Mending political divisions
The deadline to file for town elections is Aug. 1 at noon.
By Jenna Buehler Comet writer-intern
In the town of Burlington, the line between Republican and Democratic parties has blurred. Recently, another group was developed to run alongside the Progressive Party. According to Burlington clerk/treasurer Tammy Dyer, this is a strategic implementation.

"In a small community, we believe you vote for the person, not the label," Dyer told the Comet Monday.

Dyer explained that she and three others filed as progressive in the last election. This year, another group ran under the name, and to avoid a caucus, which would select only three of the possible six progressive candidates, Dyer, and her group headed by chairmen Robert Davis, filed to run under a conservative, or neutral label.

"There is really no difference, it is simply a label you must have when you file to run. We're keeping things simple - and keeping politics out of it," said Dyer. "Politics seem to divide small communities. As an independ- ent type, people are more apt to vote for the person, even if that means crossing completely over their party."

According to Dyer, if a council vacancy was created, neutral parties select their own replacement.

"An outside chairman may not know the community's situation," said Dyer. "It keeps the selection process inside Burlington.

"People are voting for people, rather than what follows their name. And really, we share similar ideas, visions and common goals," Dyer concluded.