Laura Bannister Receives Ramsey Award at NC11 Gala

Many congratulations to Laura Bannister, who received the Liston B. Ramsey award for Henderson County at the 2025 NC11 Gala!

Laura’s nomination for the award focused on her consistent dedication not only to the Democratic Party, but to the fight for her fellow human beings and their basic rights: “Laura’s work has made a positive difference in the world, and we are ever so grateful that we have her as a leader in our community.”

Among Laura's many accomplishments, the nomination highlighted the following:

• Her first foray into organized politics was in 1993 as campaign manager for Jay Fisette, who was the first openly gay man to run for the Arlington County, VA, County Board. He won the primary but lost the general.

• She was the logistical director for AIDSwalk Washington in 1994-95, in which they raised over $7M to build an AIDS clinic in Northern Virginia.

• Laura says being at the right place at the right time brought her into Hillary & Bill Clinton’s home in 1999 when they left the White House, and she worked as their landscaper and “right hand girl” for the next 16 years.

• After moving to WNC, she campaigned diligently for Hillary in 2016, where she says she found the good people of HCDP.

• Laura served as 2^nd vice chair for HCDP in 2017 and was the charter president of the LGBTQ Democrats of Henderson County, which later evolved into Hendersonville Pride.

• In 2019, Laura developed the first Pride Day in Hendersonville, which led to acknowledgement and a proclamation from Hendersonville City Council. With others, Laura helped develop what has turned into a popular ongoing event for the LGBTQ community in Western North Carolina.

• As Events Coordinator for HCDP, she has planned parades, candidate meet-and-greets, holiday parties, picnics, and many other events, large and small.

• Laura has been precinct chair of Pisgah View for six years, all while serving as president of their 82-household HOA. 

• Most recently, Laura has organized and executed several large events to protest the current President's MAGA policies and contribute to the fight against white nationalism.

Laura is also happily married to her dear wife, Cindy, whom she met while recruiting captains for AIDSwalk in 1992.

“Laura Bannister is so much more than her accomplishments, but a whole vibe unto itself,” the nomination concluded. “Laura's upbeat personality and determination are infectious, and the Henderson County Democratic Party would not be what it has become today without her influence.”

Please be sure to congratulate Laura when you see her at the next HCDP event!