Francis J. Cain

Francis J. Cain (December 20, 1922 – March 14, 2019) was an American politician and insurance agent who served as the 35th Mayor of Burlington, Vermont. During his tenure he was the highest office holder in the Vermont Democratic Party.[1]

Francis J. Cain
35th Mayor of Burlington
In office
June 7, 1965 – April 5, 1971
Preceded byEdward A. Keenan
Succeeded byGordon Paquette
Member of the Burlington, Vermont Board of Aldermen
In office
1962 – April 19, 1965
Preceded byWilliam L. Wright
Succeeded byAllan Paul
Personal details
Born
Francis Joseph Cain

(1922-12-20)December 20, 1922
Fanny Allen Hospital, Colchester, Vermont
DiedMarch 14, 2019(2019-03-14) (aged 96)
Shelburne, Vermont
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)Mary Jane Allen
Children10
MotherMary Elizabeth Carpenter
FatherLeo Cain
EducationSaint Michael's College
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/serviceUnited States Navy
Years of service1943-1946
Battles/warsWorld War II

Early life

On December 20, 1922, Cain was born in Fanny Allen Hospital (now the University of Vermont Medical Center) in Colchester, Vermont, to Leo and Mary Cain. In 1940, he graduated from Cathedral High School and in 1943 graduated from Saint Michael's College with a bachelor’s degree in English literature.[2]

In 1947, Cain married Mary Jane Allen whom he would later have ten children with and would remain married with for the rest of his life.[3] In 1946, he became affiliated with an insurance agency and in 1956, created his own insurance agency in Burlington, Vermont.[4]

Career

In 1962, Cain was elected as an alderman from city ward one to succeed William L. Wright who was not seeking reelection.[5]

On January 26, 1965, he announced his intention to seek the Democratic nomination for the mayoralty of Burlington.[6] On February 5, Cain won the Democratic nomination with 399 votes against city representative Richard Schmidt's 240 votes at the nomination caucus and on March 2, he defeated incumbent Republican mayor Edward Keenan with 5,520 votes against Keenan's 3,447 votes.[7][8] On April 19, he resigned from his position as alderman to prepare for his mayoral duties and on June 7, 1965, he was inaugurated as mayor by the city clerk.[9][10]

While Vermont counties were debating over the creation of sales taxes Cain asked a city attorney to create a sales tax proposal for Burlington that would be given to a city committee to study.[11]

In 1971, Cain chose not to run for a fourth term as mayor stating that three terms were enough, but left open the possibility of him running for statewide or federal office; although he later chose not to run in the 1972 House election against expectations.[12][13]

Later life

After leaving the mayoralty Cain was elected to the presidency of the Greater Burlington Improvement Corporation which he served as until 1973.[14] In 1974, he ran in the United States House of Representatives election in the at-large congressional district, but was defeated by state Attorney General Jim Jeffords.[15] In 1975 Cain was appointed to the Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce and two years later was elected as its president.[16] During the 1980 Democratic Party presidential primaries he endorsed Senator Ted Kennedy for the Democratic presidential nomination.[17]

In 2017, Francis Cain Overlook was unveiled as an addition to Battery Park. On March 14, 2019, Cain died at his home in Shelburne, Vermont and was later called "the godfather of what is modern Burlington." by Mayor Miro Weinberger.[18]

References
  1. "Highest Democratic Office Holder". Rutland Daily Herald. 8 January 1971. p. 6. Archived from the original on 26 November 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. "Francis J. Cain". Stowe Today. 21 May 2019. Archived from the original on 25 November 2019.
  3. "Mary Jane Allen Will Be Married To Francis J. Cain". The Burlington Free Press. 1 January 1947. p. 4. Archived from the original on 25 November 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. "Francis J. Cain To Open New Insurance Agency". The Burlington Free Press. 1 December 1956. p. 7. Archived from the original on 25 November 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. "Mayor Bing 'Pleased and Delighted' By Voters' Approval of Money Issues". The Burlington Free Press. 8 March 1962. p. 15. Archived from the original on 25 November 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. "Salmon and Jeffords Win, But Constitutional Question Rises". The Burlington Free Press. 27 January 1965. p. 13. Archived from the original on 25 November 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. "Cain Wins Democratic Mayor Bid". The Burlington Free Press. 6 February 1965. p. 11. Archived from the original on 25 November 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. "GOP Holds Ward 6 Seat - But Only Until June". The Burlington Free Press. 3 March 1965. p. 13. Archived from the original on 25 November 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. "Francis Cain Sworn In As Burlington's Mayor". Rutland Daily Herald. 8 June 1965. p. 2. Archived from the original on 25 November 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. "Paul Seeking Ward 1 Seat On Board Again". The Burlington Free Press. 18 January 1966. p. 11. Archived from the original on 25 November 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. "Opposes Sales Tax". Bennington Banner. 4 January 1966. p. 2. Archived from the original on 25 November 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. "3 Terms Enough, Says Mayor Cain". The Burlington Free Press. 16 January 1971. p. 1. Archived from the original on 26 November 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. "Cain Rules Self Out Of Race for House". The Burlington Free Press. 25 September 1971. p. 15. Archived from the original on 26 November 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. "Mikell Elected GBIC President". The Burlington Free Press. 13 June 1973. p. 2. Archived from the original on 25 November 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. "Salmon and Jeffords Win, But Constitutional Question Rises". Rutland Daily Herald. 6 November 1974. p. 1. Archived from the original on 25 November 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. "Cain Elected Head of Champlain Chamber". The Burlington Free Press. 13 October 1977. p. 39. Archived from the original on 25 November 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. "Open Letter". The Burlington Free Press. March 4, 1980. p. 26. Archived from the original on February 26, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. "Former Burlington mayor passes away". WCAX. 16 March 2019. Archived from the original on 25 November 2019.
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