Brian D. Burns

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. He was the nephew of John J. Burns, an Irish-American who served as the Mayor of Burlington, Vermont. 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. Politics In 1966, Burns ran successfully for a seat in the Vermont House of Representatives. He served four terms, from 1967 to 1975. 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. He served from January 1975 to January 1977.