Mollow & Ahern Seek Town’s Top Elected Posts

Saying it was time for ​“new leadership” for Branford, Lynda Mollow, a member of the Representative Town Meeting (RTM), accepted the Democratic nomination for first selectwoman Thursday night. Incumbent selectman Jack Ahern was at her side as they both pledged to work for change in Branford.

“I believe it is time for new leadership in our town,” she told the caucus of about 125 people who gathered at the Canoe Brook Senior Center Thursday night. ​“In addition to new leadership we need someone at the helm with a new vision,” she said. Mollow, 49 and a nurse, has served on the RTM for the past two years.

“We all know our state faces difficult economic challenges ahead,” she said, ​“which is why we need to be cautious.” She said as a mom with two kids, ​“I worry what financial burden we are passing on to our children. What kind of Branford will we leave for future generations?”

Ahern, 56, sought elected office for the first time in 2015 and he won a spot on the Board of Selectmen. The Board of Selectmen in Branford consists of three elected members, the first selectman, who is the chief administrator of the town, and two selectmen.

The Mollow and Ahern nominations came two days after First Selectman Jamie Cosgrove and Selectman Joe E. Higgins, Jr., were nominated for third terms at the Republican caucus. 

A Family Affair

In some ways the nominating convention was a family affair. Mollow’s husband, Dr. Michael Mollow (pictured), a dentist, nominated her for the town’s top position as their children, William and Evelyn, sat watching them nearby. 

“My wife is a role model as a parent. She is the most generous and most honorable person I know,” he told the audience. 

Ahern’s son, Charlie, 20, nominated his dad. Charlie Ahern (pictured) told the audience what he had learned from him. ​“Persistence. I learned that from my dad. He will not quit until the job is done. I have seen it first hand,” Charlie Ahern said ​“and it has made a lasting impression.” He told the audience he had also learned if you set a goal, ​“you will find a way of accomplishing it, no matter how long it takes. That is what a true leader is,” he said.

Mollow: A Growing Concern

Active and engaged in local education issues, Mollow, 49, said she grew concerned that residents did not have a voice in local issues shaping the town of Branford. She decided to run for a position on the RTM in 2015 and won a seat representing the 7th District on the 30-member legislative board. All members of the RTM are up for re-election in November.

Since she is seeking the first selectwoman’s spot, she is not running for the RTM.

Mollow has had a long career as a nurse, one that spans 20 years. ​“I have spent my life caring for people – people requiring support for AIDS-related conditions, receiving cancer chemotherapy treatments, and coordinating stem cell transplantation. However, this dedication to help those in need has reached far beyond my career in health care,” she said in a previous interview. 

Long active in public school before and after-school programs, she helped to introduce the national ​“Fuel Up to Play 60” program in Branford and East Haven public schools. ​“I was proud to partner with Branford families and local businesses” to create these programs, she said.

Mollow has also been active on the board of directors of the Community Dining Room. She has called Branford home for over 15 years.

Ahern Seeks Second Term

Ahern has deep roots in Branford. Born and raised in Branford, he was a firefighter for 35 years, serving as fire chief for 12 years. He is skilled in town processes.

“Two years ago I stood here as a freshman selectman candidate for the Board of Selectmen. Along the way, he said, he made some mistakes. ​“As Lisa said to me,” he said, referring to his wife, ​“it takes two years to figure out how things run… I have learned a lot.” He did not go into details.

“I am very excited about this campaign. The campaign started early and it started strong.” Ahern described Mollow as an awesome candidate. ​“She is ​“compassionate, intelligent, hardworking, family-oriented. We are hitting the ground running.” He asked the audience to commit time to the upcoming campaign.

Ahern and his wife, Lisa, have raised five children, Leah, Caitlin, John, Michele, and Charlie. After Ahern retired he went to work for a private communications company based in Naugatuck, Northeastern Communications, as customer support manager. He works on designs, sales, and service for two-way radio and data systems. Lisa Ahern is a current member of the RTM but has decided not to seek another term.

Ahern said, ​“My dedication to serve the people of this community has extended beyond the firehouse and a career as a fire officer. I have worked hard throughout my career to obtain several large community grants to help provide communications, vehicles and building components –all of which saved taxpayers significantly.” 

Ahern and Mollow plan to campaign door-to-door as the campaign unfolds. The election takes place on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017.

