Montpelier, VT – Vermont Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas held the first meeting of the 2025 Town Clerk Advisory Committee (TCAC) at the Thetford town offices on Tuesday. This is the second iteration of the advisory group, which Copeland Hanzas reconvened after a decade-long hiatus upon taking office in 2023. The Committee will meet monthly to discuss and address the interests of Vermont’s town clerks, who play an essential role in the functioning of Vermont’s municipalities.
“Vermont’s 247 city and town clerks are the linchpin of Vermont’s communities. They’re administering elections, managing town records, handling marriage certificates, and performing all sorts of behind-the-scenes duties to keep their towns running smoothly,” explained Secretary Copeland Hanzas. “If you want to have a finger on the pulse of Vermont’s communities, there’s no better way than connecting with the clerks themselves. These TCAC meetings are incredibly valuable to our office as we work to make sure we’re providing the best support and service to clerks and Vermonters in general.”
The Vermont Secretary of State’s Office is a resource for clerks, helping with various aspects of their work including guidance and best practices for local elections, public records management, cybersecurity, and overall municipal government operation.
The committee includes clerks from across the state, with the goal of representing a wide swath of Vermont’s different municipalities – from rural areas like Maidstone in the Northeast Kingdom, to dense urban centers like Winooski. Some of the clerks bring decades of experience, and others are new to the job. In addition to discussing shared issues and advising the Secretary of State’s office, the TCAC collaborates on special projects together: last year’s cohort created a comprehensive PSA video about election security practices in Vermont.
Tuesday’s meeting was a chance for the new cohort to connect, learn about the services the Secretary of State’s office provides, and suggest topics to discuss in their upcoming meetings. Key topics that were brought up included voter checklist maintenance, records management, and how to increase civic engagement and voter participation. Each member takes turns hosting a meeting at their town office – the February meeting will be held in St. Johnsbury, March in Winooski, and April in St. Albans City.
The 13-member committee includes the following clerks: Tracy Borst (Thetford), Diana Vachon (Shelburne), Chelsea Magwire (Orange), Amy Pear (Maidstone), Jesse Bridge (Mendon), Stacy Jewell (St. Johnsbury), Nicole Robtoy (St. Albans City), LaDonna Dunn (Westfield), Jenny Willingham (Winooski), Ellenka Wilson (Townshend), Lisa Laramee (St. George), and Anita Sheldon (Manchester).
From left: Amy Pear, Maidstone Town Clerk, Tracy Borst, Thetford Town Clerk, Ellenka Wilson, Townshend Town Clerk, Stacy Jewell, St. Johnsbury Town Clerk, Jenny Willingham, Winooski City Clerk, Chelsea Magwire, Orange Town Clerk, Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas, Jesse Bridge, Mendon Town Clerk.