY BUT ALSO KNOW CITY
GOVERNMENT, KNOW THE PEOPLE OF
CITY GOVERNMENT, AND KNOW THE
PEOPLE OF BURLINGTON.
IF WE DIDN'T HAVE TO HAVE A
SPECIAL ELECTION FOR A TAX
INCREASE FOR POLICE AND FIRE,
THAT WOULD BE A -- WE WOULD DO
THAT IF WE HAD TO DO IT.
IF WE DO, THE VOTERS HAVE TO BE
PERSUADED ON THE RIGHT DIRECTION
TO GO.
IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE NEXT
MAYOR HAS THE EXPERIENCE OF
DOING IT.
I'VE DONE THAT.
I'VE HAD TO LEAD THE CITY, AS
PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL, I'VE
HAD TO LEAD US FORWARD ON THE
MOST COMPLEX ISSUES IN THE
ZONING SITUATION WHICH WAS
PARALYZING CITY GOVERNMENT, AND
IN A CRITICAL MOVE FORWARD THAT
THE NEXT MAYOR HAVE THAT TYPE OF
LEADERSHIP AND EXPERIENCE.
SO I THINK THAT THAT'S WHAT'S
GOING TO DECIDE THIS RACE.
IT'S NOT GOING TO BE -- I'M NOT
GOING TO GET HUGE ENDORSEMENTS
LIKE THAT.
I'M GOING TO GET ENDORSEMENTS
FROM RANK AND FILE DEMOCRATS AND
INDEPENDENCE AND SOME
PROGRESSIVES IN THE CITY.
>> WITH THREE CANDIDATES, HOW
IMPORTANT IS IT TO {KROT} THOSE
-- TO CROSS THOSE PARTY LINES?
>> I THINK THAT WHAT I'M DOING
REACHING OUT TO PARTISANS --
PEOPLE NOT PARTISANS {OOR}
ACROSS THE CITY IS DOING GREAT.
WE'RE GOING TO DO ANOTHER AD,
DEMOCRATS AND INDEPENDENCE.
THEY'RE NOT ALL NAMES LIKE
UNITED STATES SENATORS AND
CONGRESSMEN, AND ET CETERA, BUT
THEY ARE AVERAGE CITIZENS WHO
ARE DEMOCRATS, WHO ARE -- I MET
WITH A GROUP OF CITIZENS THE
OTHER NIGHT, AND A NUMBER OF
THEM CAME UP TO ME AND TOLD ME
IN THEIR HOME -- AND CAME UP TO
ME AND TOLD ME "I HAVE NEVER,
EVER VOTED FOR A REPUBLICAN IN
MY LIFE, AND MAYBE THIS WILL BE
THE ONLY ONE, BUT I'M VOTING FOR
YOU THIS YEAR, BECAUSE I THINK
IT'S TIME, AND YOU'RE THE RIGHT
PERSON FOR THE JOB."
>> YOU SERVED ON THE CITY
COUNCIL WHEN A LOT OF THESE
PROBLEMS DEVELOPED AT B.T. AND
THE PENSION FUND.
MAYOR BOB KISS HAS TAKEN A LOT
OF THE BLAME.
DO YOU THINK HE IS BECOMING TOO
MUCH OF A SCAPEGOAT, AND DO YOU
NEED TO TAKE OWNERSHIP OF SOME
OF THE PROBLEMS, BEING ON THE
CITY COUNCIL?
>> KRISTIN, WHAT'S IMPORTANT IS
THAT YOU ARE IN THE ARENA,
WORKING TO SOLVE PROBLEMS AND
MAKE BURLINGTON A BETTER PLACE.
I'VE BEEN IN THE ARENA, AND
BEING IN THE ARENA ALSO MEANS
THAT YOU GROW, EVOLVE, AND BE
ACCOUNTABLE AND ADMIT MISTAKES.
