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National elections aside, Vermont voters decided plenty of local and state races on Tuesday. Here’s a look at how those panned out:
The Republican lieutenant governor landed the state’s top office, defeating Democrat Sue Minter by nearly nine percentage points, according to preliminary results. The 58-year-old Berlin construction executive — and amateur race car driver — has served as second-in-command for the past six years.
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The state senator became the highest-ranking Progressive ever elected in Vermont. Running as a Progressive and Democrat in this election, Zuckerman took 50.3 percent of the vote, to Republican Randy Brock’s 43.9 percent.
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Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) handily defeated Republican Scott Milne, 60 to 33 percent. Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.), running on both the Democratic and Republican tickets, picked up 84 percent of the vote, while Liberty Union candidate Erica Clawson took 9 percent.
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The 42-year-old South Burlington resident won an easy victory Tuesday night. He’ll become Vermont’s first new attorney general in nearly two decades, taking over for retiring AG Bill Sorrell.
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Bill Doyle, who’s represented Washington County in the Senate since 1969, fell to former Democratic representative and sergeant-at-arms Francis Brooks. Overall, preliminary results showed Democrats and Progressives picking up two seats in the Senate, giving them 23 of 30 spots in that chamber.
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Recounts are likely in several races, but preliminary results show 84 Democrats, 52 Republicans, seven Progressives and seven independents in the Vermont House next term.
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Voters approved two ballot questions that allow the proposed redevelopment of the Burlington Town Center mall to go forward. One of the questions establishes a zoning height change that would allow developers to build buildings up to 160 feet — about 14 stories. The other approves $21.8 million in tax increment financing for street improvements in the area of the Burlington Town Center.
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Grafton and Windham soundly defeated a proposed wind project, while a school consolidation measure in the Champlain Islands partially passed. And four states — two in New England — legalized recreational marijuana.
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