The political newcomer posted a campaign update on his website Thursday under the headline “Message from Infinite: We’re Stronger Than Ever.” The post appeared days after Culcleasure and the two other mayoral candidates, Carina Driscoll and Miro Weinberger, participated in a televised forum about the issues.
In his post, Culcleasure decried a Seven Days cover story that examined whether Weinberger, a two-term incumbent with plenty of campaign cash, could lose the contest. Driscoll, a Progressive Party-backed independent candidate, has political experience and is the stepdaughter of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), a connection she’s touted on the campaign trail.
Culcleasure lamented “being marginalized based on such superficial grounds as how we look and our lack of campaign resources,” which he referred to as a “practice of white normative politics in Burlington and Vermont.”
The independent candidate said he has not coordinated with Driscoll and has no plans of dropping out of the race.
Culcleasure pushed back against the notion that his campaign will split the opposition vote and allow Weinberger an easy path to victory.
“We should all be prepared for a little discomfort and not act in fear of a potential Miro victory, but rather in hope of transformative democracy in Burlington,” he wrote.
Culcleasure continued:
After 45 years of existing on the margins of American society, being coerced to drop out of a campaign for public office has been one of the most anti-democratic adventures I have ever experienced. Since politics is not a career goal of mine, but a means for survival, I have no choice but to resist.Culcleasure, a community organizer, has never held elected office. He’s running on a platform of increased citizen decision-making in city government and bottom-up economic development that emphasizes the city’s social and environmental needs over the bottom line.
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I would vote for Culcleasure over Driscoll any day: Infinite clearly stands for something substantial whereas Carina just stands against Miro and as the daughter of Bernie.
Infinite seems to have put together an odd coalition of longtime Burlington residents who are victims of gentrification and young, college grads from out of state that are doing the gentrifying.
I get that it’s fun to be woke and make cool signs that say “Miro Lies” but that’s not going to do it for people. Infinite definitely brings something unique to the table and it would be foolish to dismiss his candidacy but there is just no way that he gets elected. The progs are going to have a hard enough time unseating Miro without splitting the vote.
And I just can’t get over the irony that a lot of his very vocal supporters are young people from out of state who moved to Burlington for it’s “character” and are now pricing out locals. To see a great example, check out the SevenDays article about gentrification – one of them is quoted.
Adam Salem, as always, your comment seems to totally miss the mark (at least we can count on you for consistency).
First, a side note: how do you know (not “guess” but actually have really knowledge of) who is going to vote for Infinite? These are baseless claims that you are asserting as forgone conclusions.
Now to the main point:
In a democracy, candidates are asked to hold themselves out for public office if they think they can serve the people who they seek to represent and the people vote on who would be the best representative based on the election process. It is extremely UNdemocratic to demand, coerce, pressure a candidate to drop out of the race in order to restructure the competition “strategically.” That is not the democratic voice of the people and that is not giving the people as many options as they deserve to have.
Most people underestimated Infinite Culcleasure in this race. Remember he didn’t lose the progressive nomination vote by that much.
The Progressive Party and Rights & Democracy are so obsessed with beating the Mayor, that they’re trying to get rid of someone they see as a threat to their chances. They identified Carina Driscoll as their candidate so long ago that it doesn’t matter to them that Culcleasure might appeal to their supporters more than Driscoll does.
Dogsforcats: are you one of the gentrifiers for Infinite? And if you’re framing your campaign as the one focused on “movement politics” isn’t a big red-flag when you don’t win the endorsement of the group (RAD) focusing on movement politics? And by the way, that was a totally open vote of RAD members. No nefarious outside sources, just good people making a good faith decision about who they think would be the best mayor.
And the fact that he couldn’t win the Prog endorsement is another huge red flag. If he couldn’t win an election entirely composed of people who, for the most part, agree with his message – what does that say about his chances in a city wide election, which (spoiler alert) is going to include Progs, Dems and even a few endangered species Republicans. Just because you want something to be true, doesn’t make it true. And ignoring the writing on the wall doesn’t mean that the writing is not, in fact, on the wall…
That’s right Adam, cities should only exist for people who already live in them. Sounds very inclusive.
