Christopher Louras won a fifth two-year term as Mayor of Rutland on Tuesday, defeating his main rival David Allaire by more than 500 votes. Kam Johnston, who also ran for city assessor and the board of aldermen, won 99 votes.
Louras’ rivals campaigned hard on the need for change. But voters in Rutland disagreed. Cathy Solsaa says she likes what Louras has accomplished since he took office in 2007, especially his efforts to fight crime and drugs.
“I really feel like Chris Louras has really gotten involved on a personal level. And there is a plan that’s being acted upon and we need to keep on with that plan so we can keep moving in the right direction,” Solsaa says.
"It's an affirmation of the strategy that's been created over the last several years, where we've tied together crime reduction, neighborhood stabilization and economic development efforts." - Mayor Christopher Louras
That plan won Louras strong endorsements from the Rutland Herald, City Treasurer Wendy Wilton and former police chief James Baker.
Louras, who will be one of the longest serving mayor’s in Rutland’s history, called the election a validation.
“It’s an affirmation of the strategy that’s been created over the last several years, where we’ve tied together crime reduction, neighborhood stabilization and economic development efforts,” Louras said Tuesday. “Silos have been broken down between those three sectors. And the city is really benefiting from revitalization efforts associated with those strategies.”
The 54-year-old says he looks forward to continuing those efforts to make even more progress.
