BURLINGTON – Joanna Cole, a Democrat running for a seat in Ward 7, nearly upset the incumbent in her first run for political office. Democracy for Vermont endorsed Cole for her City Council run, noting fiscal responsibility and open communication among reasons to vote for the newcomer.
     Cole has been active in local politics, as a member of the Neighborhood Planning Assembly’s steering committee and vice-chair of Burlington's Democratic committee for Ward 7.
     She noted property tax concerns that needed to be dealt with, supporting a 1 percent sales tax, and support for the school budget, affordable housing and a new Multigenerational Community Center for the New North End.
     Cole surprised many when she won 503 votes in the fourway race in the March 7 election. The incumbent, Independent Ellie Blais, took 534 votes, and Republican Paul Decelles came in first with 713 votes. Libertarian Jeremy Ryan came in last with 68 votes.
     Decelles did not win the first round, having failed to capture 40 percent of the vote. In a runoff last month, Decelles won the City Council seat with 451 votes to Blais' 382 votes.
     "I believe my experience would have been helpful on the City Council, but Paul gets to be the new blood this time around," Cole said upon hearing the results of the run-off.
      "I wish him well."
     Cole, a retired chemistry professor and biology teacher, relocated to Burlington with partner Sarah Flynn in 2003. She is a member of R.U.1.2? Queer Community Center.