The Burlington Free Press from Burlington, Vermont • Page 4

PETER CLAVELLE'S- mm MI I -s- by i Clavelle steps from the political shadows By Lisa Scagliotti Free Press Staff Writer Although his career in electoral politics has just begun, Peter Clavelle is no stranger to municipal government. The Winooski native became manager of Cast-leton in September 1972 when he was just 23 years old. In May 1976, he was hired as city manager of Winooski, a post he held until June 1979. It was that position that haunted him in the final days of the mayoral campaign when his opponent, Democrat Nancy Chioffi suggested he had been fired from Winooski. Clavelle vindicated himself with the assistance of the present Winooski mayor and three of his predecessors.

They testified to Clavelle's expertise and skill in leading the city during its revitalization period when federal renewal funds were plentiful and local tax dollars were scarce. Later in 1979, Clavelle became the director of the Vermont Sheriffs and State's Attorneys Association for six months. In 1980, he ran and lost his first bid for elected office when he ran as a Democrat for a state representative seat from Winooski. Clavelle later was self-employed as a labor consultant and in March 1982 was chosen as the union negotiator for the Winooski police union in its contract negotiations with the city. But those were the early days of Mayor Bernard Sanders' reign in Burlington.

In June 1982, Clavelle became one of the first two Sanders appointees approved by the Board of Aldermen. He was named personnel director and Jonathan Leopold was tapped to be City Treasurer. A year later, Clavelle became the head of a new city department, the Community and Economic Development Office and held that position until Jan. 30 of this year, the day he became and official candidate for mayor. Clavelle is a graduate of Rice Memorial High School, of St.

Anselem's College in Manchester N.H. and Syracuse University where he earned his masters in public administration. He is married to Betsy Ferries, who works as the wellness director for the Essex Junction schools. He has three children, Will, Jae and Luke. The Clavelles live on South Union Street.

paillli JYM WILSON, Free Press Mayor elect Peter Clavelle gets a tory hug from or Bernard Sanders after clinching in Tuesday's election. If if rZJ FEBRUARY, 1982 JUNE, 1979 MAY, 1976 JUNE, 1971 Coalition progresses without Sanders at the helm The mayoral race: Ward by ward Sanders. He's not a radical; his agenda isn't a socialist one. He's likely to further blur the already murky political line between Progressive Coalition and Democrat thus making both sides angry. "Peter's sincere and well-meaning, and he knows the technical side of government," says UVM political scientist Garrison Nelson.

"But a mayor's job is to balance conflicting interests, and that's politics. It will be interesting to see if he can stand the heat." to have to go up. The waterfront is a mess. Third, while he is trying to keep the potholes filled, Clavelle will face constant pressure from the committed ideologues in the trenches of the Progressive Coalition. Though he gave politically correct answers on the campaign trail, Clavelle is a manager and a dealmaker, not an ideologue.

He clearly worries more about the 1,600 jobs at GE than putting flowers in the Vulcan gun barrels, and cares more about North Street than Nicaragua. Peter Clavelle is not Bernie From page 1A why he ran better in moderate Ward 4 than Sanders ever did. The next two years should be very, very Interesting. First, Clavelle must complete the transition from back-room bureaucrat to front-line politician. Second, he must cope with some intractable city problems that are the less pleasant side of Sanders' legacy.

There's no place to put the city's trash after January. UVM refuses to build enough student housing. Taxes are going Candidates Ward 1 Ward 2 Ward 3 Ward 4 Ward 5 Ward 6 Total Peter Clavelle (I) 800 776 896 1,464 902 788 5,626 Nancy Chioffi (D) 518 324 387 1,627 898 646 4,400 Sandra Baird (G) 63 64 66 58 48 62 361 Michael Hackett (I) I 5 11 I 12 I 33 1 17 13 I 91 Clavelle ices Chioffi for mayor From page 1A The victory tonight an extraordinary victory. We took on not just the Democratic Party, not just the Republican Party but both of them combined. If they had the courage to run as separate parties, Peter would have won by 30 points, not just Bernard Sanders Burlington mayor i future may include a vacation.

Clavelle also shared the stage with other Progressive candidates who won seats on the Board of Aldermen Tuesday. But his guest of honor was none other than his predecessor. "We opened the doors of City Hall in 1981 and we'll keep them open in 1989," he said, embracing Sanders at the door. Sanders basked in the glow of the fifth consecutive Progressive mayoral win in the city. "The victory tonight was an extraordinary victory," Sanders said.

"We took on not just the Democratic Party, not just the Republican Party but both of them combined. If they had the courage to run as separate parties, Peter would have won by 30 points, not just 12." Although the final numbers indicated a wide gap between the top two contenders, the early indicators showed low turnout, particularly in strong Progressive wards. Assistant City Clerk Michelle Weiss said turnout all day trailed the 1987 s. election. But in late afternoon the turnout picked up and was heaviest at 5 p.m.

About 2,000 votes were cast throughout the city in the final two hours. Around 5:30 p.m. workers at Clavelle headquarters hit high gear. Voters who had requested absentee ballots were called to see if ballots had been cast. Others called supporters to see if they needed rides.

Office workers served as dispatchers. "This is how you get the vote out," campaip coordinator David Weinstein said. About 200 volunteers were working in the wards as "squads," giving rides and checking to see if supporters had voted, he said. Over at Chioffi's campaign headquarters, volunteers said they did not modify their strategy because of the sub-zero weather. The campaign had 30 workers who made more than 3,000 calls between 3 p.m.

and 6 p.m., encouraging people to vote and offering rides to the polls. "Have van, will travel," said volunteer Maggie Green. Weiss also noted that 14 absentee ballot requests were granted by Chittenden Superior Judge Alden Bryan. Most of those were for elderly voters who could not venture out into the cold. Others were ill, she said.

MARK SASAHARA, Fre Press Nancy Chioffi gets a consolation hug from her mother, Doris Wood, after losing to Peter Clavelle in the Burlington mayoral elections..