Meet Your Elected Town Democrats

  • Ray Dunbar currently serves as a member of the Branford Board of Selectman and has provided a lifetime of service to our town and country. Ray is a Navy veteran. He was one of Branford’s first EMTs, and a volunteer firefighter with Co. 5 in Stony Creek. Ray worked for the Branford Police Department for 34 years and recently retired as captain. Ray served as an elected member of the RTM from 1997-2005 and again from 2017-2019. Ray and his wife Cindy live in Stony Creek. They and their two daughters all graduated from the Branford School System.

  • Kurt Schwanfelder serves as Treasurer for the town. Prior to that he was an RTM First District Representative for 22 years, and during that time he held both the Majority and Minority positions as well as Chairman of the RTM Public Services Committee. He has also been a Police Commissioner, served as a member of the Board of Finance, and on the Board of Assessment Appeals. His more than 35 years of service has helped Kurt develop good relationships with town employees and leaders. Kurt is always available to listen to questions and concerns of Branford citizens and involve them in problem solving. Kurt was born and raised in Branford and has many family and business connections in the community. Kurt has been the owner and operator of Britain’s Automotive in Branford, for over 50 years and he also owns and rents residential and commercial properties in town.

  • 5th District - Branford

    Tracy Everson is the Majority Leader on the Representative Town Meeting (RTM) and in her third term working for Branford’s 5th District.

    Tracy lives in Branford Point on Mill Creek with her two Jack Russell Terriers. Her family has deep roots in town. She was baptized at Branford’s Trinity Church and the Everson family has summered in the Thimble Islands for four generations.

    Tracy is focused on proactively addressing Branford’s coastal vulnerabilities, given our town’s 20 miles of coastline and projected sea level rise of 20 inches by 2050. Tracy seeks to protect our town’s infrastructure like the sewage treatment plant and our fifth district’s low-lying neighborhoods such as Indian Neck, Pawson Park, Branford Point and the Branford river.

    Everson is a problem solver and a non-partisan advocate for all her constituents. Working in a bi-partisan way, she was instrumental in getting the state to conduct a Road Safety Audit in May 2022 of Rt. 146 in Indian Neck from the Branford River to Limewood Ave that lays out specific public safety and traffic congestion solutions including sidewalks. When a constituent reached out about dangerous speeding in Maple Street’s 25 mph zone, Tracy worked with the Branford police who installed a speed safety monitor reminding motorists of how fast they are going. Everson supports Branford residents concerned about the potential Tweed Airport expansion’s harmful impact on our health and environment, as well as the noise concerns of constituents who live near the Stony Creek Brewery.

    Always mindful of our senior citizens on fixed incomes, Everson fought for a zero percent tax increase in FY ‘24 because the town’s $30 million dollar undesignated fund balance more than doubled the amount recommended by the Board of Finance. When Branford received $8 million from the American Rescue Plan, she and her democratic colleagues asked residents for suggestions and urged them to speak up regarding the town’s use of the funds. The administration was asked to focus on the people and the impact COVID had financially in our community.

    Her professional background includes an award-winning 23-year career in journalism focused on politics and government in Westchester County and New York state. In 2009, she changed course, managing communications for two top elected women leaders in law enforcement and legislative/constituent services. She now shares her deep local knowledge with clients as a realtor with Century 21 AllPoints.

    Tracy Everson understands public service, and looks forward to continuing to listen and assist constituents as their representative

Board of Education

  • Judith Barron has been a Branford resident for over a decade with her two daughters. A graduate of Albertus Magnus College, she holds a Master’s in Public Administration. Her current role is the Executive Director of the Community Dining Room. She has been active in the Branford community in many different capacities: serving on Branford youth girls sports boards & coaching for over ten years, currently the Vice Chair of the Orchard House Adult Day Center, a member of the Walsh Intermediate School Advisory Board, a former member of the Branford Festival Committee, board member of Women and Family Life Center, and more. Her volunteer work in a variety of organizations keeps her connected to many different entities in the surrounding communities that allows her to continue to network to support existing projects and identify community needs and resources.