I'VE SAID PUBLICLY BEFORE AND I
DON'T MIND SAYING IT AGAIN, THE
COUNCIL AND ME DO A BETTER JOB
AND IDENTIFYING THIS PROBLEM AND
CONNECT THE DOTS?
YES.
BUT THE CITY {KOUNS} {SIL} A
PART-TIME CITY COUNCIL WORKING
FOR VIRTUALLY NOTHING, AND TO
ASK THE COUNCIL TO HAVE FIGURED
THIS OUT AND BLAME IT ON US
WHEN, CLEARLY, MAYOR KISS --
THERE'S A CLEAR PATTERN.
>> YOU ALMOST SAID MAYOR
FAVREELL?
>> I DID ALMOST.
HE DID NOT SHARE ALL THE
INFORMATION WITH US.
WE HAD A MAYOR'S RACE GOING ON
WHEN THIS WAS ALL UNFOLDING, AND
NOT ONLY WERE MILLIONS OF {OOPS}
DOLLARS OF TASK -- TAX PAYER
MONEY LOST, BUT IT AFFECTED THE
LAST ELECTION.
THIS WAS GOING ON WHILE I WAS
RUNNING FOR MAYOR, WHILE
DEMOCRAT ANDY WAS RUNNING FOR
MAYOR, AND ANDY HAS A VERY KEEN
KNOWLEDGE OF THE
TELECOMMUNICATION INDUSTRY, HE
HAS REPRESENTED CLIENTS IN THE
TELECOMMUNICATIONS INDUSTRY, AND
HE DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT IT.
I'VE TALKED TO HIM NUMEROUS
TIMES ABOUT THIS.
OUR MEMORY IS EXACTLY THE SAME,
THAT INFORMATION WASN'T SHARED,
BUT COULD WE HAVE DONE A BETTER
JOB?
SURE.
BUT I THINK THAT WE NEED TO
GOING FORWARD, WE NEED TO LOOK
FORWARD, WE NEED TO BE FINDING
SOLUTIONS.
WE CAN LOOK BACKWARD, AND
CERTAINLY THAT'S PART OF IT, BUT
REALLY, THIS CAMPAIGN IS LOOKING
FORWARD TO AND FINDING SOLUTIONS
TO THESE PROBLEMS.
>> WITH LESS THAN A MINUTE, ONE
OF THE THINGS WE'RE HEARING IS
PROPERTY CRIME, INCREASE IN
BURGLARIES IN THE CITY.
WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO TO STOP
THAT?
A LOT OF DRUG-DRIVEN CRIME.
>> YOU'RE RIGHT, KRISTIN, THERE
ARE PROBLEMS IN THE CITY,
BURLINGTON IS BASICALLY A SAFE
CITY, BUT WE HAVE A COUPLE OF
PROBLEMS, AND THAT'S BREAK-INS,
DRUGS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, AND
CONTINUED ISSUE OF DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE AND VIOLENCE AGAINST
WOMEN.
THOSE ARE ISSUES THAT WE NEED TO
REALLY FOCUS ON.
ONE OF THE THINGS IS TO MAKE
SURE WE DO A BETTER JOB WITH
INCREASED COMMUNITY POLICING,
ESPECIALLY IN THE OLD NORTH END.
I'M GOING TO WORK WITH THE
CHIEF, I THINK WE HAVE A
FANTASTIC POLICE DEPARTMENT.
CAN WE DO A BETTER JOB OF THAT?
YES, AND I WILL CERTAINLY WORK
CLOSELY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO
A BETTER JOB OF COMMUNITY
POLICING.
>> I THINK WE'RE GOING TO LEAVE
IT THERE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, KURT
WRIGHT, THE REPUBLICAN RUNNING
FOR MAYOR.
WE HEARD FROM MIRO WEINBERGER
LAST WEEK.
GO TO WCAX TO CATCH THAT EPISODE
OF "YOU CAN QUOTE ME", AND NEXT
WEEK WE'LL HEAR FROM WANDA
HINES.
HAVE A GREAT DAY, EVERYONE.
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