Wednesday, March 4, 2020
Emery Keeps South Burlington Council Seat; Massive School Bond Fails
In an extremely close race Tuesday, incumbent Meaghan Emery won reelection to the South Burlington City Council by fending off challenger Matt Cota.
Emery earned 3,940 votes — just 74 more than Cota's 3,866. That's 50.47 percent for Emery to 49.52 percent for Cota.
Reached by phone around midnight Tuesday, Cota said the results were "disappointing, but we'll pick back up tomorrow and see what happens." He was unsure if he'd request a recount.
"I'm just really proud of the way we ran our campaign," Cota said. "This was my first campaign, and it tells me that people in South Burlington really wanted a change."
He added: "It's been an experience of a lifetime. I had so many people come out and work so hard for this."
Emery earned 3,940 votes — just 74 more than Cota's 3,866. That's 50.47 percent for Emery to 49.52 percent for Cota.
Reached by phone around midnight Tuesday, Cota said the results were "disappointing, but we'll pick back up tomorrow and see what happens." He was unsure if he'd request a recount.
"I'm just really proud of the way we ran our campaign," Cota said. "This was my first campaign, and it tells me that people in South Burlington really wanted a change."
He added: "It's been an experience of a lifetime. I had so many people come out and work so hard for this."
Meanwhile, South Burlington voters overwhelmingly rejected a proposed $209 million bond for a new middle and high school facility. About 79 percent of voters — 6,514 — cast ballots against the bond. About 20.8 percent — 1,712 — voted in favor.
The sentiment spilled over into voting on the school budget, which residents also rejected. About 57 percent — 4,711 people — voted against the $55.8 million budget.
Tags: Town Meeting Day , education , South Burlington , Meaghan Emery , Matt Cota , bond , school , budget , Web Only , Image
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