Miro Weinberger
{{short description|American politician from Vermont}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name = Miro Weinberger
|image = Miro Weinberger.jpg
|office = 42nd Mayor of Burlington
|term_start = April 2, 2012
|term_end = April 1, 2024
|predecessor = Bob Kiss
|successor = Emma Mulvaney-Stanak
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1970|2|25}}
|birth_place = Brattleboro, Vermont, U.S.
|death_date =
|death_place =
|party = Democratic
|spouse = {{marriage|Stacy Sherwat|2000}}
|children = 2
|education = Yale University (BA)
Harvard University (MPP)
}}
Miro Weinberger (born February 25, 1970) is an American politician who was the 42nd mayor of Burlington, Vermont.{{cite web|url=http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2012120402009|title=Weinberger becomes Burlington's 42nd mayor|accessdate=April 16, 2012}}{{dead link|date=February 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} He was the city's first Democratic Party mayor since Gordon Paquette was defeated by Bernie Sanders in 1981. Weinberger was the Democratic Party chair for Chittenden County during the 2004 election cycle. He also was on the Burlington Airport Commission for nine years, as board president of the Turning Point Center of Chittenden County, a drug addiction recovery organization, and on the board of the ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sevendaysvt.com/vermont/two-against-one-is-weinberger-vulnerable-in-burlingtons-mayoral-race/Content?oid=12239765|title=Two Against One: Is Weinberger Vulnerable in Burlington's Mayoral Race?|last=Jickling|first=Katie|date=January 31, 2018|website=Seven Days|access-date=August 13, 2019}}
Early life
Weinberger was born in Brattleboro, Vermont, and raised in Hartland, in a Jewish family.{{Cite web|url=http://nextupvt.com/articles/burlingtons-own-mayor-miro-weinberger|title=Burlington's own Mayor Miro Weinberger {{!}} Nextup Vermont|website=nextupvt.com|access-date=August 13, 2019}} After graduating from Woodstock Union High School, he attended Yale University, where he graduated with a double major in environmental studies and American studies. Weinberger then worked in Washington, D.C., for Senator Patrick Leahy and on Senator Harris Wofford's reelection campaign.{{Cite web|url=https://vtdigger.org/2011/09/20/miro-weinberger-announces-for-burlington-mayor/|title=Miro Weinberger announces for Burlington mayor|date=September 20, 2011|website=VTDigger|language=en-US|access-date=August 13, 2019}} He also worked for Habitat for Humanity in Georgia, Florida, and New York, and completed a master's degree in public policy and urban planning at the Kennedy School of Government.{{cite web|url=http://www.abc22.com/story/15742674/miro-weinberger-bio|title=ABC22: "Your Voice"|accessdate=May 26, 2012}}
Professional career
In 2002, Weinberger returned to Vermont and co-founded the Hartland Group in Burlington. In less than nine years, his company built over 200 affordable and market rate homes in Vermont and New Hampshire, consisting of over $40 million of development. His work has won a smart growth and a green building award, LEED certifications, and has involved the clean-up of environmentally contaminated sites.
