Answering the Call, Rain or Shine

A little rain (okay, a lot of rain) can't stop a grassroots campaign.

This past weekend was cloudy and damp, but the conversations we had across Burlington were anything but. Despite the weather, our incredible team of volunteers and I were able to connect with hundreds and hundreds of voters. I personally knocked on 269 doors and had the privilege of connecting with 411 of you about your hopes for our city.

In all these conversations, one question came up a few times, and I want to answer it directly: "Can you and Beth really win this election?"

My answer, more confident now than ever, is an emphatic YES! But one voter this weekend gave me an answer that puts our entire effort into beautiful, powerful perspective.

She told me about her ancestor who fought at Valley Forge during the Revolutionary War. She spoke of the unimaginable adversity they faced—the cold, the hunger, the doubt—all to build this American democracy of ours. And she looked at me and said that if they could overcome all of that, then surely, we can win this election for the future of Burlington.

She's absolutely right. The challenges we face are nothing compared to that, but the stakes for our democracy, right here, right now, are just as real. And winning is just as necessary—for our city and for our nation's sake.

That conversation reminded me why we do this. And in a funny way, another chat I had brought it all back home. I ran into our city's former Director of Groundskeeping, who told me that all this rain has put us in the "sweet spot" for some excellent fall leaf colors in the coming weeks.

It feels like a perfect metaphor for where we are. After a long season of hard work, we are in the sweet spot, on the cusp of something beautiful and vibrant for our city.

The momentum is real, and now we need to channel it. This Thursday, October 16th, we're holding a fundraiser at Burlington Beer Works at 6:00 PM. It’s a chance to gather, share stories, and build the resources we need for the final push to victory.

Please join us, and if you can, consider making a contribution at the link below. Every dollar helps us reach more voters and prove that voter right. Let's win this thing.

Sign up and donate here: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/beerworks-10-16-25/

For the love of Burlington,

Ian