John Kascenska is a Republican representative for the Essex-Caledonia district in the Vermont House of Representatives, serving since 2022 and re-elected in 2024 with 97.5% of the vote. A resident of East Burke in Caledonia County, he was born in Torrington, Connecticut, with his family moving to Vermont in 1969; he has lived in the Northeast Kingdom since 1992. He founded and owns an outdoor recreation business offering nationally recognized certification programs in urban and wilderness medicine and teaches avalanche education and rescue courses at Mt. Washington in New Hampshire. Notable community roles include President of the Burke Area Chamber of Commerce, Burke Justice of the Peace, President of Lyndon Rescue, Inc., Trustee and Chair of the Board of Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital, and committee member for Northeast Kingdom Broadband. Current committees: House Committee on Appropriations, Canvassing Committee, Joint Carbon Emissions Reduction Committee. Previous service included the House Committee on Commerce and Economic Development and the VT National Guard and Military Affairs Caucus.

Education and Political Experience

• Education: Graduate of Poultney High School and Lyndon State College; holds graduate degrees from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and North Carolina State University.
• Professional Experience: Worked 32 years in higher education, including 25 years in the Vermont State Colleges System as a faculty member and academic dean; honorary member of the Vermont State University – Lyndon Alumni Council.
• Political Experience: Member of the Vermont House of Representatives for 2022 and 2025–present, representing Essex-Caledonia as a Republican.