Brian D. Burns (born November 17, 1939) is an American politician who served as the 73rd lieutenant governor of Vermont from 1975 to 1977 and as a member of the Vermont House of Representatives.
Early life and education Brian Douglas Burns was born in Burlington, Vermont, on November 17, 1939.The National Conference of Lieutenant Governors, Biographical Sketches and Portraits, published by the conference, 1976, p. 1977 He was the nephew of John J. Burns, an Irish-American who served as the mayor of Burlington, Vermont.Newspaper article, Burns Denies "Party Hack" Charge as Gloves Off Campaigning Begins, by Russ Garland, Bennington Banner, June 26, 1976 After graduating from Burlington's Cathedral High School in 1958, Burns earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Vermont.
Career After graduating from the University of Vermont, Burns became active in the real estate business. He served in the United States Army and the Vermont National Guard in the late 1950s and early 1960s.Commencement program, published by Cathedral High School, 1958, p. 3Vermont Legislative Directory, published by Vermont Secretary of State, 1971, p. 768Vermont Legislative Directory, published by Vermont Secretary of State, 1975, p. 556
Politics In 1966, Burns ran successfully for a seat in the Vermont House of Representatives. He served four terms, from 1967 to 1975.Newspaper article, Rep. Burns Runs for Lt. Governor, Bennington Banner, March 11, 1974 He was the Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor in 1974. he finished in first place, with 66,942 votes to Republican candidate T. Garry Buckley's 60,962 and 6,484 for Liberty Union Party nominee Arthur Deloy. Since Burns fell 256 votes short of the majority required by the state constitution, the contest was decided by the Vermont Legislature, which voted for Burns by a margin of 161 to 20.1974: Lieutenant Governor, published by Vermont Secretary of State, June 9, 2006 He served from January 1975 to January 1977., published by Office of the Vermont Secretary of State, Vermont State Archives and Records Administration, 2011, p. 2
Burns was an unsuccessful candidate for the Democratic nomination in the 1976 Vermont gubernatorial election, losing a three-way race to State Treasurer Stella Hackel., published by Office of the Vermont Secretary of State, Vermont State Archives and Records Administration, 2006, page 2 Hackel went on to lose the general election to Richard A. Snelling.Official Report of the Canvassing Committee , United States and Statewide Offices, General Election, November 2, 1976, Vermont Elections.org, undated, p. 1
After leaving the Lieutenant Governor's office, Burns was employed as New England Director for the Farmers Home Administration.National Journal, National Journal Group Inc., 1977, page 1389Export Directory, published by U.S. Foreign Agricultural Service, 1978, page 23
Burns was an unsuccessful candidate in the 1985 Burlington mayoral election, coming in second in a three-way race that was won by Bernie Sanders.Newspaper article, Country's Only Socialist Mayor Easily Defeats Six Opponents to Win His Third Term in Vermont City, by Associated Press, published in Los Angeles Times, March 6, 1985 In 1988, Burns unsuccessfully sought a seat in the Vermont Senate.Vermont State Legislature Candidate listing, published by Vermont Secretary of State, 1988
From 1989 to 1993, Burns was a Program Manager for the Northeast Rural Water Association (NERWA).In The Main, Newsletter published by Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, Spring 1993 While in this position, he also completed a Master of Public Administration degree from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.1992 Press release, Negotiation Skills Will be Taught at UVM MPA Program Course, by University of Vermont, January 3, 1992
Conviction In 1995, he was convicted of three counts of fraud for having claimed to be working full time for NERWA while he also claimed to be attending Harvard University full time, a requirement of the degree program. According to investigators, Burns misrepresented his work hours on daily NERWA time logs and used $5,000 in federal funds to pay for an apartment and $7,000 for travel expenses, in addition to $30,000 in salary while attending Harvard. He was sentenced to six months in jail and four months of home detention and ordered to pay restitution and court costs. He appealed but his conviction was affirmed.United States of America, Appellee, v. Brian Burns, Defendant-Appellant., 104 F.3d 529 (2nd Cir. 1997) , published by vLex, 1997
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