Jonathan West

(term expires 2026)

Jonathan is a 10th-generation resident of Manchester. He is the son of local window washers, an oil deliveryman, and 2nd generation member of the Selectboard . He is the product of our exceptional public education system, attending the Lawrence School in East Dorset, Manchester Elementary Middle School 97' (MEMS), Burr and Burton Academy 01' (BBA), and the University of Vermont 05' with a B.S. in Music Education. During his husband's service in the U.S. Army, Jonathan made significant contributions as an early member of the Modern Military Association of America. This groundbreaking organization paved the way for LGBTQ+ military spouses and their families. Notably, Jonathan West was among the first same-sex spouses to be legally recognized by the Department of Defense following the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act, a testament to his enduring dedication to LGBTQ+ rights and advocacy. Jonathan is an advocate for Foster Care Youth and Foster-to-Adopt programs. He and his husband, Thomas West, have four children through adoption: Grace, Charlotte, Eleanor, and Henry. Jonathan now serves as the Chief Technology Officer of MyLegal, an industry-leading legal intake software startup, and leads a growing team of software developers worldwide. 

 

Locally, Jonathan has been a board member of the MEMS PTO, Queer Connect of Bennington, and the LGBTQ+ advisory committee for The Collaborative. He has managed and led renovations for multiunit housing projects in Southern Vermont and, most recently, was part of the ownership transition team of Northshire Bookstores. In 2023, he celebrated the launch of his family's podcast "Becoming Dads" and the release of their first children's book, "A Kids Book About Gay Parents."