Also there is no doubt that a big reason Carina won both of those endorsements is because as soon as both of those organizations heard that Bernie’s step daughter was challenging the mayor they made up their minds to support her.
How many times can Infinite play the race card?
Do vermonters really want to be called racist every time he fails?
This is bad. The fighting on the Left locks in the race for a Miro win ( which means we can count on more over development). Miro just has to sit back, quack about how “vibrant” he has made Burlington, and not get caught in bed with a goat.
Both Driscoll and Culcleasure have to do better than they are doing at present. Which means not whining about something they don’t like: as in being tied to Jan Sanders’ problems or being a black guy in Vermont. This is politics, not beanball, and Miro has the money and knows where to put in the knife if he needs to.
So, suck it up, you two and get serious because if both of you stay in the race Miro will easily mop the floor with you both. Like it or not, you are going to have to work something out between yourselves.
Sooner is better than later.
Unless you’d rather see Burlington become just another mediocre high-rise playground for rich folks.
Adam Salem: “Dogsforcats: are you one of the gentrifiers for Infinite?”
I am a native Burlingtonian who has been in the North End long before you popped up in VT politics. Does that give me any more say than any one else in who is elected to represent us? NO, it does not.
Gentrification is a complex problem that you are trying to minimize with equating it to political preference.
Also, who said I was voting for Infinite? If you read what I wrote before hitting the reply button, I argued that trying to push a candidate (ANY) candidate out of a race for political expediency was undemocratic.
Adam Salem: “if you’re framing your campaign as the one focused on “movement politics” isn’t a big red-flag when you don’t win the endorsement of the group (RAD) focusing on movement politics?”
No. An endorsement by any organization means very little. It means even less in this context where there are two candidates positioning themselves of left of center and a left of center organization wants to endorse. Organizations usually look to see if candidates check off certain boxes (supports X, is against Y) but here, my guess is it was hard to tell the difference with the exception that one candidate was related to Bernie Sanders. I am going to let you figure out which one.
Adam Salem, what do you have against the democratic process?
And why do you think its okay to substitute the endorsements of organizations like RAD for the votes of citizens?
Dogsforcats: In this case, I think looking at the RAD & Prog endorsements is the smart thing to do. Because I’m definitely not opposed to the democratic process ( i hope im not paying off student loans for my poli sci degree just to take down democracy) and I think organizations do in fact matter.
Both RAD and the Progs held open elections, that is inherently democratic. And it matters because you’re not going to find a more progressive population set in all of Burlington. I think it’s safe to assume that RAD members and Prog members are among the most progressive voters in Burlington. Carina won those elections against the person to her left. Now she is going to be running against someone to her right and competing in a much larger population pool – and this pool skews more conservative. If you look at it this way, supporting Carina is the only sensible option. Personally, I’d be happy with Infinite as mayor – even though I do prefer Carina. But, my ultimate goal is to get a progressive mayor, and the only viable path forward to achieve that result is to support Carina. All this, in addition to the fact that I genuinely think Carina is a better candidate.
At what point will Mr. Culcleasure accept responsibility for his crimes? Through his actions he directly ruined the lives of numerous addicts to whom he sold narcotics, and his associates in his first criminal enterprise fatally shot a young girl in the head just to make a point. His response to date; all those white kids asking me for drugs made me a drug dealer. Way to blame your victims.
Response 1:
Adam Salem: “In this case, I think looking at the RAD & Prog endorsements is the smart thing to do”
It may be what you think is “smart” to look at RAD and Prog endorsements and, by all means, you are entitled to do so to form your opinion and cast your ballot: that is the point. Every voter can use whatever bench mark they want: X can vote for Miro because they find having any housing more progressive than having no housing, Y can vote for Carina because they think progressive parents raise progressive children and Z can vote for Infinite because they think he has the most progressive name. Do I personally agree with the reasoning of Z, Y, or Z? NO. Does that change their right to vote the way they want to or vote based on their own opinion? NO.
“Both RAD and the Progs held open elections, that is inherently democratic.”
Having open elections as part of an organization is not the same thing as holding open GOVERNMENT REGULATED elections. Seven Days only gives me 300 words (and I have already had to split my post in two) so I don’t have the space to go into the difference constitutionally, but it matters.
