No vote for teens, non-citizens in Bennington

by Guy Page

Voters across Vermont weighed in on big-ticket spending, local taxes and mayoral races on Town Meeting Day, with flood control, public safety upgrades and data center concerns topping ballots from the Green Mountains to the Champlain Valley.

Thomas Renner, who ran unsuccessfully for Lt. Governor in 2024 in the Democratic primary against David Zuckerman, was elected mayor of Winooski. He is believed to be Vermont’s first African-American mayor. He has served as interim mayor since the resignation of the past mayor.

Also, the Town of Bennington voted 724-1418 against extending voting rights to 16-17 year olds and non-citizens.

This report was sourced from local government, local residents, social media and news outlets, including WCAX.com and VTDigger.com.

In Rutland, a surprise mayoral shakeup headlined the day. Following the recent resignation of Mayor Mike Doenges midway through his term, voters elected Alderman Tom Donahue in a write-in race to lead the city. (See story by Russell Flannery in today’s VDC).

Meanwhile, residents in Waterbury overwhelmingly approved spending more than $4.3 million on a flood mitigation project aimed at protecting homes, businesses and infrastructure from future disasters. The investment marks one of the community’s most significant resilience efforts since Tropical Storm Irene.

In Royalton, voters sent a clear message to developers of proposed AI-powered data centers, rejecting plans that residents said could dramatically alter the character and energy demands of the small town.

Voters in Winooski approved a nearly $1 million bond to renovate City Hall and upgrade the police station, backing improvements city leaders said are needed to modernize aging facilities.

Debate also continued over the controversial “apartheid-free community” pledge. In Montpelier, voters rejected the measure for a second time, 1,135 to 905. But in Bristol, the measure narrowly passed as the final item on the warning.

Several communities also decided whether to adopt a 1% local option tax. Bristol, Fair Haven, Mendon, Swanton and Westmore voted to adopt the tax. Voters in Castleton, Milton and Roxbury rejected it. In West Windsor, residents approved a local option tax on rooms, meals and alcohol, but voted down a sales tax option.

Other mayoral races were largely uncontested. In Montpelier, financial advisor Marc Gwinn won a two-year term, replacing outgoing Mayor Jack McCullough. In St. Albans City, teacher Trudy Cioffi ran unopposed to succeed Mayor Tim Smith.