MONTPELIER, Vt. (WCAX) – Governor Phil Scott on Friday announced two appointments to fill Statehouse seats vacated by lawmakers.
Val Taylor will represent the Rutland-11 district in the House, replacing Rep. Jim Harrison, R-Chittenden, who will be resigning effective January 6.
The Mendon Republican most recently served as chair of the local selectboard and runs a family-owned residential painting business.
Brookfield resident John Benson was tapped to fill the Orange County Senate seat of Larry Hart, who resigned in October.
Benson worked as a civil engineer for over 45 years, including as a managing partner of the engineering firm DuBois and King. He’s also the chair of the Brookfield Selectboard.
Hart’s resignation left two spots on the Senate Health and Welfare Committee vacant. The other spot was held by former Republican Sen. Samuel Douglass, who resigned this fall after his involvement in an online racist group chat was exposed.
The General Assembly will reconvene next Tuesday.
