Dick McCormack to seek re-election to Vermont Senate

Dick McCormack has announced that he will be seeking reelection as State Senator for all Windsor County towns, Londonderry and Mt. Holly. McCormack will be filing petitions to have his name placed on the Democratic Party ballot for the August 9th Primary in order to qualify as a Democratic candidate in the November election.

A resident of Bethel, McCormack was appointed in 1989 and has been re-elected 11 times since then.

“I have been honored to serve the people of Windsor County,” McCormack said. “Having served in the Senate for 23 years, I bring experience and institutional memory to the office. Over the years, I have served as Senate Majority Leader and chaired important senate committees. I’ve played significant roles in many environmental issues including sprawl, solid waste, Vermont Yankee, energy conservation including weatherization, properly sited clean renewable energy, Act 250, and Working Lands. I’ve supported energy policies that have led to the creation of many renewable energy jobs. And, although we have more work to do, I have supported legislation to reduce our carbon footprint. I’ve been an effective advocate for personal freedom, defending free speech, civil unions and more recently same sex marriage, women’s control of their own reproduction, and end of life choice.

“I bring energy, enthusiasm and effectiveness to my legislative work,” said McCormack. “Recently I’ve been proud to support GMO labeling, defying corporate bullies to protect the right of people to know what’s in their food and what practices their money supports. I’ve supported legislation to give child care workers the right to organize, to create a higher minimum wage and to provide for paid sick leave. I’ve supported families and their children with preschool, afterschool and summer programs, and encouraged support for our Parent-Child Centers. As a member of the Health and Welfare Committee I worked on the bill to better control access to addictive opioid drugs while protecting patients’ rights to pain relief.”

McCormack has lived in the Bethel area since 1970. He is a well-known local artist and has been an adjunct professor in the VT State College system. Over the years he has served on many boards including Vermont Public Interest Research Group, Adult Basic Education, AIDS Community Resource Network, Emerge Family Access Center, Champlain Valley Folk Festival, Earth Right Institute, Operation Laundry List and the Vermont Sierra Club. Prior to being appointed to the Senate, he served on the Bethel Board of Civil Authority and as Chairman of the District III Environmental Commission.

He currently serves on the Senate Health and Welfare Committee and the Senate Appropriations Committee. “Vermont’s economy, property taxes, and universal affordable health care are all frustrating issues that require our continued attention,” McCormack said. “If re-elected, I remain committed to tackling these issues.” Voters in the August 9th Democratic Primary will nominate three candidates for State Senate. McCormack said. “I look forward to continuing to represent the Windsor County District in the State Senate. I will be traveling Windsor County over the next few months, talking with voters, listening to their concerns, and asking for their support on August 9th and again in November.”