Vermont AP Reporters's assessment of Sanders as Burlington Mayor: "Incredibly Successful"

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https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2015/08/20/bernie-sanders-is-the-uncola-of-american-politics/

From a Daily Fix interview with Chris Graff, the longtime Vermont bureau chief for the Associated Press and author of "Dateline Vermont"

FIX: Describe Sanders time as mayor of Burlington. Is he viewed as a successful mayor? Why or why not?

GRAFF: Incredibly successful. The origins of almost everything great in Burlington today can be traced back to Bernie’s tenure as mayor. When he was elected in 1981 many city leaders feared he would care more about foreign policy (his team and his supporters were known as "Sanderistas&quot than city matters. But he was laser-focused on fixing potholes and economic development and rebuilding the waterfront and saving the downtown and providing arts and developing programs for children. Today Burlington ranks as one of the most livable cities in the nation. (Editor's note: He's right!)

FIX: Sanders has been in Washington for the past 24 years straight — first in the House and now in the Senate. How do Vermonters regard him? Still as an outsider to the establishment or part of the establishment?

GRAFF: Most love him. In every parade that Bernie marches in, he gets the biggest and loudest cheers – from Vermonters across the political spectrum. He remains very popular in liberal and conservative regions of the state. That’s not to say that he is universally loved. Some business leaders, Republican leaders and even some Democrats see him as the crazy uncle in the attic.

[Armstead]

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