Candidate seeks to unlock Bennington’s potential through bold, effective leadership
Bennington (January 6, 2025)—The recent Chair of the 2024 Town Charter Review Committee and Board Chair of Queer Connect, Jacklyn (Jackie) Matts is running for Select Board. She made her announcement at The Coffee Bar today (January 6th) in front of a group of enthusiastic supporters.
“Bennington is a town built on hard work, resilience, and heart. It’s part of what makes our town special,” said Matts. “I am ready to work together with all members of the Select Board and the people of this community to build a Bennington where everyone has the opportunity to thrive—a town we’re all proud to call home.”
Matts acknowledges that Bennington is facing some tough challenges right now, like community safety, addiction, homelessness, and a serious housing shortage. So, she is focusing her campaign on three key issues that are vitally important to every resident of the town: safety, opportunity, and community. This campaign is about working together to address the issues that matter most. Matts commented, “I plan to foster partnerships to ensure the streets of Bennington are safe; the people of our town deserve to feel secure in their homes and neighborhoods.”
She also plans to support policies that make housing more affordable, attract businesses that offer good jobs, and ease the tax burden on residents. “I believe we can do all of this good work in our community while treating each other with respect and compassion, no matter who we are or where we come from.”
Matts has lived in Bennington for more than a decade and is an active member of the community, volunteering and supporting local events and charitable organizations whenever she can. This includes picking up trash at Garlic Town USA, building houses with the Shires Young Professionals, handing out hot cocoa with the BBC, volunteering with the Window Dressers, and supporting the Bennington Museum. She recently received the Southwestern Vermont Chamber of Commerce’s 2024 Heart of the Shires Award, which is given to an individual who exemplifies community service and leadership. Matts was specifically cited for her extensive work with the LGBTQIA+ nonprofit Queer Connect as well as her leadership on the Bennington Charter Review Committee.
As chair of the Charter Review Committee, Matts led a group of seven community volunteers in a process of reviewing and making recommendations on the Bennington Town Charter, primarily focusing on the five charges given to the committee by the Select Board. After over 500 hours of research, interviews, discussions, and public forums, the committee under Matts’ leadership unanimously decided to pass along six potential changes for the public to consider and vote on during the elections this March. Regarding the process, Matts stated, “The committee and I felt strongly that the recommendations for charter changes ultimately belonged to the residents of the town. We did the research to give our community the tools needed to make an informed decision,” demonstrating Matts’ dedication to empowering the people of Benington with a voice in the decision-making process when it comes to what’s best for our town.
Matts was born and bred in New England. She is originally from Enfield, Connecticut, where she was the captain of her high school varsity track and field team. Over a decade ago, Matts relocated to Bennington, and has made it her home ever since. After renting in the community for many years, she recently purchased her first home, which she has started renovating for herself and her cat, Freya.
Matts is an alumna of Sacred Heart University, where she studied computer science, and she is currently the Director of Technology at Overland Summers in Williamstown, MA. For four decades, families have trusted Overland to create nurturing environments where their children thrive. Overland’s programs support and inspire youth to embrace teamwork, overcome challenges, and grow as individuals and leaders while exploring the beauty and promise of the world around them.
