The 1987 Burlington mayoral election was held on March 3, 1987. Incumbent Mayor

Bernie Sanders Bernard Sanders (born September8, 1941) is an American politician who has served as the junior United States senator from Vermont since 2007. He was the U.S. representative for the state's at-large congressional district from 1991 to 2007 ...

won election to his fourth and final term as mayor with 55.23% of the popular vote against

Democratic Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to: Politics *A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people. *A member of a Democratic Party: **Democratic Party (United States) (D) **Democratic ...

nominee Paul Lafayette, a member of the city council. Sanders ran his final independent campaign for mayor stating that he would not seek reelection to another term after 1987. The Democratic Party selected Lafayette against Caryl Stewart while the

Republican Party Republican Party is a name used by many political parties around the world, though the term most commonly refers to the United States' Republican Party. Republican Party may also refer to: Africa *Republican Party (Liberia) * Republican Part ...

did not run a candidate.

Campaign

Independent

Incumbent Mayor

, who had recently came in third in the 1986 Vermont gubernatorial election, announced on December 1, 1986, that he would seek reelection to a fourth term as Mayor of

Burlington, Vermont Burlington is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Vermont and the seat of Chittenden County. It is located south of the Canada–United States border and south of Montreal. As of the 2020 U.S. census, the population was 44,743. It ...

, despite close associates stating that he was tired of being mayor. Sanders stated that he would not seek another mayoral term after the 1987 election stating that "eight years is enough and I think it is time for new leadership, which does exist within the coalition, to come up". During the campaign Sanders raised $37,480, spent $37,034, and had remaining debts of $2,020.

Democratic

Caryl Stewart, who unsuccessfully sought a seat in the Burlington city council from the 3rd ward, and Paul Lafayette, who served as a member of the city council from the 5th ward, stated on August 24, 1986, that they were considering running for the

mayoral nomination. Stewart announced her mayoral campaign on September 16, and Lafayette announced his campaign on December 2. Lafayette defeated Stewart for the Democratic nomination with 636 votes to Stewart's 240.

Republican

Frederick Bailey, a member of the Burlington city council, was considered as a possible nominee for the

Republicans Republican can refer to: Political ideology * An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law. ** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...

, but later announced that he would not run. The Republicans did not select a candidate to run in the mayoral election.

Campaign

Independent

Democratic

Republican

Results

Results by ward

Endorsements

References