1983 Burlington mayoral election

Following his election in the 1981 election Mayor Bernie Sanders faced difficulties with the city council of Burlington, Vermont, due to eleven of the thirteen members of the board of alderman opposing Sanders. The council would oppose measures proposed by Sanders and override his vetoes on legislation.[3] Sanders formed a coalition between independents and the Citizens Party.[4] Sanders announced on December 3, 1982, that he would seek reelection as mayor at Burlington's city hall.[5] On January 22, 1983, the Citizen Party voted unanimously to endorse Sanders, although Sanders ran as an independent.[6]

The Democratic Party of Burlington, Vermont, faced difficulties finding a mayoral candidate as state Senator Thomas Crowley, Chittenden County Chief Deputy State's Attorney Harold Eaton Jr., and Alderman James Burns all declined to run for the Democratic nomination.[7] State Senator Esther Sorrell considered running for the Democratic nomination and an unsuccessful attempt was made to draft state Senator Mark Kaplan.[8][9][10] Lieutenant Governor Madeleine Kunin stated that she was not interesting in running for mayor despite polling showing her defeating Sanders.[11]

William H. Williams, a gas station owner, was the first person to announce a campaign for the mayoralty when he announced that he would seek the Democratic nomination in August 1982.[12] State Representative Judith B. Stephany, who was serving as Minority Leader in the Vermont House of Representatives, announced her mayoral campaign hours before the Burlington Democratic caucus was set to select the party's mayoral nominee. Stephany won the Democratic nomination against Williams by a margin of three to one.[13] Stephany initially chose to retain her seat and leadership position in the House of Representatives, but later announced that she would resign on January 30, 1983, to campaign for mayor.[14]

James Gilson, the chairman of the Burlington School Board of Commissioners, announced on November 8, 1982, that he would run for the mayoralty as a Republican. He formally announced his candidacy at Burlington's city hall on November 12.[15][16] Gilson won the Republican nomination with unanimous support on January 20, 1983.[17] Sanders proposed a campaign spending limit of $15,000, but Gilson rejected the offer.[18]

In the mayoral election Sanders defeated Stephany and Gilson. Stephany stated that her late entry into the election had contributed to her defeat.[19] Sanders spent $33,000 during the campaign.[20]