Your ballot has arrived. You get two votes.
Downtown and the Old North End elect two State Representatives. You can vote for up to two candidates. Make one of them an independent voice.
Vote Christopher Haessly, Independent.
By Mail
Ballots were mailed to every active voter by October 1. Fill yours out, sign the envelope and mail it back early. Your ballot must be received by 7:00 p.m. on Election Day. Didn't get one? Contact the City Clerk's office.
By Drop Box
Return your ballot to any of the five city drop boxes, including City Hall and Fire Station #2 on North Avenue, by 4:30 p.m. on Monday, November 2.
Early at City Hall
Vote at the City Clerk's office on weekdays through October 30:
8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Also open Monday, November 2, from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
On Election Day
Vote at your polling place on Tuesday, November 3, from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. You can bring your mail ballot, too. Not registered? You can register there.
Hello, Neighbors!
I'm Christopher Haessly, an Independent running to represent Downtown and the Old North End in the State House. I'm running because too many of our neighbors, the people who keep this city going, are being priced out of the place they call home.
I've lived in Burlington for more than twenty-five years, and I've been a renter the entire time.
I believe that young people and working families deserve an opportunity to own a home of their own and earn a livable wage, and that neighbors struggling with mental health conditions and substance use disorder deserve access to treatment.
When I talk to the people who live and work in our community, it's clear that many folks are being left behind. Our bartenders, servers, cooks, dishwashers, housekeepers, retail associates, artists, musicians, healthcare workers, social workers, and trades people — pretty much anybody who rents and works hard for an hourly wage and tips — are sometimes forced to work two or three jobs just to pay for rent, groceries, and healthcare. Many of our neighbors live with one or more roommates because they cannot afford to live on their own.
We've seen entire blocks of single-family homes get converted into rentals, with students, recent graduates and working families all competing for the same limited housing. We've seen young families and working people get priced out of Burlington because they cannot find an affordable starter home — a contributing factor to declining enrollment in our public schools. We've seen seniors and folks on fixed incomes getting crushed by rising property taxes that make it difficult for them to stay in their homes.
When I walk around downtown, I see people who are struggling every day, and it's clear to me that the people who are most in need of services are the least likely to receive them. Vermont has only a handful of treatment centers, and most don't accept Medicaid — which means the people most likely to need help are the least likely to be able to afford it. These folks deserve more than shelter — they deserve treatment delivered with compassion and dignity.
It's clear that current policies are not working. We need to ensure that housing remains affordable, that homeownership remains within reach of young people and working families, and that the state commits to increasing the number of treatment beds so that access to care isn't determined by what insurance you carry.
I'm running as an Independent because, like many Vermonters, my values don't fit neatly into any one party. My commitment is to the people who live and work here: renters and homeowners, small businesses and the people who work in them, seniors on fixed incomes, and young people deciding whether they can afford to stay. I'll support good ideas wherever they come from, and I'll judge every bill by one question: does it make life more affordable for the people of Downtown and the Old North End?
Staying in Vermont
shouldn't take two jobs.
Priorities for Downtown & the Old North End
Affordable Rents
for Essential Workers
The bartenders, servers, cooks, housekeepers and retail workers who keep downtown running shouldn't need two jobs to cover rent. I'll push to build more homes people can afford on a working wage, and to protect renters from being priced out.
Homeownership
for Working Families
After 25 years as a Burlington renter, I know how far ownership can feel. I'll support first-time buyer help and starter homes so families can put down roots here.
Livable Wage Jobs
for Working Vermonters
On the School Board I fought for livable wages for support staff. In Montpelier I'll keep working so a full-time job pays enough to cover rent and groceries and still live in the community you serve.
Job Opportunities
for Recent Graduates
Too many young Vermonters leave because the jobs and the rents don't add up. I'll back apprenticeships and local hiring that give graduates a reason to stay.
Mental Health & Substance Use
Treatment for Our Neighbors
Downtown sees the cost of a system without enough care. I'll fight to increase the number of treatment beds and shelter beds, so that when someone is ready to ask for help, it's there for them, delivered with compassion and dignity.
A Safe, Thriving Downtown
for Everyone
On the Church Street Marketplace Commission, I've worked on keeping downtown safe and welcoming for everyone: residents, workers, small businesses and visitors. I'll push for state support for community safety and outreach and for streets that are safe to walk, so our neighborhoods stay places people want to live and work.
Safe Schools
for Our Kids
Seven years as Ward 2 School Commissioner taught me that safe schools depend on strong neighborhood schools and staff who are supported. I'll bring that experience to the State House.
Property Tax Relief
for Seniors
Seniors who built this city shouldn't be taxed out of the homes they've paid for. I'll support targeted relief for older Vermonters on fixed incomes.
Proven Leadership, Continued Service
Proven Leadership
Seven years as the Ward 2 School Commissioner on the Burlington School Board.
- Worked with community members from the Old North End to preserve our neighborhood schools
- Stood with our paraeducators, custodians, and food service workers to demand a livable wage
- Successfully advocated for the inclusion of gender identity and expression into school district policies as a protected class — before those provisions were enshrined into State Law
Continued Service
- Church Street Marketplace Commission — advocated for common sense approaches to community safety to ensure the safety of city residents and downtown workers
- Ward 3 Neighborhood Planning Assembly (NPA) — worked with community members to address traffic safety concerns and ensure our roads remain safe for pedestrians, cyclists, and neighborhood residents
Meet Chris
McKenzie House Meet and Greet
Thursday, October 15, 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Meet Chris and talk about the issues that matter to you, from affordable housing to property taxes for people on fixed incomes.
McKenzie House, 43 Elmwood Ave., Burlington
August First Meet and Greet
Tuesday, October 20, 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
Meet Chris over morning coffee and talk about what matters downtown, from a safe, thriving Church Street to property taxes and the cost of living here.
August First, 149 S. Champlain St., Burlington
Who’s Supporting Chris
Vermont State Employees’ Association
I'm grateful for the support of the Vermont State Employees’ Association, and proud to stand with the people who keep Vermont's public services running. I'll keep fighting so that the people who work here can afford to stay here.
Let’s Grow Kids Action Network
I'm proud to have the support of Let’s Grow Kids Action Network. Affordable, accessible child care helps young families afford to stay in Vermont, and a strong early childhood workforce means the educators who care for our kids can afford to stay here, too.
Our voluntary individual contribution limit
I believe candidates for elected office should be evaluated on the basis of ideas and policy proposals — not how much money they can raise. That's why we are asking supporters to voluntarily limit individual campaign contributions to no more than $99.
Let's build a Vermont that works for working people.
Rents people can afford, and homes they can own. Jobs that pay enough to live here, and a reason for graduates to stay. Treatment for neighbors who need it, and a downtown that's safe for everyone. Safe schools for our kids, and seniors who can stay in the homes they built.
If that's the Vermont you believe in, join our campaign.
Together, let's make Vermont a place we can ALL afford to call home.