Weinberger's previous professional work included three and a half years with the Greyston Foundation, a community development organization in southwest Yonkers, and a short stint as a sports writing intern for the Boston Globe.{{Cite web|url=https://vtdigger.org/2012/01/25/weinberger-releases-plan-to-keep-burlington-housing-affordable-livable/|title=Weinberger releases plan to keep Burlington housing affordable, livable|date=January 25, 2012|website=VTDigger|language=en-US|access-date=August 13, 2019}}
= Mayor of Burlington =
Weinberger was elected mayor of Burlington on March 6, 2012. He defeated Tim Ashe in the closely contested Democratic primary and Republican nominee Kurt Wright in the general election. Weinberger won with 57.7% of the vote. He was reelected on March 3, 2015, Town Meeting Day, with 68% of the vote over former Burlington Public Works Director Steve Goodkind. On March 6, 2018, Weinberger defeated Carina Driscoll (Bernie Sanders's stepdaughter) and Infinite Culcleasure to win a third term in office with 48% of the vote.{{Cite news|url=https://vtdigger.org/2018/02/26/can-carina-driscoll-ride-anti-weinberger-wave-city-hall/|title=Can Carina Driscoll ride an anti-Weinberger wave to City Hall? - VTDigger|date=February 26, 2018|work=VTDigger|access-date=June 24, 2018|language=en-US}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/news/2018/03/06/burlington-mayor-infinite-culcleasure-carina-driscoll-miro-weinberger-town-meeting-day-2018/373612002/|title=Weinberger wins 3rd term: 'This is what moving forward looks like'|date=March 6, 2018|work=Burlington Free Press|access-date=June 24, 2018|language=en}} Weinberger won reelection in 2021 by less than 1 point against Progressive Party nominee Max Tracy.{{cite web |date=March 2, 2021 |title=Weinberger wins another term as Burlington mayor |url=https://www.wcax.com/2021/03/03/weinberger-wins-another-term-as-burlington-mayor/}} On September 28, 2023, Weinberger announced that he would not seek a fifth term as mayor.{{Cite web |date=2023-09-28 |title=Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger will not seek reelection |url=https://vtdigger.org/2023/09/28/burlington-mayor-miro-weinberger-will-not-seek-reelection/ |access-date=2023-10-08 |website=VT Digger |language=en}}
In office, Weinberger has focused on mitigating Burlington's contributions to climate change, improving early learning opportunities for youth, stewarding the city's financial health, leading initiatives to regulate Burlington's housing market, and combating the opioid epidemic.{{Cite web|url=https://www.fastcompany.com/3042029/how-burlington-vermont-became-the-first-city-in-the-us-to-run-on-100-renewable-electricity|title=How Burlington, Vermont, Became The First City In The U.S. To Run On 100% Renewable Electricity|last=Peters|first=Adele|date=February 6, 2015|website=Fast Company|language=en-US|access-date=August 13, 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.burlingtonvt.gov/Press/mayor-weinberger-community-leaders-announce-launch-of-the-burlington-early-learning|title=Mayor Weinberger, Community Leaders Announce Launch of the Burlington Early Learning Initiative's First Steps Scholarship Program {{!}} City of Burlington, Vermont|website=www.burlingtonvt.gov|access-date=August 13, 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.sevendaysvt.com/OffMessage/archives/2019/07/29/weinberger-touts-burlingtons-improved-credit-rating|title=Weinberger Touts Burlington's Improved Credit Rating|last=Lamdin|first=Courtney|website=Seven Days|language=en|access-date=August 13, 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.burlingtonvt.gov/Press/mayor-miro-weinberger-and-community-partners-announce-50-percent-decline-in-opioid-related|title=Mayor Miro Weinberger and Community Partners Announce 50 Percent Decline in Opioid-Related Overdose Fatalities in Chittenden County in 2018 {{!}} City of Burlington, Vermont|website=www.burlingtonvt.gov|access-date=August 13, 2019}}{{Vague|reason=by doing?|date={{CURRENTMONTHNAME}} {{CURRENTYEAR}}}}
