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Permit #15 Williston,VT 05495 POSTAL CUSTOMER
MARCH 5, 2020
WILLISTON’S NEWSPAPER SINCE 1985
Voters approve local plans, weigh in on presidential choice By Jason Starr Observer staff
Every four years, Vermont’s Town Meeting Day election broadens beyond its local roots and allows voters to participate in nominating national presidential candidates. Voters asked outside the polls at the National Guard Armory building in Williston on Tuesday said having a voice in the Democratic and Republican presidential primaries added a level of import to this year’s election. “I vote every year, but certainly this feels like a more heavily weighted election,” Gabrielle Young said after casting her Democratic presidential primary ballot for Bernie Sanders. “I’ve encouraged more people to vote.” Sanders got the most votes in Williston (1,264) and Vermont, but national news outlets reported that Joe Biden came out of “Super Tuesday” as the Democratic front-runner. Biden was second among Williston voters with 867 votes, according to the Town Clerk’s office. President Donald Trump received 475 votes in Williston for the Republican nomination; Bill Weld received 72. Martha Mukandori, a native of Congo who has lived in Williston for 15 years, was voting in Town Meeting Day for the second time. The opportunity to vote for Vermont’s Senator for president was the draw. “I love that we can get a person to be president from Vermont,” she said. “We need Bernie to be president.” “For me, it’s about the presidential primary,” echoed Courtney Zwahlen, a voter who moved to Williston from California just last year. She did her best to educate herself on the plethora of local questions on the ballot — from changes to the town charter to taking on debt for infrastructure to annual school and town budgets. All of the local questions were approved. Zwahlen, however, was among the see ELECTION page 2
WILLISTONOBSERVER.COM
Residents endorse sidewalk plowing expansion Morton retirement added to impending turnover By Jason Starr Observer staff
Monday was the final annual Town Meeting for long-time Williston leaders Rick McGuire and Deb Beckett. The annual report distributed to the roughly 100 residents who attended the meeting at Williston Central School was dedicated to McGuire, the town manager since 1998, and to Beckett, the town clerk and treasurer since 1999. They both received standing ovations in the auditorium as residents marked their coming retirements and thanked them for their decades of leadership. “It has truly been an honor and a privilege to have the opportunity to serve the Town of Williston as town clerk and treasurer these past 21 years,” Beckett said. “This is truly a community. It is the epitome of what a hometown is.” Their departure saps the town government of a combined 40-plus years of institutional knowledge. Residents found out Monday that another longtime public figure’s retirement is on the horizon. Fire Chief Ken Morton is stepping down in July, McGuire announced. see MEETING page 3
Observer photo by Al Frey
Williston voter Derek Paretti fills out a ballot Tuesday during the Town Meeting Day election at the National Guard Armory building.
Presidential primary results WILLISTON VOTES DEMOCRATS Bernie Sanders, 1,264 Joe Biden, 867 Michael Bloomberg, 379 Elizabeth Warren, 365 Pete Buttigieg, 87 Amy Klobuchar, 58 Tulsi Gabbard, 16
Andrew Yang, 8 Tom Steyer, 2 Marianne Williamson, 2 REPUBLICANS Donald Trump, 475 Bill Weld, 72 Roque De La Fuente, 4
Wine Sampling Live Music, Workshops, Food & Chocolate Tasting
Saturday, March 28 1-4 p.m. & 6-9 p.m. Hilton Burlington Waterfront, Burlington TIX/INFO: www.winterwinefest.com
Observer photo by Al Frey
Williston Fire Chief Ken Morton speaks during the Annual Town Meeting on Monday at WCS. Morton plans to retire in July.