Sen. Bernie Sanders' seat attracts 4 newcomer candidates

Bernie Sanders' seat in the U.S. Senate is up for renewal this year, and though Sanders has not declared a re-election campaign, he has already attracted a range of challengers.

None of his challengers has ever held elected office. Here is an overview of the candidates.

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., of Burlington has refused to say whether he will seek to retain his Senate seat this fall. Meanwhile, national media have picked up on ongoing rumors that Sanders may attempt to run again for president in 2020.

"It’s a little bit early to my mind to be talking about campaigns," Sanders told the Burlington Free Press in an interview last month. "I have very strong feelings that while the media likes to talk about campaigns, the people want us to focus on the issues that impact their lives."

Deferring his announcement has not stopped Sanders' campaign from raising money. He reported nearly $6.2 million on hand at the end of December and was the only candidate in his race to report any campaign cash.

A spokeswoman for Sanders on political matters did not respond to an email seeking further comment.

More: Rep. Welch attracts two Democratic challengers

Jasdeep Pannu, a defense attorney, has filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission to seek the Republican nomination. His platform that includes free college, free graduate school and free health care, legalizing all drugs, and capping government assistance to one child per family.

Pannu says his campaign is motivated by stopping the government's war on drugs. He proposes abolishing the Drug Enforcement Administration and retrain its employees to focus on stopping child trafficking.

After working on cases involving the termination of parental rights, Pannu also believes that families receiving government assistance should be limited to "one child only" to prevent what he called "incentive-based pregnancies." If a woman gave birth to additional children, she would not receive any additional help to care for those children.

"When you have one child on welfare, that's an 18-year commitment," Pannu said. "If you have four children, that’s 72 years. That’s 72 years of commitment by all of society."

Pannu's other ideas include investments in speed trains and in research and development for a potential tunnel or bridge between Maine and the United Kingdom.

Pannu has been working as an attorney in Vermont for 13 years. He was disciplined for misconduct while representing a defendant in a 2009 sexual assault and domestic assault trial. Acting against a judge's orders, Pannu brought up the sexual history of the person who accused his client of sexual assault, which led to a mistrial. He was fined $2,000, held in contempt of court and later publicly reprimanded by the Vermont Professional Responsibility Board for violating three professional conduct rules.

When asked about the case, Pannu said he was seeking to use an exception in the rape-shield law. He said he hopes the incident does not define his career. "I could have probably controlled my emotions a little better," Pannu said.

The candidate lives in Essex with his wife and 7-year-old daughter.

Brad Peacock, of Shaftsbury, is an organic vegetable farmer running for Senate in response to what he says is "the erosion of truth and decency" in politics.

Peacock, an independent, respects Sanders but argues he is more focused on the national stage than on Vermont. Then there's the question of the 2020 presidential race.

"I think Vermont deserves a six-year senator," Peacock said.

Peacock said he joined the U.S. Air Force at 18 years old, but was discharged under the "don't ask, don't tell" policy about a year later because he came out as gay.

He returned to Shaftsbury and was moved by the kindness of his neighbors. "I truly do credit my community for saving my life," Peacock said, now 37 years old and married.

Peacock's campaign platform includes re-entering the Paris climate accord and taking other actions to address climate change, which he sees firsthand as a farmer.

He also wants to tackle student loan debt through capping interest rates or allowing people to refinance their loans. As the nation debates responses to gun violence, Peacock says he supports universal background checks, stopping the sales of "assault rifles," and letting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention conduct research on firearms.

Peacock says he chose the U.S. Senate because he wants to get his message out.

"Going up against Bernie Sanders is not the easiest thing in this state," Peacock said.

Jon Svitavsky, of Bridport, declared his candidacy for U.S. Senate last summer. Svitavsky did not respond to an email seeking updates on his campaign.

More: Sanders challenger splits with campaign manager, says U.S. Senate campaign is not over

Folasade Adeluola has also filed candidacy paperwork with the Federal Election Commission. Adeluola did not respond to a Facebook message seeking an interview.

Contact April McCullum at 802-660-1863 or amccullum@freepressmedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at @April_McCullum.