Biography
Stewart Ledbetter is a veteran Vermont broadcaster and political journalist. He retired in February 2024 and announced his bid for the Democratic nomination for state Senate from the heart of Chittenden County in May.
He grew up in southern Vermont and was educated in public schools, at Deerfield Academy and the University of Vermont. Stewart has been honored with the national Edward R. Murrow award, the 2023 GBIC community service award and was inducted into the Vermont Broadcasters’ Hall of Fame.
While he’s lived in the Senate district for 35 years, he has traveled across the state, to every community, to cover news. In Montpelier, his work spanned six administrations and 20 Statehouse sessions and was widely-regarded for his institutional knowledge and fairness in coverage.
Candidate occupation
Retired, Former Broadcaster/Journalist
Why are you running for office?
I have observed politics up close for all of my adult life, covering six Vermont administrations, countless candidates and campaigns, and the state Legislature during some of its most historic moments in recent decades.
Like most journalists, I know to listen more than talk. I respect different points of view which may not mirror my own. I believe in civil debate. I can’t stand the toxic politics we see in Washington. I am an independent-minded Democrat, the kind of senator Vermont needs right now.
Issues in brief
Do you believe Vermonters are better off now than they were 10 years ago?
No answer
Do you believe Vermont needs a new education funding formula?
Yes
Do you support imposing new taxes on the wealthiest Vermonters?
No
Do you support the establishment of overdose prevention centers?
Yes
Do you support a ban on flavored tobacco products?
Yes
Do you support increasing penalties for property crimes such as shoplifting?
Yes
Do you believe Joe Biden won the 2020 presidential election?
Yes
Issues in depth
What would you do to help grow Vermont’s economy?
So many of Vermont’s problems stem from the crisis in housing. For years our state discouraged sufficient housing growth and, post-pandemic, that has come to a head. With home prices now rising faster than any other state we risk losing a generation of young Vermonters (and new residents our employers work hard to recruit) due to lack of affordable housing. That would be disastrous to the economy of the nation’s second-oldest state by population. Expanding housing options for seniors, the disabled, those in recovery, and younger workers is my #1 priority.
What changes, if any, would you make to the way Vermont funds its schools?
Vermont has created a new commission whose mission will be to consider both new funding formulas and a restructuring of the K-12 system. I do not know what they will come up with but most agree we have to make public education more efficient. I am open to considering a new, more income-based approach to funding it.
Is Vermont doing enough, too much or not enough to address climate change? Please explain.
Vermont lawmakers have passed aggressive new legislation to reduce carbon emissions and shift our economy from fossil fuels to renewable energy, particularly in transportation and thermal heating. While key reports are due in the months ahead, I think we’re on track.
Is Vermont doing enough, too much or not enough to regulate gun ownership? Please explain.
Obviously a balance, given the scope of the Second Amendment & ongoing court challenges, but state law now seems about right.
That said, I am open to considering new ideas and new circumstances. And if local communities like Burlington approve a local rule (i.e. prohibiting firearms in city bars) I think they should be permitted to have that.
What would you do to help ease Vermont’s housing crisis?
As mentioned in a previous answer, we have to move with urgency to add new units across our state, of every type. We may need additional regulatory reform, more public support for down payment assistance, interest buydowns, disincentives on short-term rentals like AirBNBs, modular housing, and ADUs. We have to do everything.
How would you address rising homelessness in Vermont?
Affordable housing options are lacking, especially since the pandemic, but this is clearly a real challenge in the short term. I can’t throw vulnerable people out of motels when there is nowhere for them to go, even as I acknowledge the cost to taxpayers. And we need to expand treatment options for those who are homeless due to substance misuse, with more state support for local communities suffering the brunt of the problem, like BTV.
What would you do to increase access to health care services for Vermonters?
Vermont has done far better than other states in expanding access to health care, particularly for children and the poor. Of course, we do have a shortage of primary care providers and dentists but our state is trying to address that. Costs are soaring right now, and we need a national universal health care plan.
Financial disclosure
Candidates for state and legislative offices are required to submit a financial disclosure when filing to run. These disclosures include each source, but not the amount, of personal income of each candidate, and of their spouse or domestic partner, that singly or jointly totals more than $5,000 for the previous 12 months. The information provided is an opportunity for voters to learn about candidates’ potential conflicts of interest.
You can find Ledbetter’s financial disclosure here.
Disclaimer
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