
REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES FOR NOV 2nd 2021 ELECTION
FOR TOWN COUNCIL
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Office Manager at a law firm
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Professional Legal Assistant
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Vice Chair of the Coventry Republican Town Committee
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Entrepreneur and Coventry small business owner
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Coventry Board of Ed 2003-2005
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Town Council Chair 2005-2007, 2015-2017, 2019-2021
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Town Council Member 2007-2011, 2017-2019
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Windham Region Council of Governments member and Secretary
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Served as President of the Hans Christian Andersen Montessori Board
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Strong supporter of governmental transparency and accountability
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Supporter of the Coventry Police and Fire Departments
Julie Blanchard
*Incumbent*
Town Council

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Recently moved to Coventry from Windham
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Served on Windham Board of Finance '86-'99 (Chairman '90-'99)
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Oversaw the entire budget for the town and Board of Ed
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Businessman, designer, carpenter
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Owns Willimantic Interior Design Gallery
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Greatest Asset is bringing people together for the good of the community
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Will bring business skills to make the town government more fluid, less regulatory, and more transparent.
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"We need to work together. We must all be on the same page- let's make Coventry the best place that we can by making it affordable and a great place to work and live."

John French
Town Council

Matthew O'Brien Jr
*Incumbent*
Town Council
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New father and proactive parent
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Chairman of the Coventry Republican Town Committee
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Coventry Town Council Steering Chair 2019-present
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Investment Advisor at a Fortune 100 Firm
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31-year resident of Coventry
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Has worked relentlessly for local and statewide Republican candidates
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Ran for Republican State Party Chairman in 2019
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State Secretary for the Connecticut Republican Assembly
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Will continue to focus on keeping Coventry's taxes low and streamlining Town projects for cost effectiveness
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"The loss of freedom and liberty during the pandemic has crushed small businesses and pushed people to their breaking point. I pledge to do everything in my power to preserve your rights."
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Coventry small business owner, Farmer, Scientist, and Educator
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Served as a Research Assistant at Yale University Medical School, a public and private school teacher and Library Assistant.
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Served on the Coventry Zoning Board of Appeals 2014-2019
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Running to combat the loss of individual freedom and liberty both during the pandemic and going forward
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"Decisions are being made by non-elected bureaucrats and not by elected officials with the consent of the people."

Carol Chipkin
Town Council

Matthew O'Brien Sr
*Incumbent*
Town Council
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Successful small business owner in Coventry, 31 years (Executive Recruiter)
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MBA in Finance, Boston University
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BS, University of Notre Dame
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Served 6 terms on the Coventry Town Council
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Served on Coventry Board of Education 1997-1999
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Strong analytical skills - provides leadership on the town budget, financial issues and contracts
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Works hard to identify the needs of the community and improve quality of life, providing services at reasonable costs
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Continuously fights for greater transparency and full disclosure to taxpayers
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Supports our Police and Fire Services
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"I will continue to push for meaningful reporting by the BOE and Town, and find ways to use every tax dollar appropriately."
FOR BOARD OF EDUCATION
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New mother & proactive parent
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Served 2 terms on Coventry Zoning Board of Appeals (one as alternate and now as Chair)
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Assistant Coach for CHS Crew Club / Coventry Lake Community Rowing
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International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (2017)
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"I'm running because of the lack of trust for our BOE, and poor leadership from those who are supposed to be our elected leaders."
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"We will restore faith back into our community- by being unafraid to ask the tough questions and tackle uncomfortable topics."

Courtney Rossignol
Board of Education

Christina Williams
*Incumbent*
Board of Education
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Mother of 4 with 16 years of vested interest in the district's success
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Coventry Board of Education 2019-present
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Staunch advocate of parental rights
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Father was career Air Force- "I was brought up with military values, and military respect."
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20 years of Program Management and Engineering experience
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Will combat the slow erosion of parental rights, fight for real curriculum review & transparency, District accountability and student safety
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"Parents know best. We cannot remove families from the educational equation."
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Will continue to listen to the Community, volunteer in the schools, and innovate to problem solve.
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Coventry small business owner
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Served 3 terms on Coventry Town Council, currently on the Town Council Finance Committee
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Secretary of the Town Council
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Served 2 terms on Coventry Board of Education, one as Vice Chair and the other as a member of the Finance Committee
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Experience in budgeting, contracts, and the development of technology programs
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Provides inquisitive, succinct and thoughtful input into discussions, often driving Q&A
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Established the open space fund to protect Coventry's rural character and spearheaded the drive to "dump the green bags."

