Dear Friend,
My name is Allison Dodge and I am the Chairman of the Middlefield Democratic Town Committee. Thanks for stopping by our website!
I am excited to have this opportunity to introduce you to our 2011 Democratic slate of candidates. Over the next several weeks, you will see them in your neighborhood or somewhere in town and I encourage you to take some time to get to know them and learn about their vision for Middlefield and Rockfall’s future.
Leading our ticket is our candidate for First Selectman, Lucy Petrella. Lucy, along with her husband Frank, has been a resident of Middlefield for 24 years. She has two daughters, one of whom lives in town, as well as two grandchildren who attend local schools. Lucy is a retired teacher, served 8 years on our local Planning and Zoning Board, and is currently serving on our Board of Finance. You might ask why Lucy has decided to run for First Selectman. The answer: She believes that our town government could be doing more for its citizens and that the town could benefit from more proactive leadership, accountable budgeting, responsible planning, and an open door policy for all residents. When you get to know Lucy, you will learn that she puts a high priority on details – - doing her homework and understanding the issues from every angle.
Our candidate for Second Selectman is Dave Burgess. During his 23 years in Middlefield, Dave has served as a member of the Charter Revision Committee (1992), as Town Treasurer (1997-1999), and a member of the Board of Finance (2001-2005). Dave has been a social worker with the State of Connecticut for 26 years. Dave is a problem solver and, I believe, you will find him to be direct, honest, and as straight-forward as they come.
Our three Board of Finance candidates are led by lifelong Middlefield resident and current Board member, Alice Malcolm. Alice has done an outstanding job on the Board and is looking forward to continuing her work. Mary Wolak, while not new to Middlefield – - she and her family have made Rockfall their home for 23 years – - this is her first run for political office. While raising their two sons with her husband Frank, Mary has been very active in the Middlefield community. As a member of the Middlefield Women’s Club and St. Colman’s Choir and her involvement with Town Athletics, Boy Scout Troop 33, and the Region 13 schools, Mary will bring a unique understanding of the issues facing our families to the Board of Finance. Her job as a Rehabilitation Therapy Supervisor requires her to develop and work within strict budgets – - experience that will be a great asset as she reviews our Town’s budget and makes decisions about future financial planning. Our third candidate, Jim Irish, and his wife Lisa chose to make Middlefield their home 4 years ago. Jim is a project leader at United Technologies Research Center. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering and a Masters of Business Administration with a dual focus in finance and marketing. Jim has been looking for a way to get more involved with the community and I think you will find that his experience and background would serve the Board of Finance well.
Our candidate for Town Treasurer is Ellen Waff. She and her husband, Bill, have lived in Middlefield for the last ten years. Ellen has been very involved with the Town, previously serving as the Chair of the Board of Finance and more recently as the Assistant Tax Collector. Her previous experience and commitment to public service will serve her well in the role of Town Treasurer.
Running for re-election are Tax Collector, Anne Olszewski, Board of Assessment Appeals member, Mark Myjak, and Town Clerk, Donna Golub. Anne has lived in Middlefield for 35 years and before she became our Tax Collector, she was active in her husband’s business. She continues to be active in her church’s Ladies Guild. Anne has two sons and is a proud grandmother as well. Mark is a lifelong resident of Middlefield. He has been a member of the Board of Assessment Appeals for 10 years and is looking forward to continuing his work on the Board. Donna Golub lived in Middlefield for 34 years and has served as our Town Clerk for 13 years. In addition to her responsibilities as Town Clerk, Donna is the Registrar of Vital Statistics and Assistant Treasurer. In her spare time, Donna is an active member of Vocal Chords. She is also a proud mother and grandmother. Donna has done an outstanding job as our Town Clerk and I know she is looking forward to serving another term.
Thanks for taking the time learn about our candidates. There is more information available about all of our candidates throughout this website so I hope you will take the time to get to know them even better. Remember, on November 8th, we all have a choice to make. Lucy Petrella and our entire Democratic slate are committed to ensuring that our Town Government is once again working for you. We look forward to hearing from you!
Allison Dodge
Chairman
