Our Candidates

"I believe in the people of Wallingford, and that we can find common ground for the love of this town. We all want this place to be beautiful and successful... We Democrats have dug deep in our ranks and found an experienced, smart and empathetic slate for Town Council and Board of Ed eager to work together to make the dreams happen. We care about this town and everyone in it. We pledge to stick together and do the work to find common ground for our future."

"Faith, family, and education remain the guiding forces in my life. I believe that knowledge is power and that education is the elevator that lifts us to higher levels of opportunity and growth… My mom was a natural fixer, always helping others rise, and she taught me that when we lift people up, the world around us blossoms. Carrying forward that legacy, I see helping others succeed not just as a choice, but as a mandate for building a brighter future."

"I am honored to be officially endorsed as a candidate for your Town Council by the DTC and I humbly ask for your consideration and vote this fall. If elected, I promise to strengthen your council by bringing a unique set of qualifying personal, professional and community experiences, alongside a drive to get the job done.  My goal is to build the best possible future for the town we love for every member of our community."

"As the proud father of a seven-month-old daughter, there’s nothing more important to me than her future; and as the namesake of a longtime educator, coach, and principal in Guilford, I was raised to understand the importance of a strong school system and what that contributes to the community. This fall, I’m running for the Board of Education (BOE) to fight for those ideals here in Wallingford."

"Taxes and education are the biggest issues in town. We need to promote reasonable and equitable sharing of our towns tax burden, using tax resources wisely and prioritize the need to improve the quality of our schools. Republicans have raised our taxes significantly and we have nothing to show for it. At the same time, our schools have fallen by neighboring towns in the quality of the education for our children, our future leaders. I want to focus on these critical factors to improve the quality of life for everyone in Wallingford."

"In my 2 years on the Town Council, I have been willing to accept political risk to ensure the schools are adequately funded—even via tax increases. I  demonstrated strong concern over deferred capital maintenance, especially in our schools. I have also shown resistance to across-the-board cuts, emphasizing that education funding is critical and difficult to eliminate without consequences."

"Our school system is the  most important asset in town. We need to start planning and investing in our schools’ structures and resources. The plan must include maintenance beyond initial  renovation/building, so we don’t end up in the same place in 50 years. Schools are what  bring families (taxpayers) to the town. They account for more than half of our annual budget. We need to start  being wiser with our funding and make a plan. Once the schools improve, the ranking  improves, more people move here and then companies start looking in this area for  employees, etc."

"I feel as though this town is stuck in the past and it’s causing people in my age group (and younger) to consider other places to start their families. Noticing the downtrend in educational funding and school quality leads me to believe this trend will continue because it does not seem that the town cares much about bringing NEW people here."

"I grew up in Wallingford, graduating from Sheehan High School. My husband, Bob, and I raised our four children in Wallingford. They all attended the public school system… In addition to being an educator my whole career, I have a variety of experiences to draw from, based on my children attending three different high schools. Being a Board of Education member has been very fulfilling for me—I am passionate about educating children and I believe that there are many paths young adults can take after graduating."

“This isn’t about politics - it’s about making sure Wallingford is a place where families can thrive for generations to come. It’s about making Wallingford a place that everyone wants to call home."

"I am seeking reelection because of my interest to serve my community in a meaningful way. I feel Wallingford has given much to my family and I always felt a need to give back. In my role on the Board of Education I can continue to use my experience in education to assist the children in Wallingford to succeed academically and socially. Education has been a very important part of my life for almost 50 years and I always look forward in using my experience in education for the benefit of all Wallingford children."

"I am seeking re-election to continue serving as a steady voice for Wallingford. I have worked to hold government accountable and focus attention on the issues that matter. I want to see Wallingford become a more vibrant, welcoming, and forward-looking community. I am proud of the groundwork we have laid, and I want to build on that progress to help move our town forward in a more deliberate way… Looking ahead, I intend to be assertive on several priorities including long-term infrastructure, park  enhancements, downtown revitalization, the 2026 Plan of Conservation and Development, and, of course,  all things related to our town’s school system. These are areas where strong leadership is needed."

"To best position ourselves for the long term, targeted growth in our Grand List is critical… I think we need to go back to our Plan of Development with the P and Z and EDC and create a plan that identifies industries and/or businesses that would complement what we already have and create something like a brand or culture that will attract commercial taxpayers, similar to what was done 40 years ago in developing the industrial parks. All else flows from this. We also need to promote affordable senior housing opportunities to open up more housing for younger families. The downtown Transit District needs to be maximized."