  • Ram C Shrestha is currently serving on the RTM representing the fourth district and serves on the Public Service Committee. He has been living in Branford for the past two decades. He was born and raised in Nepal where he also received his bachelor's degree in economics and political science. He was the past president of the Society of Nepalese in America. He currently serves on the Orchard House Adult Medical Day Center and the Branford Community Foundation Board. He began the Nepalese Language and Culture Classes in Branford. He is also a successful small business owner. He is committed to the betterment of the Town of Branford.

  • Shawn Tiernan has lived in Branford for virtually his whole life. He’s a graduate of St. Mary School, Branford High School, Hampshire College and the University of Connecticut School of Law (Honors). Shawn has been an attorney for 36 years and retired from the State of Connecticut in 2022 after a 32 year career as an Senior Assistant Public Defender. He’s been a lifelong parishioner at St. Mary’s, then St. Therese and now St. John Bosco. Shawn has been happily married to his wife Cheryl for 28 years, and they are the proud parents of Brian and Kelly, former students in the Branford Public Schools, now adults and college graduates. Shawn and his family have greatly benefited from Branford schools and he would like to be part of continuing the tradition of excellence in education that draws so many to Branford.

1st District RTM

  • Mark McCall, a resident of Branford's 1st District, lives with his wife Fiona and son Matthew. Mark is currently the resident technician with PARABIT for the state of Connecticut and all of New England. Mark holds a Diploma in Information Technology from Cambridge University London, a NYS License in Fire alarms, Burglar alarms and CCTV systems.

    Mark is a native born of Guyana, South America where he worked for 10 years within the aviation industry serving in every department from maintenance to management. After leaving the aircraft industry Mark started an overland tour company, Tours ‘R’ Us, which he ran until he migrated, taking clients into the amazon rainforest. During this time, he served on the tourism board for private operators and represented Guyana at many international trade shows.

    An avid outdoors person, who enjoys the rugged terrain, Mark's passion is sustainable development within the travel and hospitality industries. He looks forward to working with public and private stakeholders to develop Branford's outdoor life.

  • -Chief Science Officer at Branford bioscience company

    -Member of Economic Development Commission

    -Proud wife and mother of three children

2nd District RTM

  • -District 2 Representative

    -His family has lived on the shoreline and in Stony Creek and the Thimble Islands for generations

    -Local stone mason and small business owner

  • Peter Hentschel, AIA, represents District 2 on the RTM. Peter is Chairman of Branford’s Coastal Vulnerability Working Group established by the Board of Selectmen in 2020. He serves on the Rules and Ordinances Committee and was instrumental in the recent passage of Branford’s Blight Ordinance, as well as ordinances establishing procedures for enforcing all Town ordinances, and amendments to the Town Boating Ordinance. He acts as a liaison between the Stony Creek Association, the RTM and Town staff.

    A graduate of both Yale University and the Yale School of Architecture. Peter was the co-founder of one of the state’s largest architectural firms, Tecton Architects in Hartford, a multi-disciplinary firm embracing new design technologies. A US Coast Guard licensed Ship-Master, Peter has participated in several international underwater archeological shipwreck excavations. He and his wife, Elizabeth, reside in Stony Creek.

3rd District RTM

  • I am originally from Rhode Island and moved to Branford last year from Colorado. In Colorado, I was the Chair of the HD30 Democratic Party and worked numerous campaigns for state legislature, county government, and municipal races.

    I am passionate about education, sustainability, efficiency, inclusivity, and supporting our strong communities.

    Currently, I work in New Haven at Amistad High School where I teach Genocide Studies as well as Government and Politics (GoPo). I worked with Mayor Elicker’s office to recognize the 182nd anniversary of the Amistad SCOTUS ruling.

    Among the work that I am most proud of is having served on the City of Warwick (Rhode Island) Diversity Committee, the Jefferson County (Colorado) Historical Commission, the Jefferson County (Colorado) Judicial Retention Commission, and the City of Providence (Rhode Island) Truth and Reconciliation Committee where I was also an editor of the A Matter of Truth report.