Response 2:
Adam Salem: “And it matters because you’re not going to find a more progressive population set in all of Burlington. I think it’s safe to assume that RAD members and Prog members are among the most progressive voters in Burlington.”
You proved my point for me: RAD and the Progressive Party are a population subset of Burlingtonians, this is not the same as holding a City-wide election for mayor. A subset is never a substitute for one voice one vote.
And, why do you keep mentioning the “progressiveness” of the two groups you keep bringing up? Voters can be “progressive” on one issue and “conservative” on another. People are complex and their political views reflect that. You cannot predict the outcome of a general election by a self selected group.
“i hope im not paying off student loans for my poli sci degree just to take down democracy”
I think this was supposed to be a snarky comment on your part to illustrate how much you know about the political process. Unfortunately, I think it might be worth going back to basic civics and constitutional lessons as you are ignoring the basic tenements of our democracy in your blatantly political responses.
Finally, unless you make some completely new point, I think this will be my last comment as I don’t feel you are reading anything but instead instinctively reacting.
—— “At what point will Mr. Culcleasure accept responsibility for his crimes? Through his actions he directly ruined the lives of numerous addicts to whom he sold narcotics, and his associates in his first criminal enterprise fatally shot a young girl in the head just to make a point. His response to date; all those white kids asking me for drugs made me a drug dealer. Way to blame your victims.”
At what point will Pat Cashman accept that nobody gives a shit about his white fragility? Move Stop the guilt by association. He accepted responsibility by not contesting and pleading guilty in the court of law, then doing his time, then more than repaid his debt to society by dedicating his life working to serve Burlington’s communities in various roles, especially youths and working families for the last twenty years.
Unless you can show that you’ve brought the same level of commitment to community service, or have inspired as many people as he has, or even simply have the guts to step up and run for public office, I suggest you move on, Pat.
At least please find something less repetitive, maybe a somewhat more interesting angle to present your racist argument.
“. . .Burlington residents who are victims of gentrification and young, college grads from out of state that are doing the gentrifying. . . . his very vocal supporters are young people from out of state who moved to Burlington for it’s “character” and are now pricing out locals.”
“Dogsforcats: are you one of the gentrifiers for Infinite?”
And when did you move here, Mr. Salem?
Characterizing leftists who prefer Culcleasure to Driscoll as “gentrifiers” is idiotic.
FaRied- he has “worked” at not for profit centers who rewarded him for the many crimes he has commited. He was even working with at risk youth despite being a twice CONVICTED FELON who was directly involved in the death of a young vermont woman. He never should have even been “working” at most of these jobs as a result of his criminal record. Frankly I would like an investigation into why he has been working with kids and who assigned him to such roles. It seems beyond obvious that a man with two felony convictions should never have been working with kids
and NO- he has yet to hold himself and only himself responsible for his actions. He has repeatedly blamed white vermonters for forcing him to become a drug dealor as a result of being “stereotyped” into the role. Its pure BS.
He has continued this behavior as an adult as it has worked for him in the past. At some point Infifinite is going to have to accept the fact the his failures are his alone.
If he cant- then he has no buisness as a public official
Perhaps he should go back to the not for profit sector with the rest of the “progressive” vermonters who dont work a real job and exist here as a result of social enginerring
Ill be voting for Culcleasure because he is running to help the people of Burlington. I believe he is sincere and will work hard and try his best to do a good job for us all. I dont believe Carina Driscoll has ever worked hard for anything or anyone. She took a job from her mother and when that failed she is trying to use her dad to get herself a fat public salary. I think she wants to be mayor for herself not for us. When voting I choose sincerity because character matters more than connections.
No Faried, it is not time to move on, because we have yet to see him take responsibility and make amends. Mr. Culcleasure is a two time felon who ruined countless lives, and continues to blame his victims for his crimes. I can understand why he might be really anxious to focus on the color of his skin vice the content (or lack thereof) of his character, but why are you? That is just straight up racist.
Patrick Cashman, I think it’s actually easiest to respond by comparing candidates:
Infinite was arrested, convicted, and has served his sentence. That means that the law is done with him in regards to that crime. Additionally, he pled guilty, meaning he accepted responsibility for his crimes.
