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Kurt Wright

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Kurt Wright
Wright in 2018
President of the Burlington City Council
In office
April 9, 2007 – April 6, 2009
Succeeded byBill Keogh
In office
April 2, 2018 – April 1, 2020
Preceded byJane Knodell
Member of the Burlington City Council from Ward 4
In office
April 3, 1995 – 1999
Preceded byBill Aswad
In office
April 4, 2005 – April 6, 2009
Preceded byRuss Ellis
In office
April 5, 2010 – April 2, 2012
Preceded byRuss Ellis
In office
April 7, 2014 – April 1, 2020
Preceded byBryan Aubin
Succeeded bySarah E. Carpenter
Member of the Vermont House of Representatives
In office
January 3, 2001 – January 9, 2019
Preceded byHank Gretkowski
Succeeded byRobert Hooper
ConstituencyChittenden 7-6 district (2001–2003)
Chittenden 3-1 district (2003–2013)
Chittenden 6-1 district (2013–2019)
Personal details
Born (1956-02-07) February 7, 1956 (age 69)
Middlebury, Vermont, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseKimberly Kaye Nuttall

Kurt Wright (born February 7, 1956) is an American politician who served in the Vermont House of Representatives from 2001 to 2019, and on Burlington, Vermont's city council intermittently between 1995 and 2020. He was president of the city council from 2007 to 2009, and 2018 to 2020. He is the last Republican to serve on Burlington's city council and to represent it in the state house.

Born in Middlebury, Vermont, Wright moved to Burlington, Vermont, and managed multiple stores before becoming active in local politics. He worked for Peter Brownell's mayoral campaign in 1993, member of local committees, chair of the city's Republican committee, field director for Ruth Dwyer during the 1998 gubernatorial election, and a delegate to the 2004 Republican National Convention.

Wright unsuccessfully ran for a seat in the Vermont House of Representatives and Vermont Senate in 1994 and 1996, but was elected to the state house in 2000, where he would serve until his defeat in 2018. He was first elected to the city council in 1995, and stepped down three times to unsuccessfully run for mayor in 1999, 2009, and 2012. During his councilor tenure he was selected to serve as president, the first Republican since Ted Riehle in 1987.

Early life

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Kurt Wright was born in Middlebury, Vermont, on February 7, 1956,[1] to Samuel Barrows and Kent Wright. He graduated from Vergennes Union High School in 1974,[2] and took business courses at Champlain College.[3] He married Kimberly Kaye Nuttall on October 9, 1982.[2][4]

Wright moved to Burlington, Vermont, in 1978.[5] He managed Kerry's Kwik Shop from 1978 to 2002,[6][7] and Kerry's Pizza.[2] The Vermont Lake Monsters employed him in advertising and sales in the 2000s.[8]

Local and party politics

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Wright worked for Peter Brownell's campaign during the 1993 mayoral election. He was a member of the Ward 4 Neighborhood Planning Assembly in Burlington[9] and co-chair of the Ward 4 Republican Committee in the 1990s.[6][10] From 1999 to 2005, he served as a justice of the peace.[11] The Burlington Republican Committee was chaired by Wright.[8]

During the 1998 gubernatorial election Wright was a field director for Ruth Dwyer.[12] He supported John McCain during the 2000 presidential primaries[13] and Marco Rubio during the 2016 presidential primaries.[14] The Vermont Republican Party state convention selected Wright as one of the state's delegates to the 2004 Republican National Convention.[15]

City council and mayoralty

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Elections

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In 1995, Wright defeated Democratic incumbent Bill Aswad, who had beaten Wright for a seat in the Vermont House of Representatives the prior year, for a seat on the Burlington city council from the 4th ward[16] and was reelected in 1997.[17]

Wright returned to the city council when he defeated Democratic incumbent Russ Ellis in the 4th ward in 2005,[18] and defeated Democratic nominee Jim Holway in 2007.[19] Ellis, an incumbent again, was defeated by Wright, who filed to run five minutes before the deadline, again in 2010.[20][21][22]

