Vermont's largest city made history on Tuesday night, electing Emma Mulvaney-Stanak as its first female mayor. She also becomes Burlington's first openly gay mayor.
The Vermont state representative defeated Democrat Joan Shannon by a 50%-45% margin, and also beating out independent candidates Will Emmons and Chris Haessly, according to WPTZ. She will be the first Progressive to lead Burlington since 2012.
"When you have marginalized people at the table, decisions change because you remember humanity matters," Mulvaney-Stanak said Tuesday night. "You remember that young people matter, that children matter. You can come to the table with a different orientation and perspective.”
Mulvaney-Stanak represents Burlington's Chittenden-17 District in the Vermont House. She previously served as a Burlington city councilor and as state chair of the Vermont Progressive Party.
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Outgoing Mayor Miro Weinberger, who has led the city for the past 12 years, said he believes many voters hoped a woman or person of color would take his place when he announced last year that he wouldn't seek reelection.
Mulvaney-Stanak is scheduled to be sworn in next month and will have to vacate her state representative seat. Republican Gov. Phil Scott will appoint her replacement.