Burlington became the nation's first city to source all its energy from renewable generation during Weinberger's tenure as mayor in 2014. Weinberger and his administration have set a goal of becoming a net zero energy city in the next 15 years.{{Cite web|url=https://vermontbiz.com/news/2018/february/28/weinberger-presents-plan-net-zero-energy-city-lake-clean|title=Weinberger presents plan for net zero energy city, lake clean-up|date=February 28, 2018|website=Vermont Business Magazine|language=en|access-date=August 13, 2019}} In coordination with the City's Electric Department, he has overseen an expansion in solar installations throughout Burlington – from 25 solar arrays pre-2012 to about 160 in 2017 – and in electric vehicle charging stations and electric vehicle purchasing incentives.{{Cite web|url=https://www.burlingtonelectric.com/news/116|title=Burlington Electric Launches Solar Shopper Program {{!}} Burlington Electric Department|website=www.burlingtonelectric.com|access-date=August 13, 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.burlingtonelectric.com/news/244)|title=Burlington Electric Department {{!}} Customer Service: (802) 865-7300Monday-Friday 8am-5pm|website=www.burlingtonelectric.com|access-date=August 13, 2019}}
In mid-2021, Weinberger ordered the closure of the Sears Lane homeless encampment, displacing at least two residents, who filed an unsuccessful legal challenge to the decision.{{Cite web |date=2021-11-03 |title=Vermont judge denies effort to stop closure of homeless camp |url=https://apnews.com/article/vermont-burlington-c825ea401180db3a77d8d3a74d4270a1 |access-date=2022-03-28 |website=AP NEWS |language=en}}
As mayor, Weinberger spearheaded an initiative to redevelop Burlington's sole closed-interior mall into a mixed-use project. The original mall was demolished in 2017, but redevelopment stalled for years due to funding issues and myriad lawsuits.{{Cite web |last=Lamdin |first=Courtney |title=Parties Resolve Long-Standing Lawsuits Against CityPlace Project |url=https://www.sevendaysvt.com/vermont/parties-resolve-long-standing-lawsuits-against-cityplace-project/Content?oid=36530716 |access-date=2022-11-11 |website=Seven Days |language=en}} Construction resumed in 2022.{{Cite web |last=Lamdin |first=Courtney |title=At Long Last, Construction Begins on CityPlace Burlington Site |url=https://www.sevendaysvt.com/vermont/at-long-last-construction-begins-on-cityplace-burlington-site/Content?oid=36934878 |access-date=2023-06-08 |website=Seven Days |language=en}}
Personal life
Weinberger married Stacy Sherwat in 2000, and they have two daughters.{{cite web|url=http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20131117/NEWS02/311170021|title=Burlington Mayor Weinberger and family welcome baby girl.|accessdate=November 18, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20131118115647/http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20131117/NEWS02/311170021|archive-date=November 18, 2013}}{{cite web|url=http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2012120331034 |title=Burlington's new mayor opens up about the transition, his goals and his favorite music |accessdate=April 16, 2012 }}{{dead link|date=June 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{cite web|url=http://miroformayor.com/about|title=Miro for Mayor campaign site|accessdate=April 16, 2012}} Stacy is the Early Education Director at the King Street Center. Weinberger plays catcher for the Burlington Cardinals in an over-35 men's baseball league;{{cite web|url=http://www.7dvt.com/2012miro-weinberger-baseball|title=For the Love of the Game|accessdate=June 15, 2012}}{{cite web|url=http://www.vermontseniorbaseball.com/team/Burlington.html|title=2016 Burlington Cardinals|publisher=Vermont Senior Baseball League inc.|work=Burlington Cardinals|accessdate=April 29, 2016}} former Boston Red Sox pitcher Bill Lee is also on the team.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.burlingtonvt.gov/mayor/ Burlington Mayor website]
- [http://miroformayor.com/ Miro for Mayor] campaign website
{{s-start}}
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before=Bob Kiss}}
{{s-ttl|title=Mayor of Burlington|years=2012–2024}}
{{s-aft|after=Emma Mulvaney-Stanak}}
{{s-end}}
{{Mayor of Burlington, Vermont}}
{{Burlington, Vermont}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Weinberger, Miro}}
Category:21st-century American Jews
Category:21st-century mayors of places in Vermont
Category:21st-century Vermont politicians
Category:Jewish American people in Vermont politics
Category:Jewish American mayors
Category:Harvard Kennedy School alumni
Category:Mayors of Burlington, Vermont
Category:Politicians from Brattleboro, Vermont