Bennington lawmaker urges swift committee action after contested Bennington‑1 election

Representative Jonathan Cooper told the Government Operations & Military Affairs Committee that revoting or other ballot remedies would "do more harm than good" and asked the panel to move quickly to recommend a resolution so his constituents have clear representation.

Cooper, the state representative for the Bennington‑1 district, testified in person to the committee that he has relied on legal counsel from Sarah Buxton of the Montpelier law firm Tarrant, Gillis and Shems, provided pro bono, and asked members to consider the constitutional questions the counsel’s memo raises. "I'm immensely grateful to the firm for extending Ms Buxton services in this matter pro bono," he said.

The testimony matters because Cooper’s status as the district’s representative remains unresolved before the House. He told the committee he campaigned and began performing representative duties after taking his seat at the start of the legislative session and that the unresolved status leaves his constituents in uncertainty. "Today the people of Bennington 1 have a representative who was working hard for them, but my status is still unresolved. I ask that this committee moves swiftly to arrive at its recommendations so that the citizens of my district may enjoy the same level of surety in their representation here as your constituents have in your representation of each of them," Cooper said.

Cooper described the district electorate and vote totals discussed in his testimony: he said the district has 4,413 residents and that 3,129 people cast ballots he supports as reflecting the election outcome (figures provided by Cooper in testimony). He also described the timeline of his campaign and early participation in the legislature, noting he joined the Assembly on Jan. 8 and that he became aware of ballot irregularities the morning of Nov. 8.

Cooper told the committee he had little to add beyond the legal memo but that he stands by its central claim that additional voting would harm more voters than the irregularity affected and would undermine confidence in the election process. He said that his day‑to‑day constituent work — on public safety, energy siting, bridge projects, downtown designations and school funding — has continued while the committee reviews the matter.

Committee Chair Representative Matt Birong and other members thanked Cooper for appearing and indicated the panel will continue to take testimony; the chair said the committee would hear additional witnesses the following day. No formal committee decision or vote was recorded at the hearing during Cooper’s appearance.

The committee meeting record shows that Cooper identified Sarah Buxton and her memo as the principal legal guidance available to the committee and that committee members asked Cooper about constituent sentiment and his on‑the‑ground priorities. Cooper said most constituents accept there is a problem but generally shift conversations to local concerns once reassured the committee is handling the matter.

The panel recessed to continue its committee work after Cooper’s testimony; members said they would contact him again if further testimony or clarification is needed.