I’m Matt Gile. I’m a school librarian, labor activist, and proud progressive.
I’m running to represent the people of Winooski because I know that the issues Vermonters face–housing affordability, access to and cost of healthcare, out of control immigration enforcement–can be addressed by our state. But there are no small solutions to these problems. Vermont must be bold, and as a proud member of Vermont NEA and former president of the Winooski Education Association, I know that when we fight, we win.
I grew up in Colchester and I’ve been working for libraries my whole life. Everyone is welcome in a library and I believe that spirit should extend across our state. I’m the Librarian at Winooski School District, a position I’ve held for 10 years, where I serve all students from preschool to 12th grade. Before that, I worked as a library assistant for Colchester High School, my alma mater. While attending UVM, I was a clerk at the Burnham Library and drove the bookmobile in the summer. I love libraries so much that I married a librarian… in a library! My wife Shannon is the librarian for Milton High School and we were married in the Bixby Library in Vergennes.
I’m an active member of my union, the Winooski Education Association (WEA), where I have served as President and Building Representative. Currently, I am the Community Action Chair and we’re working to build labor power through educational events for union members like the People’s Summit. We also mobilize mass demonstrations such as the May Day Strong Rally that marched on the ICE data facility in Williston, and the 2025 Labor Day Rally in Burlington. I am the Labor Advisor to the Coordinating Committee for the Vermont Progressive Party. For twelve years I’ve served as the Communication Chair of the VT School Library Association, and I host the Storytime Jam at our annual conference every year.
I was a founding member of the Central Vermont Democratic Socialists of America—now Green Mountain DSA (GMDSA)—and I’m an active member of our Labor Committee. I’m a proud member of GMDSA because I believe we are all entitled to an equal say in how the world works. A world where billionaires dictate the conditions we work and live under—and wield the levers of our government’s power—is a world that can never be just. Socialism is a commitment to the principle that we are all entitled to equal power to shape our society, and the belief that with power, we will choose care and love over domination and exploitation.
I love the beauty of Vermont and I feel most alive when I’m out exploring our woods. I’ve run the Chill Snowboarding program in Winooski for the past 6 years and I’ve had the privilege to join the Winooski Wanders (led by students!) on many outings. Currently I serve on the board of the Bolton Outdoor Adventure Fund, whose mission is to give underrepresented kids the opportunity to explore the outdoors. Previously I served on the board for the Waterbury Area Trail Alliance, a chapter of the Vermont Mountain Biking Association. We built and maintained trails for a healthy, vibrant, and sustainable future.