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| -Signs, Portents, and the Weather- |
| In Referendum on Refugees, Rutland VT Mayor Loses Reelection Bid |
| 2017-03-09 |
| [SEVENDAYSVT] Rutland Mayor Chris Louras, who endured months of withering criticism for his plan to bring Syrian refugees to the city, lost his reelection bid on Tuesday. If you're that determined to follow "the dictates of your conscience," don't be surprised if you're replaced by somebody willing to follow the will of the people. In unofficial voting results, David Allaire, a city alderman and leading critic of the resettlement, trounced Louras, a 10-year mayoral incumbent, by a 776-vote margin, according to results cited by the Rutland Herald and WCAX-TV. "I'm simply wishing him luck and I'm moving on," Louras told Seven Days Tuesday night. He declined further comment, saying he would "not hazard a guess" as to what the election results say about Rutland's support for refugees. Allaire did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment. While Louras campaigned on a series of issues, and touted a reduction in many categories of crime, along with an improved downtown business district, the refugee debate has dominated political life in Rutland for the past year. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #8 It happened, unexpectedly ... |
| Posted by: AlmostAnonymous5839 2017-03-09 17:02 |
| #7 The main thing I used to know Rutland for was its Halloween parade. Let's return to those halcyon days. |
| Posted by: charger 2017-03-09 16:07 |
| #6 Call it fairly sudden karma. |
| Posted by: JohnQC 2017-03-09 15:46 |
| #5 I do like when there is a direct correlation between idiot policies and an election. drubbing. |
| Posted by: rjschwarz 2017-03-09 14:47 |
| #4 MSM take - "...nothing can be read into the outcome..." |
| Posted by: M. Murcek 2017-03-09 09:15 |
| #3 "Greetings, subjects! I'm going to virtue-signal myself at your expense. You're welcome" |
| Posted by: Frank G 2017-03-09 06:59 |
| #2 by a 776-vote margin As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 16,495 |
| Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2017-03-09 06:43 |
| #1 Rutland's not a big town, about 16,000 residents, so anything approaching 1,000 is indeed an ass kicking. Cute little town - I did a century from Lebanon, NH to Rutland and back about twenty years ago, along Route 4 on an old piece of junk Team Fuji steel touring frame with Shimano 105 parts. High point was crossing the Sherburne Pass (part of the Appalachian Trail), at 2,150' elevation. Lots of climbing and good descents that day. Got the bike up to 53 MPH coming back from Rutland just before Killington Mountain Road. Fun ride! |
| Posted by: Raj 2017-03-09 01:47 |