Senator Richard W. Sears, Jr. of Bennington, Bennington County, Democrat, was born in Framingham, Massachusetts, on April 22, 1943, and became a resident of Bennington in 1971. Occupation: Worked in residential programs for troubled youth for over 35 years. Retired January 1, 2006. He was educated in schools in Ashland, Massachusetts; New Hampton School, New Hampton, New Hampshire; University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont (BA, 1966). He is married to the former Beverly Bushey. Member of Bennington Select Board, 1987-93 (chairman for four years) and Elks Lodge #567. Member of the Senate: 1993-2019. Religious preference: Congregational. E-mail: rsears@leg.state.vt.us, senator6@hotmail.com