We are Seth Bongartz and Rob Plunkett, and we are running for reelection to the State Senate.

We have represented the Bennington Senate District (Bennington County plus Londonderry, Wilmington, Stratton, and Sommerset) for the last two years. We have made a difference. We ask for your support on November 3rd as we seek to continue our work for the next two years.

If re-elected, we will continue our work to create more housing that is affordable for the average Vermonter, lower the cost of health care, lower the property tax burden, improve education outcomes, and keep people safe in their homes and downtowns.

Seth

First in the House and now in the Senate, Seth has been a leader in both housing and education. He was the author of successful legislation requiring towns to allow a duplex anywhere a single-family home can be built, effectively doubling the capacity of any home site, and wrote similar legislation requiring towns to allow denser housing in downtowns. He also authored legislation exempting many downtown areas from Act 250 review for the creation of housing.

As chair of the Senate Education Committee, he helped pass key legislation to tackle chronic truancy and control the growth of school funding costs. He also protected our rural areas from losing their voice in the ongoing school consolidation discussion.

Rob

For 17 years, Rob Plunkett served the Bennington community as a prosecutor, working to uphold justice while protecting Vermont families and communities. His work has extended far beyond prosecuting crimes, including handling child neglect and truancy cases, probate guardianships, defending attorneys in ineffective-assistance-of-counsel claims, advising law enforcement on legal procedures, and authorizing investigative actions in every unattended death. Now, as a Vermont State Senator, Rob has remained dedicated to practical, community-focused leadership and ensuring that government works for the people it serves.

We’re the right team for the Bennington Senate District

Seth lives in the northern part of the district. Rob lives in the southern part of the district. While we both have connections across the district, we rely on each other to have a close feel for our home areas. We are different people with different personalities and different styles, but we have closely aligned values and legislative priorities. We are alarmed by Donald Trump’s fascist tendencies, and we are united in our commitment to democracy. Most importantly, we care about the people we serve.