Cassandra Hemenway
Montpelier city councilors Adrienne Gil of District 1, Sal Alfano of District 2, and Cary Brown of District 3 have all announced they will be running for another stint on the council, and Marc Gwinn has thrown his hat in the ring for mayor, which will be vacated by Jack McCullough this March. Candidates have until 5 p.m. on Jan. 26 to file a petition with the city clerk to run for office, and voters will ultimately decide who gets to serve on Town Meeting Day, March 3.
District 1 — Adrienne Gil
“I’m running again to continue strengthening our systems, supporting city staff, and ensuring residents feel heard, respected, and connected,” Gil wrote in a Jan. 2 press release, which went on to say that during her first term, “Gil supported the adoption of the Local Option Sales Tax, projected to generate more than $600,000 annually in unrestricted funding for downtown, infrastructure, and local services. She championed continuous improvement initiatives with the city staff, co-led the Childcare Taskforce to expand regional childcare capacity, and served as Co-Chair of the Economic Development Subcommittee.”
The release also stated that Gil played a key role in advancing housing development on the city-owned Country Club Road property, supported regional efforts to address homelessness, helped launch new community events such as Mud Fest and Winterfest, and worked to streamline the city’s strategic planning process. Throughout her term, she prioritized transparency through monthly newsletters and responsive constituent communication.
“Montpelier has momentum,” Gil said. “There is more work ahead, but we are on the right path. I want to continue helping our city move forward with integrity, compassion, and measurable progress.”
District 2 — Sal Alfano
“The city has experienced a lot of transition in the three years I’ve been on the council,” Alfano wrote in a press release about his bid for another term. “The pandemic and flood were a one-two punch that really knocked the city off balance. We’re still recovering and I think continuity on the council is important to the city’s effort to return to solid footing.”
Alfano joined the council in 2023 with a focus on infrastructure and housing, he wrote. Noting that these are “issues that, along with economic development, are currently at the center of the council’s strategic plan.” He said he supports substantially increased funding for paving as called for in the proposed FY27 city budget.
Alfano chairs the Country Club Road subcommittee, charged with managing the process of soliciting and evaluating proposals from developers for a new neighborhood at the former golf course. And, he said, he supports the Local Option Tax on sales, which he said could generate more than $1 million dollars annually in new revenue, a projection about $400,000 higher than the number used by Gil. He is also a member of the Economic Development and Growth subcommittee.
District 3 — Cary Brown
“Serving on City Council for the past almost-4 years has been one of the most challenging, rewarding, inspiring, heart-wrenching, and joyful experiences of my life. I feel incredibly fortunate to have had the opportunity to represent my neighbors in helping provide direction for the city and our community,” Brown wrote in an email to The Bridge.
Brown said her priorities are infrastructure, public safety, and housing.
“The priorities and values I bring to the City Council very much reflect what I hear from my neighbors,” she went on. “I want us to use our municipal government as a means by which we collectively care for and sustain our community. I want it to be a way for us to use our resources to support all of us who live, work, and visit here.”
“We need to invest in our future with policies that encourage business development and housing development. We need to make sure that everyone is cared for and safe. And we need to look ahead to where we want to go, and what kind of community we want to be. I know that I want it to be a place where people of all income levels can afford to live, where people from all backgrounds are welcomed, and where we work together to be resilient and strong.”
Gwinn Runs for Mayor
Marc Gwinn, a local financial analyst, musician, former teacher, and member of the Montpelier Commission for Recovery and Resilience, announced his run for mayor at a Jan. 8 press conference.
“Montpelier is at an inflection point in our history that presents tremendous opportunities,” Gwinn said at the conference. “These opportunities are ours to seize or to squander, and our success will depend on our ability to unify around our common goals. The future of our community is where we must focus our collective energy.”
During his time on the Commission for Recovery and Resilience, Gwinn led the collaborative processes that created MAPLE (Montpelier Action Plan for Local Emergency) and Montpelier Neighbor Net. He also serves on the Montpelier Rotary Club.
In a Jan. 8 press release, Gwinn outlined his vision for Montpelier, including, adding housing, investing in infrastructure, economic development, and creating a “culture of preparedness and resilience.”
Other Candidates
According to the city voter guide, Kristin Cantu is running for a spot on the Montpelier Roxbury Public Schools board, and Jason Kaas is running for a one-year term to finish out a five-year term on the Cemetery Commission.
