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Nine Candidates for Single Seat on Burlington City Council

A vacancy on the Burlington City Council has generated plenty of interest. 

The vacancy was created when Becky Shockley resigned in September.  She was just was elected to the council last November and took office in January, so more than three years remain in the term.

Nine men went out into the community and collected enough signatures to be placed on the Tues., Dec. 2 primary ballot to replace Shockley.

  • Jim Davidson
  • Marcques Derby
  • Leo Hallowell
  • Jeff Johnson
  • Kevin Long
  • Christopher Reed
  • John Sandell
  • Tracey Watts
  • Dan Wischmeier

Davidson, Sandell and Reed bring experience to the race.  All three have served on the city council with Davidson and Sandell also being appointed mayor.
Several other candidates have run unsuccessfully for the city council, including Kevin Long and Marcques Derby, who did not make it out of the primary last year.

The December 2 primary will narrow the field to two for the December 30 election.

The Greater Burlington Partnership has scheduled a candidate debate for Wed., Nov. 19 at City Hall.

The city council decided to hold the special election instead of appointing a replacement despite the added cost of  the special elections ($5,000+).

WEST BURLINGTON SCHOOL RESIDENTS WILL ALSO VOTE ON DECEMBER 2

One question on the ballot is who should fill a vacancy on the school board.

There are two candidates in the race

  • Lee Boughton
  • Brent Mixer

The school board previously appointed Steve Young to fill the vacancy until the next election., but Young did not file the paperwork required to keep the seat.
Voters in West Burlington will also decide whether the district should borrow about $7 million for improvements and whether it should increase and extend a tax levy.

Jason Parrott is a former reporter at Tri States Public Radio.