    I have a BA in History, an MAT in Social Studies, an MA in International Relations, and a doctorate in leadership and organizational dynamics.

    I am blessed to be a published author as well. I write on education, politics, and history.

    For fun, I dabbling in poetry and have recently completed a few poems about the Branford area.

  • Adrian is currently serving on the RTM representing the third district and serves on the Education and Rules and Ordinances Committees. He was born and raised in Branford. A veteran of the U.S. Army infantry, he left after nearly seven years of service, during which he was valorously decorated during two deployments to Afghanistan, and received numerous awards and recognitions. He was President of the Yale Veterans Association from 2018-2023, and is currently Vice President of the Yale Record Corporation. A publication he co-founded to publish veteran fiction and non-fiction, Wrath-Bearing Tree, just observed its 10th year of continuous operation. He has published two books, and covers the military and foreign affairs for a variety of publications. Most recently he helped train a local city defense force for the Ukrainian city of Lviv, which was covered by CNN, and trained nearly 300 reconnaissance soldiers for Ukraine’s military prior to this year’s counteroffensive.

4th District RTM

  • Maryann Amore was born and raised in Branford’s Fourth district, and grew up “on the Hill.” After graduating from Branford High, she began her professional career in Philadelphia. She holds a BA in Psychology and English Literature/Theatre Arts from Arcadia University and an M.Ed. in Instructional Technology/Learning Systems Design from Temple University. Maryann worked for many years in the mid-Atlantic area as a career development counselor and as director of a number of youth and adult workforce development programs.

    She later worked for Columbia University and the US Department of Labor, traveling nationally to train workforce development professionals in best practices in program design, and in the delivery of effective instruction in “second-chance” settings. Returning to Branford Hills in 2004 to be closer to family, she worked as the Director of Lifelong Learning at St. Luke’s LifeWorks in Stamford, and as a director of HOPE Partnership, a non-profit affordable housing developer in Old Saybrook. Her diverse professional experiences include having her own business as a registered financial representative, working as a bookkeeper and tax preparer, and most recently as a tutor for blind and low-vision learners in the New Haven Public Schools. Wanting to know her hometown better as an adult, she ran for and served as a member of the Branford RTM for the Fourth District between 2009 and 2018, and served as chair of the Education Committee from 2011-2013.

    She currently serves on the board of Branford Affordable Housing, Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to securing support for affordable housing. Because of these experiences, Maryann is able to see Branford through many lenses, both personal and professional. She continues to be a strong and unwavering advocate for the best interests of her neighborhood, her District, and her beloved hometown.

  • Shahida Soomro, a dedicated resident of Branford for 17 years, has become an integral part of the community fabric. With a career in the healthcare industry and a mother of two boys who have attended Branford's schools, her commitment to the town's well-being and education is evident. Her elder son graduated from UCONN and younger son's rising senior status at Branford High School highlight her family's engagement in local education.

    Shahida's involvement in groups like the Food Allergy Network and Branford Action Network underscores her caring nature and dedication to community inclusivity. Her decision to join the RTM in 2018 to fill a vacancy, followed by her successful full-term election in 2019, showcases her commitment to civic duty. Her passion for education and the environment aligns perfectly with the town's challenges.

    As a member of the RTM's Education committee, she advocates for quality education and a sustainable future. Shahida's service to the RTM in District 4 reflects her ongoing dedication to amplifying residents' voices in local governance. She stands as a bridge between the community and decision-making processes, epitomizing civic engagement and positive change, making meaningful contributions that uplift the town's spirit and prospects.

  • Dan is serving his third term on the RTM. He previously sat on the Administrative Services Committee and the Rules and Ordinances Committee. He currently serves as Vice-Chair to the Branford Democratic Town Committee and serves on the Board of Directors for the Community Dining Room.

