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May 9, 2016 Josh Swartz

Bernie Sanders' first foray into elected politics was as mayor of Burlington, Vt. in the 1980s. One of the most infamous moments of his mayoral tenure occurred in 1986 when a masked vigilante took to the streets to protest the potholes. "The Pothole Bandit" is now a party of Burlington (and Bernie Sanders) history. We revisit this curious event 30 years later.

  • Tito Heiderer made our original song "The Ballad of the Pothole Bandit," which is featured in the episode. Listen to the full tune below:
  • The other music you hear in the episode is from Adrianna Krikl ("Wednesday") and Podington Bear ("Netherland" and "The Window")
  • Maddie Dai made the episode illustration
  • This episode was produced by Josh Swartz with help from Sophie McKibben
  • Thanks to the following people for their help with this story:
    • Erik Esckilsen, Seven Days Newspaper (check out his essay about The Pothole Bandit here and his Pothole Bandit multimedia slideshow here)
    • Jaime Fuller, MTV News (check out her story about The Pothole Bandit here)
    • Kevin Scully, former Burlington Police Chief
    • Louie Manno, former Burlington Radio DJ
    • Jim Condon, former Burlington Radio DJ
    • Steve Goodkind, former Burlington Director of Public Health & Safety and City Engineer
    • Bruce Ploof, former Pothole Bandit
The Pothole Bandit and Bernie Sanders on the Winooski Bridge in 1986
The Pothole Bandit and Bernie Sanders on the Winooski Bridge in 1986

Courtesy of Rob Swanson and Seven Days Newspaper

A policeman uprooting one of the trees the Bandit planted
A policeman uprooting one of the trees the Bandit planted

Courtesy of Rob Swanson and Seven Days Newspaper

Bruce Ploof, aka The Pothole Bandit, in 1986
Bruce Ploof, aka The Pothole Bandit, in 1986

Courtesy of Rob Swanson and Seven Days Newspaper

Bruce Ploof and his grandkids, present day
Bruce Ploof and his grandkids, present day

Courtesy of Rob Swanson and Seven Days Newspaper

The story from the Burlington Free Press the day after the Bandit struck
The story from the Burlington Free Press the day after the Bandit struck

Courtesy of The Burlington Free Press

The Pothole Bandit and Bernie Sanders on the Winooski Bridge in 1986 A policeman uprooting one of the trees the Bandit planted Bruce Ploof, aka The Pothole Bandit, in 1986 Bruce Ploof and his grandkids, present day The story from the Burlington Free Press the day after the Bandit struck
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