On Civility, Taxes & Schools

The Republican candidate for first selectman in Branford says that being a political unknown can be beneficial.

“I think there are more benefits than drawbacks,” said Joy McConnell (pictured), who was unanimously selected by the Republican Town Committee (RTC) three weeks ago. ​“The benefit is I do not have old scores to settle. I don’t have business entanglements or personal entanglements at Town Hall. …I was not involved in things like Tabor,” she said, referring to the nine-year-long eminent domain case that has straddled the administrations of both Democrats and Republicans.

“The citizens of Branford want to move on,” McConnell said as she discussed her goals in one of her first interviews. ​“I think a fresh face, a new voice is better able to do that.”

McConnell, 43, has never held public office or any appointment to a town board or commission. She acknowledged that anonymity has a downside.

“The disadvantage is people don’t know me,” McConnell told the Eagle in an interview Monday. ​“That’s the big part of my challenge so people have a fuller understanding of who I am.”

“I’m not a Tea Partier … I would consider myself as a moderate Republican,” McConnell said.

Although McConnell was chosen by the RTC three weeks ago, the selection is not official until the party caucus on July 26. In the meantime, the RTC is conducting a phone poll to access public opinion on a variety of topics.

RTC chair Ray Ingraham, who is also serving as McConnell’s campaign manager, said the committee is polling a random sampling of Democrats, Republicans and unaffiliated voters.

One of the poll questions asks whether the preference for first selectman is an experienced person; a newcomer; anyone but the incumbent; or Third Selectman John Opie.

“Because I’m an unknown, it would make sense they ask a question like that,” McConnell told the Eagle.

She declined to elaborate on the poll or its results.

Branford Republicans have not won a race for first selectman since Opie captured the seat in 2003. Opie has run for the first selectman’s position three times since and lost each time. McConnell would be challenging incumbent Anthony ​“Unk” DaRos if he seeks reelection. DaRos has served as first selectman for ten years overall, beginning in 1997, with a four-year interlude.

McConnell, who filed her campaign papers at Town Hall Friday, moved to Branford 12 years ago. The filing shows that Marc Riccio, the vice-chair of the RTC and a member of the Representative Town Meeting (RTM), will serve as McConnell’s deputy treasurer. Paul Costanzo is the treasurer. 

“I was unaffiliated for a long time,” McConnell said, ​“I have a lot of confidence in Branford’s RTC and the leadership there.” She switched from unaffiliated to Republican on June 9. She was nominated for the first selectman’s position less than two weeks later. 

She explained what prompted her to run for office.

“I have had people urging me to step forward for a long time,” she said. ​“For many years I couldn’t because I had young children. So I really didn’t have time to get active in politics, although I follow it closely. I’m an avid reader and I keep a very close eye on things.”

McConnell and her husband Kevin, a molecular biophysicist, have three daughters, ages 6, 8 and 10. Her daughters attend St. Mary’s School in Branford. 

“What finally prompted me [to run for office] was what I thought was really a growing lack of civility in Town Hall proceedings,” she said, referring to what are oft times boisterous town meetings.

“My message is probably the most moderate of messages. …which is that, for me, as first selectman, if you’ve got business in front of town hall or any business before the RTM …our business is not to check your voter registration card and then decide how to proceed. Responses need to be fair….they should be transparent. I’m not running to perpetuate a cycle of favoring one party… I’m really here to serve every Democrat, Republican and unaffiliated.”

When asked if she would consider enacting Robert’s Rules of Order at town meetings, she said that enforcing some type of protocol ​“would be helpful so everyone knows the rules of engagement.”

In addition to civility, she said her other top platform issues are taxation and public education.

“People are very concerned about excellence in education. That’s something I am very dedicated to,” she said.

An avid opponent of raising property taxes, she said, she prefers growing the tax base by bringing new businesses to town.

“Right now we have about ¼ of our commercial properties which are empty,” she estimated.

“The voters I talk to don’t want to pay more property taxes.…It makes sense to be business friendly and attract business so that we do not have to raise property taxes in order to maintain services… That’s a major issue.”

When asked how she would attract more businesses, she said it is important to look at the committees and commissions that are already in place and ​“make sure they’re focused properly on that.”

Her concerns range from small businesses to big box stores like Costco, which has been searching for a possible location in Branford. Costco has made informal presentations before the Inland Wetland Commission, but has not yet filed an application. One of the RTC poll questions dealt with Costco’s location if it came to Branford. 

“It’s something we need to look at and we need public input,” she said in regard to big box stores. ​“Everybody needs to be given fair consideration.”

Returning to the theme of civility, she said, ​“My vision for Branford …is for everyone to really feel like they’re home…. When they come to town hall there is this issue of civility. A home is somewhere you can speak freely and say what’s on your mind.”

In discussing her political philosophy, she said she is a fiscal conservative, but emphasized that ​“When it comes to most issues, I’m a moderate.”

Although this would be her first political campaign, she briefly considered running as an independent candidate against U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro last spring in the Third District. She hosted a Facebook page called ​“Take Back Ct’s Third District” in which she stated, ​“We are mobilizing Connecticut conservatives to prove that Connecticut does not belong to the Democrats.”

McConnell said she was not seriously considering running against DeLauro. ​“It was a way to get a little more vocal, to test the waters a little bit,” she said.

At that time, she also addressed a Tea Party rally in New Haven. She told the Eagle that her concern was in regard to taxes, but that she does not espouse Tea Party philosophies.

She offered several adjectives to describe herself. ​“I’m a person who builds consensus. I’m a team player. I do my homework. When I’m on a team, I’m one of the hardest workers you’re going to find.” 

McConnell is self-employed, operating a home-based business that provides medical records services to physicians and medical facilities. She also serves as a consultant for grant writing, web content development, and corporate communication projects.

She received her law degree in 2001 from the University of Connecticut School of Law in Hartford, but did not take the bar examination required to practice law. She said she has no plans to. She said her legal education will serve her well in political life.

The RTC has not yet chosen who would run for second selectman. McConnell said her main consideration would be someone who endorses her platform. ​“They need to be on board with that,” she said.

Opie, who had been the de facto leader of the Republican Party, said he had not had a conversation with McConnell, but said he planned to talk to her yesterday afternoon. He did not attend the meeting where McConnell was chosen and indicated in an interview that the Republicans may be moving in a different direction. 

Ingraham said the decision on second selectman will likely be made at the RTC’s July 18 meeting, which is closed to the media.

Ingraham said the four frontrunners are: Third Selectman Opie; Beth Bryan-Almeida and Jamie Cosgrove, both members of the Representative Town Meeting; and Jacey Wyatt, who describes herself as a 40-year-old supermodel. 

Opie, the town’s top-ranking Republican official, said he has not made a decision about running for office. ​“I don’t know what the future holds,” he told the Eagle in a phone interview.

He said he was not aware the RTC was conducting a phone poll but said he would be ​“very interested in the results.” Opie, who describes himself as a fiscal conservative and a moderate Republican, said he thinks the RTC this year is looking for someone more conservative.

Opie has a long history of service — - 12 years on the RTM; and 10 years on the Board of Selectmen, serving in the first, second and third seats.

When asked by the Eagle if he would consider running for second selectman, he said he had suggested months ago that he ​“might be interested.” However, he also said that he has had a lot of calls from people suggesting he run for the top position.