Rounding Out the Ticket

The full Democratic ticket was also nominated Thursday evening.

Roberta Gill-Brooks, a daughter of former police Chief Robert Gill and a businesswoman, is seeking the office of tax collector, Kurt Schwanfelder, who as a Republican served for many years on the RTM and also ran for selectman, is now a Democrat. He is seeking the position of town treasurer. Maggie Bruno, a longtime former RTM member, is running for town clerk. Ali Abulugma and Rick Pittman are running for the Board of Assessment Appeals and Sarah Lockery and incumbent John Prins are running for seats on the Board of Education.

For the office of constable, the Democrats chose Robert Dargan, Robert Franchini, Fran Walsh, and Eunice Lasala
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The full Republican ticket nominated Tuesday includes incumbent treasurer, Michael T. Nardella, incumbent town clerk Lisa Arpin, Sandra Kraus who is seeking the tax collector’s position, and RTM Member Robin Sandler, who is seeking a two-year term on the Board of Assessment Appeals (BOAA), and Dennis G. Nardella, who is seeking a four-year term on the BOAA. Current Board of Education members, Judy Hotz and Shannen Sharkey are each seeking six-year terms on the BOE.

For the office of Constable, the Republicans chose Robert J. Zettergren, Kyle Nelson, Dennis G. Nardella, and Susan Cosgrove Barnes, Jamie Cosgrove’s aunt.

RTM Candidates Emerge

There are currently 19 Republicans and 11 Democrats on the RTM. RTM Dems not running again include Lisa Ahern, Josh Brooks, Ali Abulugma, Maryanne Amore and Lynda Mollow. Louis DeSerio, of the 4th District, is the only Republican RTM member not seeking re-election. 

On the Democratic side some familiar names are seeking election to the RTM. Bruce Storm, former selectman and former Superintendent of Schools, is seeking a spot on the RTM from the 5th District. So is Dr. Randy Reinhold, also from the 5th District. Dr. Reinhold is a retired chief of surgery, who founded Shoreline Village, a thriving organization that helps seniors age at home. 

Police Capt. Raymond Dunbar, who served on the RTM for eight years, four of them as moderator, wants to represent the 2nd District, Stony Creek, on the RTM and Jay Pottenger, a clinical law professor at the Yale School, has decided to seek a place on the RTM from the 7th District.

Democratic RTM Candidates

On the Democratic side, incumbent Clare Torelli along with Jessica Buchanan, Anthony Chieffo. and Michelle Sember are running to represent the 1st District. In the 2nd District, Raymond Dunbar and incumbent Peter Hentschel are running to represent Stony Creek. Josh Brooks, a long serving Stony Creek member of the RTM, decided not to run again this year. In District 3, Short Beach, incumbent Peter Jackson is seeking reelection along with Robin Comey, long active in school and Short Bach issues. Ali Abulugma is not running again. In District 4, incumbent Adam Hansen, who serves as the RTM clerk, is seeking re-election. Dan Adelman and Dorothy Docknevich, a former RTM member, are also running. Maryanne Amore is not seeking re-election from the 4th District this year. In District 5, incumbent Maryanne Hall is running for office, along with Bruce Storm, Dr. Randy Reinhold, and Louis Siegel. In District 6, incumbent Chris Sullivan, the Democratic minority leader, is seeking another term. Also seeking an RTM position are Ellen Michaels, and Rebecca Lowery. Candidates for the 7th District include Tom Brockett and Jay Pottenger.

Republican RTM Candidates

Republican RTM candidates in the November election include incumbents Frank Twohill, Jennifer Zambrano, John Carter, and George David Wells from the 1st District; incumbent James Walker, III from the 2nd District in Stony Creek and newcomer Nathaniel Andreozzi; Incumbent Peter Black from the 3rd District in Short Beach, and newcomer Dawn Perotti; Incumbents Bob Imperato, Darren ​“Howie” Lawler, and James Stepanek are seeking re-election from the 4th District along with newcomer Vin Behal. From the 5th District, all four incumbents are running again: Ray Ingraham, the majority leader of the RTM, Dennis Flanigan, the RTM moderator, Donald Conklin and John Leonard. In the 6th District, all three incumbents are running again: Marc Riccio, Ed Prete and Anthony Alfone. In the 7th District, Robin Sandler and Patricia Anderson, both incumbents are also seeking another two-year term.

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