by Guy Page
Despite a tough campaign fought by Republican Christopher-Aaron Felker, Progressive Joe Magee easily won the August 17 special election for the Ward 3, Burlington City Council seat.
Of 1011 votes cast, Magee garnered 475, or 47.08%. Independent Owen Milne was second with 397, or 39.05%. Felker talled 136 votes, or 13.8%.
22% of eligible voters cast ballots, according to city election returns.
Felker ran on a platform of restoring public safety depleted by the Progressive’s “defund the police” movement. He also charged the Progressives had done little to solve Burlington’s chronic housing crisis.
“Thank you, Ward 3,” Magee said on his Facebook page. “I’m so grateful for the support we earned in this campaign, and I’m looking forward to getting to work as your next City Councilor. From day one, our campaign has been focused on the issues facing working and poor folks in the Old North End and Downtown; housing affordability, a less-than-living wage, community safety and so much more. I want to congratulate Owen Milne for City Council for a strong, issues-focused campaign.”