Endorsements | Buddy for Burlington

Team Buddy

Joan Shannon, South District City Councilor & Former City Council President

I am enthusiastically endorsing Buddy Singh for South District City Councilor. After 22 years on the City Council, serving on virtually every subcommittee, and 3 years as Council President, I am stepping down as your City Councilor, and feel confident that I leave you in the very good hands of longtime public servant, Buddy Singh. My endorsement is based on his qualifications, kindness, empathy, community ties, commitment, thoughtfulness and intelligence. Buddy is currently serving our Community as the President of the Champlain Elementary School PTO and as a Board Member of the Boys and Girls Club. Buddy’s work with these organizations levels the playing field and provides more equitable opportunity for our youth. Buddy also knows and understands City Governance, budgeting, and community needs as a former member of the Church Street Marketplace Commission. Most importantly, as a mortgage lender, Buddy understands the challenges of housing finance and is committed to helping us solve our housing and homelessness crisis.

Karen Paul, Former City Council President

After fifteen years on the City Council and two years as Council President, I am in the unique position to understand and speak to the experience and critical thinking that is needed on the Council in the years to come. Smart, forward-thinking, balanced representation matters, more so now than ever.

From the moment we met many years ago, I found Buddy to be an engaging and thoughtful person with a life journey that conveys how deeply he values the importance of listening to and appreciating the needs, hopes and dreams of many voices. Burlington needs thought leaders and people who serve for all the right reasons: those who serve for their love of Burlington, want to bring their talents and skills to our City for today and for tomorrow.

Buddy has the unique set of qualities I know are both rare and brave and are the key to effective governance. A solid commitment to our community, a solid understanding of the many issues that are so important to our future, and a professional background that gives him the expertise to make the key decisions that must be made now.

When you meet Buddy, I am confident you will see him as I do. I am honored to endorse Buddy to be our next South End City Councilor. Please join me in supporting him with your vote!

Ben Traverse, City Council President

I got to know Buddy when our daughters first started kindergarten at Champlain Elementary. I came to admire a lot about Buddy; his empathy, his willingness to put others’ needs before his own, and the way he treats friends like family.

That’s just who Buddy is – and that’s why he’ll make a great city councilor.

Buddy has consistently been one of my most trusted community advisors and, importantly, he views our challenges through the lens of an eternal optimist. Buddy sees the beauty in Burlington, he continues to believe in Burlington, and we share a firm belief our City’s best days are ahead of us.

I know Buddy will represent our community with great care, compassion, and an inherent ability to listen to and understand the needs of his neighbors. I’m proud to support him, and I hope you will be, too.

Lisa Denatale

I'm proud to endorse Buddy Singh for Burlington City Council. As a dedicated community leader, Buddy has served as PTO president at Champlain Elementary, coached youth soccer, and spent 18 years on the Church Street Marketplace Commission. Through his extensive community involvement, he deeply understands our city's interconnected challenges - from housing affordability to school stability to downtown vitality. His proven track record of bringing people together and finding practical solutions is exactly what our City Council needs. I'm confident Buddy will be a thoughtful, effective voice for all Burlington residents.

Andy Vota

I am so excited to support Ranjit "Buddy" Singh to be the next South District City Councilor.

Buddy has dedicated so much to Burlington through his service on the board of the Boys & Girls Club, Church St. Marketplace Commission, Champlain Elementary PTO, and Greater Burlington Girls Soccer League.

I appreciate his positivity, his creative thinking, and his desire to improve Burlington for everyone.

Jessica Blackman

I’ve had the privilege of working alongside Buddy on the PTO, and I’m confident in his leadership skills. He has a remarkable ability to build strong relationships, collaborate effectively, and navigate challenges with grace and empathy. A natural problem solver, Buddy leverages resources and partnerships while staying grounded and focused on positive outcomes. He is exactly the kind of leader our city needs—someone who listens, unites, and delivers results.