    An attorney in private practice in New Haven, Dan served as a member on the Board of Directors of the Boys and Girls Club of New Haven for over ten (10) years and served as President of the Board of Directors of the Boys and Girls Club of New Haven for five (5) consecutive years. Dan has also served on the Statewide Grievance Panel and provided pro­ bono work to clients for New Haven Legal Assistance.

    Dan is currently embarking in graduate work at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University in Public Leadership and Ethics. He has three children: a 26-year -old son and 23-year­ old boy/girl twins.

5th District RTM

  • Tracy Everson is the Majority Leader on the Representative Town Meeting (RTM) and in her third term working for Branford’s 5th District.

    Tracy lives in Branford Point on Mill Creek with her two Jack Russell Terriers. Her family has deep roots in town. She was baptized at Branford’s Trinity Church and the Everson family has summered in the Thimble Islands for four generations.

    Tracy is focused on proactively addressing Branford’s coastal vulnerabilities, given our town’s 20 miles of coastline and projected sea level rise of 20 inches by 2050. Tracy seeks to protect our town’s infrastructure like the sewage treatment plant and our fifth district’s low-lying neighborhoods such as Indian Neck, Pawson Park, Branford Point and the Branford river.

    Everson is a problem solver and a non-partisan advocate for all her constituents. Working in a bi-partisan way, she was instrumental in getting the state to conduct a Road Safety Audit in May 2022 of Rt. 146 in Indian Neck from the Branford River to Limewood Ave that lays out specific public safety and traffic congestion solutions including sidewalks. When a constituent reached out about dangerous speeding in Maple Street’s 25 mph zone, Tracy worked with the Branford police who installed a speed safety monitor reminding motorists of how fast they are going. Everson supports Branford residents concerned about the potential Tweed Airport expansion’s harmful impact on our health and environment, as well as the noise concerns of constituents who live near the Stony Creek Brewery.

    Always mindful of our senior citizens on fixed incomes, Everson fought for a zero percent tax increase in FY ‘24 because the town’s $30 million dollar undesignated fund balance more than doubled the amount recommended by the Board of Finance. When Branford received $8 million from the American Rescue Plan, she and her democratic colleagues asked residents for suggestions and urged them to speak up regarding the town’s use of the funds. The administration was asked to focus on the people and the impact COVID had financially in our community.

    Her professional background includes an award-winning 23-year career in journalism focused on politics and government in Westchester County and New York state. In 2009, she changed course, managing communications for two top elected women leaders in law enforcement and legislative/constituent services. She now shares her deep local knowledge with clients as a realtor with Century 21 AllPoints.

    Tracy Everson understands public service, and looks forward to continuing to listen and assist constituents as their representative.

  • Long before Abigail Adams and her dog Sheba moved around the corner from Branford’s astonishing Foote Memorial Park, she fell in love with the shoreline communities. Following generations of her mother’s family, she’s made her home here.

    She is a recently retired professor and department chair from Central Connecticut State University, where she also founded the university’s award-winning environmental sustainability program and community engagement/civic agency program. Abigail works now in outdoor education and will study this Fall with Connecticut’s Tree Warden Association. She volunteers with New Haven’s Sanctuary Kitchen and is a member of several non-profit boards, including the Friends Committee on National Legislation (a national nonpartisan Quaker lobby to advance peace, justice, and environmental stewardship) and New Britain (CT) ROOTS, which cultivates community connections and equitable food access, urban land stewardship, and agricultural education.

    As an anthropologist and lifelong Quaker --and parent!, Abigail has learned to work constructively and respectfully with people of many different backgrounds, perspectives and languages (she is fluent in English and Spanish). She will advocate for Branford’s equitable and smart development, above all protecting its breathtaking natural environment and its welcoming close-knit neighborhoods.

  • John and his wife Janet chose Branford as the perfect place to retire. They both enjoy watching the mix of commercial and pleasure boats on the Branford River, dining with friends at our great restaurants, and the welcoming attitude of everyone they’ve met.

    Since moving back to Connecticut in 2003, John has been deeply involved in community service. He has been active on the non-profit boards of a nature preserve, a private library, a historical society, and a state-wide pro-choice advocacy organization. He was elected to the Board of Finance in Westport, and he has been a leader on Democratic town committees where he has lived.

