Burlington Democrats named Ranjit “Buddy” Singh as the candidate they hope will replace outgoing City Councilor Joan Shannon (D-South District) when she steps down this spring after more than two decades of service. Singh defeated fellow South End resident Romeo von Hermann 292 to 29 in a Sunday afternoon nominating caucus ahead of Town Meeting Day elections. More than 500 people participated in the caucus, which was conducted with electronic voting. In two uncontested races, Dems picked Allie Schachter for the East District and incumbent Councilor Mark Barlow in the North District. After two terms serving as an independent, Barlow is running as a Democrat on the March 4 ballot. The Dems’ Central District candidate, Andrew Gregg, withdrew at the last minute, leaving party leaders about three weeks to find a replacement. [content-1] Progressives are likely to have candidates in all four “districts,” which comprise two city wards apiece, setting up a competitive election season that could sway the council’s balance of power. Including Barlow, Democrats have a majority on the council, which is currently down to 11 members owing to a vacancy in the East District. On Sunday, party chair Andy Vota said electing Dems will provide balance to Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak’s Progressive administration. “We may all agree on the challenges we face in Burlington, but how we address them and how we vote are quite different,” Vota said. “As Democrats, we are principled, but we know the importance of being pragmatic.” Candidates had five minutes to make their pitch. Few laid out specific policy proposals, instead echoing common concerns about affordability and an understaffed police department. Public safety was a major theme in the South District race. Von Hermann spoke about his firsthand experience dealing with discarded needles and violent behavior at the Green Mountain Transit center in downtown Burlington, where he’s a supervisor. Singh, a loan officer with Spruce Mortgage, emphasized that collaboration is key to addressing the city’s challenges. [content-2] “I cannot sit here and claim that I have the answer to those problems,” Singh said. “But I do want to make a difference. I want to do everything in my ability to move the needle, to make life better for all of us who call Burlington our home.” Singh also serves as president of the Parent-Teacher Organization at Champlain Elementary School and on the board of directors for the Boys & Girls Club of Burlington. Singh…