Sarah Clowes

Buddy is warm-hearted and genuine. Through our work together on the Champlain Elementary PTO, I’ve seen firsthand his commitment to inclusion and his deep care for our community. He is a calm, thoughtful decision-maker who always prioritizes the well-being of all members of the Champlain community. Buddly loves Burlington and we would be fortunate to have him on City Council!

Christine and Dan Hagan

Buddy is the one our family and many South Enders rely upon to build community - whether it's organizing the Champlain School Harvest fest, coaching girls soccer and basketball, or making sure all Champlain families have enough winter gear and food for their families. Buddy is an active listener and effective organizer and Burlington will be fortunate to have him as one of our city leaders.

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Christine Weinberger

Buddy is a tireless volunteer who gives so much of himself to our community. We’ve been very lucky to have him as the head of our school PTO for the past few years, as well as the enthusiastic coach of our child’s soccer team. I know that if elected he will bring the same selfless energy to our City, and will continue to be a positive source for change. Burlington is at a vulnerable inflection point right now, and we need people like Buddy to help guide us in the future. Buddy for Burlington is a clear choice for me.

Carina Driscoll, Former Progressive Mayoral Candidate

I am endorsing Buddy Singh for the South District City Council seat because we must elect councilors who recognize our city is in crisis and who are willing to explore innovative solutions to complicated problems. I have known Buddy for decades and I can tell you with certainty that he is motivated by his love for this city and the people who live here. Buddy can bring people together to help Burlington confidently move forward.

Jessica Blackman

I’ve had the privilege of working alongside Buddy on the PTO and I feel immensely confident in his leadership skills. I’ve seen firsthand his remarkable ability to build strong relationships, collaborate with others, and navigate challenges with grace and empathy. He is a natural problem solver who excels at leveraging resources and partnerships effectively. Grounded and resilient, he is able to address challenges directly without losing sight of positive possibilities. Buddy is exactly the kind of leader our city needs—someone who listens, brings people together, and gets things done.

Perky Gogo

I'm proud to endorse Buddy Singh for Burlington City Council. As someone who, like him, grew up in a minority Asian immigrant family in a predominantly white community, I deeply relate to his experiences and perspective. What sets Buddy apart is his commitment to problem-solving over ideology--he isn't bound by rigid political frameworks but instead focuses on identifying the real issues facing Burlington, understanding their impact on residents, and seeking the best advice before shaping policy. His thoughtful, people-centered approach is exactly what our city needs. I urge you to support Buddy for a more pragmatic, inclusive, and effective city council.

Buddy for Burlington

Paid for by Buddy for Burlington, 115 Glen Rd Burlington, VT 05401 Treasurer Kirsten Boehm

Lisa DeNatale

I'm proud to endorse Buddy Singh for Burlington City Council. As a dedicated community leader, Buddy has served as PTO president at Champlain Elementary, coached youth soccer, and spent 18 years on the Church Street Marketplace Commission. Through his extensive community involvement, he deeply understands our city's interconnected challenges - from housing affordability to school stability to downtown vitality. His proven track record of bringing people together and finding practical solutions is exactly what our City Council needs. I'm confident Buddy will be a thoughtful, effective voice for all Burlington residents.

Andy Vota

I am so excited to support Buddy Singh to be the next South District City Councilor.

Buddy has dedicated so much to Burlington through his service on the board of the Boys & Girls Club, Church St. Marketplace Commission, Champlain Elementary PTO, and Greater Burlington Girls Soccer League.

I appreciate his positivity, his creative thinking, and his desire to improve Burlington for everyone.

Amy Mellencamp

As a longtime Burlington educator, I strongly endorse Buddy Singh for City Council. His vision for building an accessible, inclusive city aligns perfectly with the values we champion in our schools. I've seen firsthand how Buddy brings people together, listens thoughtfully to all perspectives, and works tirelessly to strengthen our community. His collaborative approach and deep understanding of Burlington's needs, particularly around education and youth development, will bring valuable perspective to the Council. Buddy has consistently demonstrated the kind of thoughtful, inclusive leadership our city needs. He has the vision, experience, and dedication to help build a stronger Burlington where every resident, young and old, can thrive and succeed.