Haley Dover

Free Press Staff Writer

City officials called Thursday's Donald Trump rally a success, but with no thanks to the Republican presidential candidate's campaign staff.

The event put a strain on police officers, as the Trump campaign issues more than 10 times as many tickets as there were available seats, yet took no responsibility for ticket holders who would be shut out or the protesters that rally was sure to attract.

"From everything I’ve heard, I think things went as well as you could hope, in the face of having to deal with a campaign that was as uncooperative and disinterested in helping manage a peaceful event as the Trump campaign," said Mayor Miro Weinberger.

He said city officials tried to engage the campaign in conversations about a plan for outside of the theater where nearly 700 protesters spent the night chanting and sharing their support for other presidential candidates, including Democratic candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. Weinberger said the campaign told the city that the protesters outside were the city's problem.

The Trump campaign's inaction added unnecessary confusion and cost, he said. On Wednesday, he pledged to send the campaign a bill for extra expenses incurred by city public-safety employees who corralled the throngs of people. Weinberger estimates that bill will be "in the thousands."

That frustration extended to Burlington Police Chief Brandon del Pozo earlier in the week when he said the prospect of thousands of rejected ticket holders would place an unreasonable burden on his officers. During the event, officers were expected to escort those who failed to pledge allegiance to Trump away from the Flynn, something that del Pozo said is usually done when people are suspected of shoplifting or burglary, not for political beliefs.

"Would our officers have without direction from the lease holder denied entry or escorted people out? No," he said. "We escort people out of places like Rite Aid and Spencer's Gifts."

Attempts to reach the Trump campaign on Friday were unsuccessful.

Despite their frustration, both del Pozo and Weinberger said they are glad the event was held in Burlington, and called the night a success. They both thanked the city's police officers for fostering an environment that allowed for First Amendment expression and del Pozo said Burlington should serve as an example for other campaign stops.

"The whole world was watching Burlington and Burlington spoke loudly and clearly from all corners about how it felt about this presidential primary and did it in a way that should be a model for other cities," he said.

If Trump, or any candidate, would want to come back, the city would collaborate with the campaign staff to create a safe event.

However, that event probably wouldn't be at the Flynn.

Executive Director John Killacky said he was frustrated with the campaign after staff ignored a verbal agreement that the rally would be a sign-free event, meaning no signs for or against anyone. Killacky said before the rally started there were signs in the hall for Trump, and he picked up the box and moved the signs into the theater's box office.

"I said to the campaign manager 'you lied to me,' and I was met with shrugged shoulders," he said.

If Trump asked to come back to the Flynn, Killacky said he would remind the campaign that the venue is too small for them.

"I feel people are only as good as their word, and I'd be hesitant to, because of the management of the campaign, to invite the candidate back," he said.

Contributing: Zach Despart, Free Press. Contact Haley Dover at 660-1850 or hdover@freepressmedia.com. Follow Haley on Twitter at www.twitter.com/HaleyRDover.