The Vermont Progressive Party made significant changes to its leadership this month at its annual convention, calling it “the beginning of a new era” for the organization. Delegates also honored former chair Anthony Pollina for his years of service.
In a November 19 statement, the party reported that members met at the Old Labor Hall in Barre earlier this month to conduct party business, elect new officers and vote on updates to the party platform. Progressive delegates elected Bill Hunsinger as the party’s new chair, succeeding Anthony Pollina. Cindy Weed will serve as vice chair, Carter Neubieser as secretary and José Aguayo as assistant secretary. Will Anderson was reelected to his role as treasurer.
Delegates also elected new at-large members of the Coordinating Committee, including Gene Bergman, Antonio Golan and Jaiel Pulskamp. They join Adam Franz, Liz Blum and Jackie Stanton, who will continue serving in their at-large roles. The party further announced new regional advisors. Eli Carini will represent the Southeast, Adam Norton will represent Central Vermont, Kim Gabbert will represent the Southwest, Marilyn Hackett will represent the Northern region, and Kate Bailey will represent Chittenden–Grand Isle.
“I am incredibly honored to have the opportunity to work alongside Progressives across Vermont who fight everyday to better the lives of working-class families,” Hunsinger said in the statement. “We will always remain committed to empowering and strengthening our small and rural communities, and promoting a fair and inclusive democracy that works for all Vermonters.”
The event featured a panel discussion on education reform with speakers that included State Sen. Tanya Vyhovsky, Lamoille High School educator Eric Hutchins and former Lt. Gov. David Zuckerman. Following the discussion, delegates passed a resolution calling on the Vermont Legislature to rescind Act 73, a law that rewrites how public education is funded and phases in a new property tax model starting in 2028. Delegates implored lawmakers to consider alternatives aimed at creating a more equitable structure around funding.
Delegates approved several other resolutions later in the convention, including unanimously naming Pollina chair emeritus for his work. Pollina served multiple terms as chair between 2007 and 2025 and previously ran for statewide office four times. He represented Washington County in the Vermont Senate from 2011 to 2023, campaigning on both the Progressive Party and Democratic ballot lines.
Additional resolutions supported by delegates addressed the conflict in Gaza, calling for a permanent ceasefire, unrestricted humanitarian aid, an end to U.S. military funding to Israel and the expulsion of Israeli settlers from the West Bank. Another still focused on what the party deemed as unlawful and unconstitutional actions by “MAGA institutions and operatives,” with delegates supporting a wide range of protest actions in response.
“We will work in every capacity afforded to us – whether in the legislature, in the press or in the streets – to oppose and defeat the lawless actors that are determined to undermine our democracy and destroy ‘we the people’ and our Republic,” the statement read. A complete list of all approved resolutions and platform changes has not yet been released.
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