Incumbent Bryan Aubin declined to seek reelection in 2014,[23] and Wright defeated Democratic nominee Carol Ode and Libertarian nominee Loyal Ploof in 2014,[24] and faced no opposition in 2018.[25] Starting in 2019, Wright has co-hosted WVMT's The Morning Drive.[26] He declined to run for reelection in 2020,[27] as Federal Communications Commission would require him to leave his radio show for two months.[28] Wright, starting in 2014, was the last Republican elected to the city council.[29]

Wright ran for mayor in 1999,[30] 2009,[31] and 2012[32] rather than seek reelection to the city council,[33][34][35] but lost to Peter Clavelle,[36] Bob Kiss, and Miro Weinberger.[citation needed] He declined to run for mayor in 1997,[37] and regretted not running for mayor in 2006.[38] Weinberger was endorsed by Wright during the 2018 mayoral election.[39]

Tenure

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During Wright's tenure he served on the Finance Board[10] and chaired the Ordinance committee.[40] In 2007, Wright defeated Progressive Tim Ashe in an 8 to 6 vote to become president of the city council, the first Republican to do so since Ted Riehle in 1987.[41] He was reelected president in 2008, defeating Ellis by a vote of 8 to 6,[42] with Ashe supporting Wright.[43] Wright attempted to defeat Progressive Bill Keogh, who was seeking a third term as president, in 2011, but withdrew after he failed to assemble enough support.[44] Jane Knodell, the outgoing Progressive president of the city council, nominated Wright, the sole Republican member, to succeed her in 2018, and he was approved without opposition.[45]

The police were called by Wright on March 12, 2009, after councilors Ed Adrian and Dave Berezniak conducted procedural interruptions. He threatened to have them removed if they continued to raise points of order.[46] The council was debating zoning issues and the Democrats wanted to delay the discussion until after the new Democratic-controlled council was sworn in on April 6. The American Civil Liberties Union criticized Wright while Progressive councilors Ashe and Jane Knodell supported him.[47][48] Berezniak made a complaint to the City Attorney Ken Schatz.[49]

State legislature

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Wright ran for a seat in the Vermont House of Representatives in 1994, but lost to Democratic nominees Aswad and Carmel Babcock.[50][51] He requested a recount, but his vote total did not change after it.[52][53] Wright announced on July 11, 1996, that he would run for one of the six seats in the Vermont Senate from the Chittenden District, but he placed 10th in the general election[54][55][56] after spending $20,684.[57]

Wright was elected to the state house in 2000, and placed first in every election from 2000 to 2014,[58] second in 2016,[59] and third in 2018.[25] He was elected alongside Democratic nominees Aswad,[60] Joanna Cole,[61] and Carol Ode.[25] At the time of his defeat he was the last Republican to represent Burlington in the state house.[62]

Wright was appointed to the Government Operations committee in 2001,[63] and the General, Housing and Military Affairs committee in 2005.[64] David Sunderland defeated Wright and Joseph L. Krawczyk Jr. for the position of assistant Republican leader in 2004.[65] He cosponsored a resolution in 2006 calling for Judge Edward Cashman to resign after his sentencing in a child molestation case.[66][67]

Political positions

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Wright stated that he was far-right when he joined the city council, but moved towards the center[38] and became a moderate conservative.[68] He called for Bernie Sanders to be impeached in 1991.[69] A city council resolution condemning the Contract with America in 1995, was opposed by Wright.[70] The National Rifle Association endorsed him in 2008.[71]

Legislation in 1996 to prohibit candidates and campaign workers from collecting and turning in absentee ballots was proposed by Wright, but the city council voted 9 to 3 against it.[72][73] In 2001, he proposed legislation to create a statewide referendum system.[74] He sponsored legislation to have Vermont join the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact.[75] Burlington's use of ranked voting in the 2000s was criticized by Wright.[20]

