BY TIFFANY TAN/VTDIGGER
RUTLAND—Rutland has a new mayor. Alderman Michael Doenges unseated three-term mayor David Allaire on Tuesday, according to unofficial city election results.
Doenges beat the incumbent in a campaign season that cast a spotlight on Rutland’s rising crime, lack of housing and population decline.
In an interview after polls closed at 7 p.m., Doenges said he is excited to begin attacking the problems faced by Vermont’s fifth-largest municipality.
“All the hard work starts now,” he said while surrounded by supporters. “What you’ll see is, over the next few years, with me as mayor, we’re going to change that direction. We’re going to start to grow again. We’re going to become a city that people want to live in, come spend time in and enjoy their lives in.”
Doenges, whose mayoral bid was only his second run for public office, campaigned on revitalizing the city through longer-range planning. His overarching goal is to help Rutland innovate and redevelop into a place where future generations will choose to build their lives.
Allaire conceded on Tuesday evening and wished Doenges well. He also thanked the voters of Rutland for his six years as mayor and a combined 25 years before that as an alderman and state representative.
Like Allaire, Doenges believes Rutland’s rising crime rate is among its most pressing problems. The city has seen several killings in the past year, along with a jump in property crimes. Doenges believes the solution to Rutland’s public safety problems is tied to the judiciary. He said city leaders could talk to local judges about fast-tracking defendants who have multiple outstanding criminal cases, so a court resolution could more quickly be reached, such as keeping defendants off the streets or getting them into treatment.
Through a state program bolstered by coronavirus-related funding, local motels have housed an increased number of people experiencing homelessness — a situation both mayoral candidates said is related to the rise in crime. Homelessness could become even more common this year when the state motel voucher program ramps down at the end of May.
Doenges said the city cannot wait for the state to move and should act fast on its own plans. He said municipal leaders should work with local organizations on coming up with short- to long-term transitional housing plans.
