Montrooll's campaign pick up steam with Freepress endorsement

The Burlington Free Press Endorses Andy Montroll for Mayor

We're honored to have received the endorsement of the Free Press Editorial Board. Please read the text below or read the full editorial by clicking here.

Remember to Vote for Andy Montroll on March 3rd!
2.22.09. The Free Press editorial board endorses Andy Montroll as the candidate for mayor who brings the right combination of experience in government, knowledge of the city and personal integrity to keep Burlington a destination for visitors, employers and those looking to make a home.
We have interviewed the candidates, have attended the forums and have gotten to know the men seeking the top job in the city. Burlington is fortunate to have four substantial candidates running for mayor.
Even in a strong field, we must choose a single candidate for the top spot, but we also make a recommendation for a second choice on the ballot because of the nature of instant run-off voting.The Burlington economy is stable and city finances are sound, especially compared to the rest of the state. Burlington has an abundance of natural riches starting with the waterfront, and is the economic and cultural hub for the region, if not the state. This is not the doing of one man or one administration.Yet the events of the past year have made clear the need for new management in City Hall. The discord within city government, including senior staffers let free to hurl accusations at public officials, calls for a mayor who will show the leadership to refocus city government on serving the people.We look toward Montroll to provide that leadership for several reasons.He has experience. He has worked hard to gain this office. He is dogged. He comes back time after time. He has an agreeable way about him that appeals to Burlington constituents. He knows the city. He is trustworthy. Little seems to ruffle him. He has his eye on the future.
Montroll promises transparency, which has not been a hallmark of the Kiss administration. He understands that what matters most in government is to fully explain what is going on to the public. He knows keeping the people informed matters more than protecting any single city employee or any department at the expense of the public's need to know. Too often we have seen a City Hall that, in the words of one councilor, feels it is enough to spoon-feed information.Montroll's 15 years on the City Council gives him the inside knowledge of the detailed workings of city government that will help make for a smooth transition in the Mayor's Office. He promises a review of problem departments, to set clear expectations and to give focus to City Hall.Montroll is thoughtful in the way he answers questions and arrives at decisions. Once he makes his determination, he makes his position clear. While other candidates talked about the possibility for a new lakeside convention center -- as long as it was "appropriate" for the setting -- Montroll was alone in taking a definitive stance, saying such a project has no place on the waterfront.He is for careful development of the waterfront, placing a high value on the public accessibility that makes the lake such a critical part of the city's appeal.Montroll's drawback, of course, is the same as the drawback for Mayor Bob Kiss. Their public personalities lack the fire that makes them big band leaders for Burlington, an often showy, loud and flamboyant city when it comes to playing out politics in public.The day-to-day management of this city is made easier because it is prosperous -- the 1-cent sales tax increase that was approved as Kiss took office didn't hurt, either. The city requires someone who will manage this day-to-day responsibility, but also one who will look ahead and worry about the long-term stakes.Montroll shows a keen awareness of the city's assets, its potential, and threats to Burlington's vibrancy today and tomorrow. As a father of young children, building a city for the next generation is no abstract idea.Montroll sees potential threats to the city's economy in the increasing number of empty storefronts on the Church Street Marketplace. He hears the warning in the voices of company owners who find it difficult to find the office space they need to grow.We expect the Montroll administration to be pragmatic and focused on the issues. His record as a city councilor tells us to expect nothing less. Andy Montroll is our pick for mayor of Burlington.