    John is a former banker and financial industry consultant, and he draws on his finance training, marketing, and customer service experience to contribute to a variety of local non-profits. After earning a Masters in Public and Private Management from Yale’s School of Management, he was a Vice President at Chase Manhattan Bank where he led service quality initiatives in the branch system and worked on international business development projects.

    Prior to grad school John lived in the Middle East for eleven years. There he met Janet, who was a teacher, and they both were active members of community theater groups. When their two children were young John coached boys and girls soccer, basketball, and baseball teams, and he took a boys soccer team to a national tournament.

    John believes deeply in the role of citizens in our local government, and if elected he promises to listen carefully and work collaboratively to make Branford an even better place to live.

  • Alex is a recent transplant to Branford with his wife and dog, Chase, who he fosters for Guiding Eyes for the Blind. He chose to move to Branford because of the beautiful landscape, but also the close-knit community feel that Branford offers.

    Alex currently works as an Academic Adviser/Credentialing Specialist and History Professor at Post University. Prior to Post University, Alex was an adviser at Western Connecticut State University. He also ran for the 66th District State House seat in 2018. When Alex isn’t working at Post, he helps run his non-profit, Connecticut Crossroads Project, which seeks to document the individual experience of people young and old to preserve the history of community through casual conversations.

6th District RTM

  • Nancy is currently on the RTM in the 6th District. She previously served as the first female Democratic Moderator of the RTM in the late 90s. Nancy was born and raised in New Haven and moved to Branford when she purchased her first home in 1978. She is the mother of one daughter, who was educated in the Branford public school system and graduated college with a degree in Elementary Ed. You can find Nancy backstage at the BHS musicals volunteering to do hair & make-up for the cast. She recently retired as a Chief Probation Officer after 31 years with the State of CT Judicial Branch. She holds a B.S. in Business and a M.S. in Criminal Justice Management. Nancy is environmentally conscious, has a great appreciation for the Police and Fire Departments and the public school system in town.

7th District RTM

  • Donna Laich is a 24-year resident of Branford, currently living on Limewood Avenue with her husband Bryan. Donna retired from a 35-year career in the Wallingford Public School system in June of 2017. As the school psychologist at Mark T. Sheehan Highs School, Donna worked with special education and regular education students, teachers, parents, and administrators in a variety of educational settings. She formed and led the Student/Teacher assistance Team at Sheehan High School for many years.

    Donna was elected to represent Branford's 7th district on the RTM in 2019 and has served as the RTM clerk for the past four years. She has four years of experience as a Democratic representative for the 7th district of the Branford RTM (Representative Town Meeting).

    In addition to her background in public education, and her public service to the town of Branford, Donna is a passionate environmentalist. She has served on Branford’s Sustainable CT committee, is a current member of the Clean Energy Committee of Branford, joins local beach clean-ups, drives an electric car, participates in the Blue Earth composting project, and is a contributing member of Save the Sound and the Sierra Club.

  • Susan Dahill currently represents the 7th District on the RTM. She and her family have lived in the 7th District (part and now full-time) for over 35 years. Although this is her first run for elected office, Susan has served as a town official in her previous home in New Canaan. She was appointed by two successive Republican First Selectmen, Dick Bond and Rob Malozzi, to serve as the Chairperson of the Emergency Services Commission. In that position, she chaired a committee that developed Emergency Preparedness Plans in the event of a pandemic outbreak. That plan was then modified and executed during the recent Covid 19 pandemic. In 2003, she received the New Canaan Volunteer Center Award for “Outstanding Adult Volunteer.” Susan’s business career was in Advertising in New York City. She has used the skills she learned there to advertise and promote non-profit ventures in both towns.

    In both her business and volunteer efforts, she has strived to learn as much as possible about the tasks and issues involved and then to develop and execute plans that meet the agreed upon objectives. She would bring these skills, along with a strong affection for the town and its citizens, to the RTM.

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