A proposal to raise Burlington's capital borrowing limit from $250,000 to $750,000 in 1996, was opposed by Wright.[76] In 2015, Wright proposed legislation in the state house to prohibit strikes by teachers, but it failed by one vote.[77] An amendment to have Vermont's minimum wage rise to $10.10 occur over the course of three years rather than one was proposed by Wright in 2014,[78] and voted against raising Burlington's minimum wage to $13.94 in 2015.[79]

In 2002, Wright voted in favor of anti-Flag desecration legislation for the flag of the United States.[80] He supported the Iraq War.[81] He voted against legislation in 2007 to euthanasia for terminally ill patients.[82] In 2009, he voted in favor of recognizing same-sex marriages[83] and to overturn Governor Jim Douglas' veto of the legislation.[84]

An anti-sanctuary city resolution for the city council was sponsored by Wright in 2006.[85] Burlington's city council passed a resolution calling for a boycott against Arizona and its businesses due to Arizona SB 1070, but Wright voted against the resolution.[86] He voted against placing an advisory question in the 2014 city ballot on whether non-citizens should be allowed to vote in Vermont.[87]

Electoral history

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Electoral history of Kevin Kiley
Year Office Party Primary General Result Ref.
Total % P. Total % P.
1994 Vermont House of Representatives (Chittenden 7-6) Republican 223 93.31% 1st 1,571 32.59% 3rd Lost [50][51]
1995 Burlington City Council (4th) Republican No primary 1,245 57.48% 1st Won [16]
1996 Vermont Senate (Chittenden) Republican 2,955 11.23% 6th 19,621 7.23% 10th Lost [55][56]
1997 Burlington City Council (4th) Republican No primary 1,018 60.99% 1st Won [17]
2000 Vermont House of Representatives (Chittenden 7-6) Republican 727 54.91% 1st 1,863 28.63% 1st Won [88][89]
2002 Vermont House of Representatives (Chittenden 3-1) Republican 196 54.29% 1st 1,687 29.91% 1st Won [90][91]
2004 Vermont House of Representatives (Chittenden 3-1) Republican 207 56.71% 1st 2,117 29.94% 1st Won [92][93]
2005 Burlington City Council (4th) Republican No primary 908 53.35% 1st Won [18]
2006 Vermont House of Representatives (Chittenden 3-1) Republican 509 93.05% 1st 1,778 28.56% 1st Won [94][95]
2007 Burlington City Council (4th) Republican No primary 650 55.84% 1st Won [19]
2008 Vermont House of Representatives (Chittenden 3-1) Republican 185 86.05% 1st 2,196 32.57% 1st Won [96][97]
2010 Burlington City Council (4th) Republican No primary 1,087 60.09% 1st Won [22]
2010 Vermont House of Representatives (Chittenden 3-1) Republican 277 94.54% 1st 1,806 39.18% 1st Won [98][99]
2012 Vermont House of Representatives (Chittenden 6-1) Republican 116 85.93% 1st 2,332 36.86% 1st Won [100][101]
2014 Vermont House of Representatives (Chittenden 6-1) Republican 264 61.97% 1st 1,598 30.95% 1st Won [102][103]
2014 Burlington City Council (4th) Republican No primary 1,089 59.44% 1st Won [24]
2016 Vermont House of Representatives (Chittenden 6-1) Republican 478 64.42% 1st 2,135 34.08% 2nd Won [104][59]
2018 Burlington City Council (4th) Republican No primary 1,516 91.77% 1st Won [25]
2018 Vermont House of Representatives (Chittenden 6-1) Republican 303 93.52% 1st 1,833 28.08% 3rd Lost [105][106]

