Election Countdown: Guma on the air (and on the issues)

On Tuesday morning, in the studio with Kristen Tripodi, producer and reporter with Local 44 WFFF & Local 22 WVNY. Four minutes and even more issues...



This week the campaign also sent an educational flyer about the choices facing Burlington to every local household, and is spreading the word with social media. Almost 200 lawn signs have been placed; if you want one of the remaining signs for outside your home, call 802-540-2596, or email gumaformayor@gmail.com.

Here's page 3 of our flyer, summarizing Greg's proposals and looking closer at issues like Saving Burlington Telecom, Protecting Neighborhoods, Preventing F-36 Basing, and Reforming the City's Commissions.

New Spot To Be Released Tonight; Campaign raises $12,000, Sets $18,000 Goal

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, 2/17/15 – Tonight at 10 p.m. the Greg Guma for Mayor campaign will release a second video spot. Called “Reimagine Burlington,” it uses animation to explain Greg’s vision for the city. It will initially be available on the Internet, and possibly as a broadcast television spot next week.

To date, the campaign has raised almost $12,000 and expects to receive at least $6,000 more before the end of the month. To date, approximately $7,500 has been spent, with $6,300 more approved by the committee so far for expenses in the coming weeks. As required by state law, the campaign treasurer will soon file a formal report with the state.

The voiceover text for the new spot says:

"Imagine a city where people power means more than money and local needs beat outside interests. On March 3 Burlington has a choice -- give in to developers or reclaim the city and work together for a sustainable future.

"Greg Guma wants to open the doors of City Hall. He'll fight for affordability, fairness, and responsible growth. He'll fund neighborhood projects, explain choices in plain English, and push for more voices in decisions that matter.

"Greg Guma for Mayor. Reimagine Burlington."

Campaign Airs Television and Print Ads on Weinberger and Development; Schedule of Upcoming Debates

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- A new television ad developed by the Greg Guma for Mayor campaign with the candidate's son, Jesse Lloyd Guma, began to air during local newscasts Thursday, Feb. 12. The contract was signed Wednesday with WPTZ for the 30 second spot to run during the morning and evening news, as well during Meet the Press on Sunday.

Guma has made protecting Burlington from gentrification a major emphasis of his campaign. The ad uses humor, animation, audio and visual effects, and an ominous voiceover reminiscent of Republican "attack" ads to make one of the candidate's points -- "we can't just build our way out of problems."  It ends with the candidate's green tree logo and the tag line: Take the target off Burlington's back.

The ad was released on YouTube last week. Here is a link: Take the target off Burlington's Back. It has been edited to comply with campaign regulations. 

 

The son of Guma and peace activist and feminist Robin Lloyd, Jesse Guma is a partner in Grand Street Media, a media production company that makes documentaries, promotional films, commercials, and the successful web series Maximum Warrior.

Guma also ran a second print ad this week in the popular weekly Seven Days, contrasting what it calls "Weinberger's Unwelcome Proposals" with his own "Innovation Solutions. The Campaign Committee meets this Sunday to decide how contributions should be spent for the remaining three weeks before election day. To date, about $6,000 has been received, $4,000 spent, and $10,000 pledged. Email guma.for.mayor@gmail.com for meeting details.

During a debate at the Burlington Free Press on Wednesday with the newspaper's editorial board, Guma and Weinberger locked horns over the mayor's charge that critics of his plans and approach are anti-development. According to coverage by the Free Press: 

 

Seven Days/Matthew Thorsen

Guma fired back with criticism about the mayor's previous career as real estate developer and the fact that many local real estate developers have donated money to Weinberger's campaign, according to public records.

To say that somebody is anti-growth simply because they want to question the pace or the process is a factually inaccurate statement, Guma said.

"The question is not whether we grow or not. The question is how much, how tall, how fast," Guma said. "What is the balance between the things we want to improve and the things we want to preserve? Now, I have not yet used the phrase in this debate developer Mayor Miro Weinberger who has received thousands of dollars from developers in his war chest, you know I could have said that. But If you will agree to stop describing each question we raise about the nature of the planning process as anti-growth and anti-development, I will agree not to bring up your war chest again." 

New Contrast Ad

Remaining airtimes for the TV ad this week include: Feb. 13, during the 5:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. news; Feb. 15, during the 6 a.m. news, 9 a.m. Meet the Press, and 11 p.m. news.

 

The Guma campaign began on Jan. 27. Future plans include a citywide literature drop and a party/fundraiser near the end of the month. Next week's events include the WPTZ debate and the Ward 5 NPA on Tuesday, Feb. 18, and the Seven Days/CCTV Debate at noon on Wednesday, Feb. 19, at City Hall.