Press Release: Campaign Announcement

Manchester, VT — March 26, 2026 — Thomas West, an elected member of the Southwest Vermont Regional Technical School District Board, Vice Chair of the Manchester Planning Commission, Justice of the Peace, Army veteran, and father of four, announced today that he is running for the Vermont State House representing the Bennington-4 district.

West is entering the race following Rep. Kathleen James’ decision not to seek reelection, calling it “a moment to build on what’s been done and meet the urgency of what comes next.”

“I’m running because I believe public service should start with a simple question,” West said. “What do families actually need to build a good life?”

West’s campaign is focused on the realities facing rural communities across Arlington, Manchester, Sandgate, and Sunderland, including housing, affordability, and the rising cost of education driven by property taxes.

“In this district, the challenges we’re facing are showing up in real ways—in whether families can stay here, whether their property tax bill is pushing them out, and whether people can see a future for themselves in the place they call home,” West said.

West pointed to housing as the foundation for solving many of the region’s challenges.

“There’s almost no issue in Vermont that we can solve without building more housing,” he said. “Housing alone won’t solve everything, but we cannot meaningfully address affordability, workforce shortages, or community stability if people can’t afford to live here.”

West is a Project Manager for Prevention Lead Region 4 at The Collaborative, where he helps coordinate regional efforts focused on substance use prevention and community well-being across southern Vermont. He also serves on the Southwest Vermont Regional Technical School District Board, where he works to expand student opportunity, strengthen workforce pathways, and keep education affordable for property taxpayers.

West said his approach to leadership is grounded in both public service and personal experience.

“I’m a husband, a dad, and a veteran,” he said. “For me, this work is personal. It’s about whether families like mine—and families across this district—can build a stable life here.”

West said he uses a simple set of questions to guide his decisions.

“For me, it comes down to a few simple questions,” West said. “Are we making life more affordable? Are we strengthening our communities? Are we creating real opportunity for the next generation? If the answer isn’t yes, we should rethink it.”

West said too many decisions are being made without fully accounting for the impact on everyday Vermonters.

“People are doing everything right, and it’s still getting harder,” he said. “We need to make decisions that lower costs and make it possible for people to stay in the communities they love.”

“This campaign is about showing up and doing the work,” West said. “Listening, being present, and building something together—a future where rural families have a fair shot, where people feel like they belong, and where leadership meets this moment with urgency and hope.”

For more information, visit www.westforvermont.com or contact thomas@westforvermont.com.

About Thomas West

Thomas West is a husband, father of four, Army veteran, and community leader based in Manchester, Vermont. He serves in several local leadership roles, including Vice Chair of the Manchester Planning Commission, Justice of the Peace, and an elected member of the Southwest Vermont Regional Technical School District Board.

Professionally, he is a Project Manager at The Collaborative, where he helps coordinate regional efforts to support substance use prevention and community well-being across Bennington, Windham, Windsor, and southern Orange counties.

West served five years in the United States Army as a Russian cryptologic linguist. He completed basic training in Oklahoma and studied the Russian language at the Defense Language Institute at the Presidio of Monterey, California. His final duty station was Fort Meade, where his unit supported national intelligence operations.

West and his husband, Jonathan West, are the parents of four adopted children. His lived experience as a parent, veteran, and local official informs his approach to leadership, grounded in fairness, community, and a commitment to building systems that work for everyday people.

Selected Public Service and Professional Experience

● Elected Member, Southwest Vermont Regional Technical School District Board

● Vice Chair, Manchester Planning Commission

● Justice of the Peace, Town of Manchester

● Project Manager, Prevention Lead Region 4, The Collaborative

● U.S. Army Veteran, Russian Cryptologic Linguist (5 years), Fort Meade