Carina has most likely participated in white collar crimes involving some kind of money fraud with Burlington College and her mother that she benefited from through the woodworking school she ran. However, she has not been arrested, charged or convicted. As things stand right now, the public can only draw an opinion based on the facts we know (which are pretty damning), in part, because Carina, and the rest of her family have not accepted responsibility.
When people refer to the above as racist, they are referring (generally) to two underlying aspects that aren’t immediately apparent. the first is that black men are overwhelmingly charged and convicted of crimes, particularly drug related crimes (even though it is a known statistic that white people are just as guilty of doing these acts, they are just less likely to be suspected by authorities). This fact is on full display as we have a black man who has been convicted, done his time and accepted responsibility compared with a white woman who has yet to even be charged.
The second underlying issue that creates racial gaps is the crimes themselves: white collar crimes are generally thought of as “victimless” or less harmful somehow and those who commit them are not subjected to the same level of ridicule. Those who are accused of committing white collar crimes are often white.
Thus, the charge of racism is more about systematic racism that is on show here and Infinite has clearly been exposed to.
I would agree that Mr. Culcleasure has been subjected to racism, but to his benefit. The desperate scramble by so many to forgive him for the lives he ruined doesn’t appear to have any other motivator than the color of his skin. I’ve never seen so many people so eager to forgive and actually promote an unrepentant drug dealer. As for responsibility, Mr. Culcleasure’s statement on that matter blaming his victims for his crimes demonstrate he has most definitely not taken ownership of his deeds and the damage he caused. The fact that he was convicted and sent to jail for his felonies is to the credit of the cops, prosecutors, and corrections officers who held him accountable, not his. The next drug addled vagrant you see wandering Church Street be sure and thank Mr. Culcleasure and his decision to move to Vermont specifically to sell drugs to addicts, as was shown at his trial to have been his motive.
B in BTV- Carina has never been convicted of any crime
Infinite has
By your very own ration the only criminal running for mayor is named Infinite
Your attemtpts to slander Carina with unsubstantiated slander is uncalled for and frankly delusional
furthermore you keep trying to insist its somehow “racist” that Infinite was caught and convicted for the crimes he was committing . and that somehow “systematic racism” caused him to come to Vermont with the sole intent of selling drugs
that is not only absurd but you are attempting to legitimize the narrative the Infinite has created about himself- the he is a victim of racisim in a white state where he was “stereotyped” into being a drug dealer
that is a purley fictional tale that is being spun by his campaign
a tale that is falling on deaf ears as most Vermonters are getting tired of being lectured at about being “racist” over things like arresting black men who come here from NYC with the sole intent to sell drugs
When Infinite admits that he and he alone created the scenario that landed him in prison – and not some form of mythical racism- then perhaps it can be said he has taken ownership of his crimes
until then…..
” It is extremely UNdemocratic to demand, coerce, pressure a candidate to drop out of the race in order to restructure the competition “strategically.”” –dogsforcats
Unfortunately with the First Past The Post voting system we use from a pragmatic perspective this often the only viable strategy if it is clear the vote is going to be split. I don’t like it. Assuming you don’t either I suggest working to change it. Personally I’m a fan of Condorcet voting methods, but really any Rank Choice systems would be better than what we have today.
“Personally I’m a fan of Condorcet voting methods, but really any Rank Choice systems would be better than what we have today..”
Were you in Burlington for the IRV fiasco in 2009 that led to the incompetent Kiss being reelected? The voters of Burlington tried IRV, realized it sucked, and got rid of it.
Adam Salem: “If you look at it this way, supporting Carina is the only sensible option. Personally, I’d be happy with Infinite as mayor – even though I do prefer Carina. But, my ultimate goal is to get a progressive mayor, and the only viable path forward to achieve that result is to support Carina. All this, in addition to the fact that I genuinely think Carina is a better candidate.”
Hmm, this line of reasoning sounds vaguely familiar … where have I heard it before … oh, right! In the 2016 Democratic “primary.”
Regarding criminals like Culcleasure: NOTHING is EVER their fault; they are ALWAYS the victims of some terrible injustice. The “poor me” bleat is the hallmark of a true criminal.