Bennington County Democrats Complete Reorganization, Lead State in Participation Growth
Chair Jonathan West addresses the in-person and virtual attendees after being re-elected as County Chair.
BENNINGTON, VT, The Bennington County Democratic Committee has completed its 2025 reorganization, capping a month of unprecedented participation that set new records for local engagement and grassroots growth across Vermont.
The county’s reorganization meeting, held Saturday at the Bennington Free Library and streamed via Google Meet, drew one of the largest county-level turnouts in the state, closing out a reorganization cycle that saw Bennington County lead Vermont in overall percentage growth of participation.
Through this process, ten town committees were renewed, and a new committee was formed in Sunderland, bringing the total to 11 organized and recognized Democratic committees across the county: Arlington, Bennington, Dorset, Manchester, Peru, Pownal, Rupert, Sandgate, Shaftsbury, Sunderland, and Winhall.
At the county level, Jonathan West, who had been serving as Interim Chair following Jim Ramsey’s election as Interim State Chair, was formally elected to continue as Bennington County Chair. He will be joined by a strong and experienced leadership team:
Vice Chair: Mary Gerisch
Secretary: Julie Mackaman
Treasurer: Karen Mellinger
Political Director: Beth Sturgeon (Chair of the Pownal Democrats)
Data Director: Mike Cole (newly elected, also Chair of the Winhall Democrats)
“This reorganization marks a defining moment for Bennington County Democrats,” said Chair Jonathan West. “We’ve built one of the most engaged and energized county committees in the state. Our volunteers, town chairs, and community members have shown that when you bring people together around shared values and local action, democracy thrives.”
New leadership emerged in four of the county’s eleven organized towns, Albert Davenport (Rupert), Ivanna Reed (Peru), Betsy Rathbun-Gunn (Manchester), and Gabrielle Carpenter (Sunderland), while several experienced leaders returned to their posts: Sean Osborne (Dorset), Sebastian Massey (Arlington), Ron Sampath (Bennington), Beth Sturgeon (Pownal), Jim Damato (Readsboro), Mike Cole (Winhall), and Carl Korman (Shaftsbury).
The town of Shaftsbury also made headlines this cycle, hosting 71 participants at its reorganization meeting, the largest town-level turnout in Vermont, surpassing even Burlington and Montpelier.
“Our county committees are the heart and soul of the Vermont Democratic Party, and an integral component of our communities across the state,” said Jim Ramsey, State Chair of the Vermont Democratic Party and former Bennington County Chair. “Bennington County continues to lead by example, showing what’s possible when communities organize, connect, and empower new voices.”
The committee’s new strategic plan outlines a vision of engagement that goes beyond the walls of individual town committees to connect with community members, civic organizations, and local leaders across Bennington County. By holding rotating meetings in towns throughout the county, rather than primarily in Bennington or Manchester, the committee aims to ensure a visible, active Democratic presence in every corner of the county.
“We’re not waiting for voters to come to us,” West said. “We’re going to them, showing up in their towns, their libraries, their community centers, and making sure everyone knows Democrats are listening and leading.”
That approach is already paying off, with the committee reporting an influx of new energy from left-leaning independents who are increasingly compelled to get involved. “People are seeing what’s at stake in 2026 and beyond,” West added. “They want to be part of something bigger, something hopeful, and that’s exactly what we’re building here.”
The meeting also featured a State of the State Party Address by Vermont Democratic Party Chair Jim Ramsey, who praised the county’s accomplishments and urged members to keep building the model of grassroots engagement that has made Bennington County a leader statewide.
The program concluded with a keynote address from best-selling author and movement builder Amy Siskind, who inspired those in attendance to “seek out the stories that aren’t being told” and to call out “the flagrant disregard for the Constitution at every turn.” Siskind urged attendees to stay active, stay engaged, and stay vigilant, emphasizing that democracy’s strength depends on ordinary people refusing to look away.
“Bennington County Democrats aren’t just preparing for an election, we’re building a movement,” West said. “We’re leaving no rock unturned and no voice unheard in the fight to defend democracy and deliver for Vermont families.”
To connect with the Bennington County Democrats, visit BennDems.org to reach local and town committees.
Keynote Speaker Amy Siskind spoke on the threat of disregard of the foundations of the democracy.
