Vermont Candidate for the Chicago Democratic National Convention
BJ Dunn (he/him)
Why I am running…
I am so excited about the possible opportunity to represent Vermont in Chicago at the Democratic National Convention. During my National Park Service career, serving as Superintendent/Deputy Superintendent/Park Manager at multiple parks, I was bound by the nature of these positions to be non partisan and abide by the Hatch Act. Now retired from 30+ years of federal civil service, I can be involved and politically active.
If elected, my goal is to network with delegates from purple and red states to learn how we can best support them this fall. Let’s help turn their states BLUE and re-elect President Joe Biden! I am also interested in periodic live-streaming from the convention hall floor, to connect real-time to Democrats back home here in Vermont to share the experience.
Let’s Roe Roe Roe the Vote! The overturn of Roe v Wade should motivate us ALL – women, men, nonbinary, democrats, republicans and independents alike, to vote for the candidate who is going to protect a woman’s right to chose and manage her own health care decisions with her doctor. We all know who that candidate is!
I joined the Woodstock, VT Democratic Committee during re-org in September 2023. There, I was selected as an alternate delegate to Windsor County. At the county re-org in October 2023, I was elected Treasurer for the Windsor County Democratic Committee. Since, I’ve been active with the treasurer duties and leading fundraising efforts to support local and state candidates. Serving as a DNC delegate would be a wonderful opportunity to learn more about our democratic party operations and how I can best be involved in the future.
Things I am passionate about: organic farming, local food movement, women’s healthcare (including safe access to abortion), LGBTQ+ rights, the National Park Service, protecting the environment, friends and family, and getting Democrats elected!
BJ Dunn (he/him)
/
Woodstock, Vermont
Endorsements
“BJ’s firsthand experience working under a Trump administration in the National Park System has left him ready to do almost anything to make sure President Joe Biden is re-elected. As a delegate, BJ would bring many of the Vermont values we all care so deeply about to inform his votes at the DNC Convention. I’ve known BJ for 20 years – as an environmentalist, manager, farmer and Windsor County Dems Treasurer. He is impressive – and I proudly endorse his nomination as a VT delegate.”
- VT Senator Alison Clarkson, Democratic Majority Leader, Windsor County District
“I’m happy to endorse BJ Dunn as a Vermont delegate to the Democratic Party National Convention. He has donated time and energy to the Windsor County Democratic Committee. Specifically, he has donated professional level financial skills to our financing, creating thorough and understandable accounting. Commitment and Competence.”
- VT Senator Dick McCormack, Windsor County District
More About me…
Stimets Knoll Farm
Farmer
My husband and I bought our 14-acre property in Woodstock, VT in 2020. Shortly thereafter we established Stimets Knoll Farm, LLC.
Slowly and methodically we have been planting perennial beds of asparagus, rhubarb, blueberries, raspberries and orchard trees. A dozen chickens arrived in 2022.
We grow vegetables and fruit for ourselves, sell at nearby farmer’s markets and sell some wholesale. We also donate excess produce to a local food pantry. Though not officially certified organic, we do follow organic practices as much as we can.
Windsor County Democrats
Treasurer
Elected October 2023
Accomplishments:
Created a first ever mailing and contact database file for the county.
File required reports to the VT Secretary of State campaign finance reporting system.
Led a very successful 2024 spring appeal to raise funds to support our local and state democratic candidates in the upcoming election season.
Minute Man NHP
Superintendent/Park Manager
January 2017 to June 2021
Major Accomplishments:
Hosted BioBlitz with Dr. E.O. Wilson and Animal Planet tv celebrity Jeff Corwin.
Collaborated with park partners for the successful nomination and designation of the Battle Road National Scenic Byway.
Led efforts to secure $22 million of Great American Outdoor Act funding for the preservation of historic and non historic structures throughout the park as well as rehabilitation of the Battle Road trail and North Bridge.
Independence NHP
Deputy Superintendent/Park Manager
November 2009 to December 2016
Managed a staff of 300 employees, an annual operating budget of $25 million, and two unions.
Major Accomplishments:
Opening of the Benjamin Franklin Museum.
Served as the NPS lead collaborator with the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society to produce the 2016 Philadelphia Flower Show. The theme was “National Parks” to commemorate and celebrate the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service.
In a variety of roles, was involved with hosting VIPs including Pope Francis, President Barrack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, President Bill Clinton and Secretary Hillary Clinton.
Saint-Gaudens NHP
Superintendent/Park Manager
June 2003 to October 2009
Major Accomplishments:
Produced a pageant to commemorate the centennial of America’s first pageant held in Cornish, NH in 1905 to honor American sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens. The 2005 production of the “Masque of the Golden Bowl” had a cast of 59 community members and one live piglet!
As Co-Executive Producer, led NPS and Saint-Gaudens Memorial efforts, with Our Town Films, inc. to produce “Augustus Saint-Gaudens: Master of American Sculpture.” This feature length documentary film was broadcast nationally on PBS in 2007, and screened at major museums across the United States including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and the Art Institute of Chicago.
Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller NHP
Management Assistant
January 1998 to May 2003
I was selected to be part of the opening team for this newly designated national park in Vermont. As the third hired employee of the park, I was responsible for establishing office space, hiring of additional staff, leading aspects of the rehabilitation project of the Carriage Barn to become the park’s Visitor Center, exhibits, administrative offices, collections storage and meeting space.
Coordinated and executed the opening ribbon cutting and dedication ceremony in June 1998 for this new national park.
In 2002, I was selected into the highly competitive USDA graduate school program – Executive Leadership Program for mid-level Managers. I graduated in 2003 and shortly thereafter became Superintendent at Saint-Gaudens NHP.
Family
Rich Bennett and I married on October 24, 2009, had our Vermont Civil Union on October 27, 2001 and prior to that, have been living together since Labor Day Weekend 1989. Our personal journey to Equality.
Here we are with Digby, our labrador retriever.
Cool Memory…
July 2014 I was serving as Superintendent at Independence NHP. It was a privilege to host then Vice President Joe Biden as part of our July 4th activities. After our July 4 speaking program staged in front of Independence Hall, Mayor of Philadelphia Michael Nutter and Vice President Joe Biden led off the July 4th parade that starts in front of Independence Hall. Though a bit blurry, in this photograph you can see me marching a few feet behind the Vice President and the Mayor.