References

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  1. ^ Life.
  2. ^ a b c Engage 1982.
  3. ^ File 1994.
  4. ^ Marriage 1982.
  5. ^ Move 2012.
  6. ^ a b Store 1994.
  7. ^ Money 2 2012.
  8. ^ a b Monsters 2011.
  9. ^ Iyengar 1994.
  10. ^ a b Tenure 1997.
  11. ^ Peace 2006.
  12. ^ Field 1998.
  13. ^ McCain 2007.
  14. ^ Rubio 2016.
  15. ^ RNC 2004.
  16. ^ a b Election 1995.
  17. ^ a b Election 1997.
  18. ^ a b Election 2005.
  19. ^ a b Election 2007.
  20. ^ a b Return 2010.
  21. ^ Deadline 2010.
  22. ^ a b Election 2010.
  23. ^ Aubin 2014.
  24. ^ a b Election 2014.
  25. ^ a b c d Election 2018.
  26. ^ [1]
  27. ^ Not Run 2019.
  28. ^ Not Run 2 2019.
  29. ^ Last Council 2018.
  30. ^ Wright Announce 1998.
  31. ^ Rep Nom 2008.
  32. ^ Mayor 2011.
  33. ^ Mayor 1999.
  34. ^ No Reelection 2009.
  35. ^ No Nom 2012.
  36. ^ Election 1999.
  37. ^ Decline 1997.
  38. ^ a b Guma 2011.
  39. ^ Wright Endorse 2018.
  40. ^ Chair 1997.
  41. ^ President 2007.
  42. ^ President 2008.
  43. ^ Ashe 2008.
  44. ^ President 2011.
  45. ^ President 2018.
  46. ^ Police 2009.
  47. ^ Control 2009.
  48. ^ Sworn 2009.
  49. ^ Complaint 2009.
  50. ^ a b Primary 1994.
  51. ^ a b Election 1994.
  52. ^ Recount 1994.
  53. ^ No Change 1994.
  54. ^ Announce 1996.
  55. ^ a b Primary 1996.
  56. ^ a b Election 1996.
  57. ^ Spending 2000.
  58. ^ Election 2000; Election 2002; Election 2004; Election 2006; Election 2008; Election 2010; Election 2012; Election 2014
  59. ^ a b Election 2016.
  60. ^ Election 2000; Election 2002; Election 2004; Election 2006; Election 2008; Election 2010; Election 2012
  61. ^ Election 2012; Election 2014
  62. ^ Last House 2018.
  63. ^ Committee 2001.
  64. ^ Committee 2005.
  65. ^ Assistant 2004.
  66. ^ Resolution 2006.
  67. ^ Cosponsor 2006.
  68. ^ Moderate 2008.
  69. ^ Wright 1991.
  70. ^ Contract 1995.
  71. ^ NRA 2008.
  72. ^ Absentee 1996.
  73. ^ Vote Against 1996.
  74. ^ Referendum 2001.
  75. ^ College 2008.
  76. ^ Capital 1996.
  77. ^ Strike 2015.
  78. ^ Wage 2014.
  79. ^ City Wage 2015.
  80. ^ Flag 2002.
  81. ^ Iraq 2003.
  82. ^ Ill 2007.
  83. ^ Gay 2009.
  84. ^ Veto 2009.
  85. ^ Sanctuary 2006.
  86. ^ Arizona 2010.
  87. ^ noncitizen 2014.
  88. ^ Primary 2000.
  89. ^ Election 2000.
  90. ^ Primary 2002.
  91. ^ Election 2002.
  92. ^ Primary 2004.
  93. ^ Election 2004.
  94. ^ Primary 2006.
  95. ^ Election 2006.
  96. ^ Primary 2008.
  97. ^ Election 2008.
  98. ^ House Primary 2010.
  99. ^ House Election 2010.
  100. ^ House Primary 2012.
  101. ^ House Election 2012.
  102. ^ House Primary 2014.
  103. ^ House Election 2014.
  104. ^ Primary 2016.
  105. ^ House Primary 2018.
  106. ^ House Election 2018.

Works cited

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Election reports

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Newspapers

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Web

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