Richard Williams
Board of Education

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Adjunct Professor at Goodwin University teaching Business Operations Management and Current Topics in Business
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Strong background in strategic leadership, lean operations, finance and transformational management
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Marine Corps veteran and co-founder of the CT Veterans Day Race in Coventry
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Recently retired as the Chief Operating Officer for an institutional pharmacy
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Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation Board of Directors Member 2003-2009
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Served on Coventry Board of Education 1995-1999
Peter DePaola
Board of Education
FOR ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS
AND ZBA ALT

Thomas DeLucco
Zoning Board Of Appeals
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Federal Express Logistics Specialist, Air Ground Freight Services Division since 1988
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Brigade of the American Revolution member, an International Living History Organization where he is serving on the National Board of Directors (24 years)
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Board Member at Large: 18 years
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Organization President: 6 years
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Experience with large organization oversight, logistics, contract negotiation, and planning & coordination at the local, municipal, county, and state levels
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Results-based mentality and a strong desire to complete every task efficiently
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Will work to verify that our Zoning and Building laws are adhered to by builders and contractors
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"I am a firm believer in the greatness of the United States, our system of government, our laws, the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights, especially the 1st, 2nd, and 4th Amendments. I fully support the idea of "America First" as expressed by the administrations of Presidents Ronald Reagan & Donald J. Trump."
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Retired from American Nuclear Insurers after 32 years
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Worked in specialty insurance, banking relationships, and cash management
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Seeks to be of service to the citizens of Coventry

Patricia Hodge
Zoning Board Of Appeals Alt

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Currently serves on the Coventry Zoning Board of Appeals as an Alternate
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Professional experience as an Electrician, Electrical Contractor, Senior Estimator & Senior Project Manager
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Has a keen interest in reviewing ZBA requests
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Will work to understand applicant requests and appropriately apply Zoning Laws
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Former Pomfret, CT RTC Vice-Chairman
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"The residents of Coventry deserve fair and unbiased due process."
Michael Gerrity
Zoning Board Of Appeals
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Retired from the Judicial Department in Superior Court as a court reporter for 35 years
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Experience and diverse knowledge as a court reporter for Zoning Board hearings
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42 year resident of Coventry with a passion for giving back to the community in a positive way
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"I believe in keeping our community's special rural character while allowing for sensible growth."

Carol Marcinek
Zoning Board Of Appeals

William Hall
Zoning Board Of Appeals
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Member of the Libertarian Party of Connecticut serving on the State Central Committee and as the Tolland County Affiliate Chairman
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Maintenance Supervisor at Peak Campus
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Experience in management, and small business ownership (Sagittarian Archery School)
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Respects the balance between progression as a town and keeping the "village" feel that is important to so many of us
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Has experience serving on many boards and committees
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Understands the responsibility and importance of elected representation
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Will fight to reduce barriers to business and encourage personal property rights and environmental stewardship
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"The government lockdown in 2020 destroyed my dream of opening a new full-time archery club in Coventry. Since then, I have become very politically active, and have vowed to fight against the overreach of government into our lives."
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Owner/Operator of Cassidy Hill Vineyard in Coventry
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Was the American Wine Society's Connecticut "2016 Wineperson of the Year"
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Coventry resident and property owner for 20 years
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Graduate of Cornell University with a degree in Mathematics
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Graduate degree from Yale University (Mathematics)
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Graduate degree from Cornell University (Actuarial Science)
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Former insurance executive and corporate actuary at Phoenix Mutual (28 years)
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Married to Carol Chipkin, 51 years: son David and grand-daughter Rowan

Robert Chipkin
Zoning Board of Appeals

Carolyn Gerrity
Zoning Board of Assessment Appeals
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Pratt & Whitney Sr Financial Analyst - Military Programs
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Certified Program Management Professional
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Experience as a business manager, business consultant (NATO & US Navy R&D), and financial planning
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Excellent negotiator- has worked with engineers and program offices to reach monetary and scheduling compromises
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Will reach fair and equitable compromises between town revenue needs and residents' needs
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Served on the Pomfret, CT Board of Finance from 2004-2018, and as Vice Chair from 2008-2018
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Excited to give back to the community as a volunteer
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"I believe the most effective, responsive, and responsible government is the one closest to the individual."
