Vermont mayor leaves opponents guessing

By Ted Cohen

If the mayor of Vermont's largest city isn't already in reelection mode that would be a surprise only to those blissfully unaware.

Emma Mulvaney-Stanak is using her "Emma For Mayor" logo in emails to Burlington voters urging them to get to the polls next month.

"Town Meeting Day — Tuesday, March 3rd — is almost here, and I want to make sure you know what you’ll see on your ballot and why these decisions matter for our City," the mayor says in an emailed message.

But Mulvaney-Stanak isn't on the ballot this March so why the campaign promotion?

It well may be because political gumshoes are waging bets on whether she'll run for a second three-year term in 2027.

"Progressive" Mulvaney-Stanak shocked naysayers two years ago when she came from nowhere and defeated veteran Democrat councilor Joan Shannon for the coveted corner office.

Shannon, who has since left the council seat she help for two decades, hasn't indicated whether she will make a second go at the mayor's office.

If she's making such plans they may claim more stealth than Mulvaney-Stanak's suggestive constituent emails from EmmaForMayor.com.