We reached out to both the Haddam Republican Town Committee and the Haddam Democratic Town Committee and asked candidates to respond to a set of questions; if a candidate did not respond, their name is listed, so that you know who is running for each office. Updates from all candidates are welcome, and will be published as Letters to the Editor. The questions posed to the candidates were:
David Beckman (Republican)
Jo Ann Woickelman (Democrat)
I came to Higganum in 1963 when I married the late Thomas “Butch” Woickelman. I have two grown sons, one of whom still lives in town.
After graduating from the Connecticut School of Finance and Management, I had a long career in banking. I retired from Liberty Bank as assistant treasurer and manager of the Haddam and Higganum branches.
I served for 26 years on Haddam’s board of finance (BOF), many as chairperson. After leaving the BOF in 2007, I was elected to the board of assessment appeals and am currently the chair. I served on the 1987 charter revision committee. I still help out as Director/Auditor for The Haddam Scholarship Fund; Director for Rockfall Foundation of Middletown; Chairman of the deKoven House Committee and member of the finance committee; Treasurer for the East Haddam/Haddam/Killingworth Salvation Army Service unit; and am president of the Haddam Elderly Housing Corp which oversees High Meadow, a low income/disability hosing facility in Haddam.
I feel that my background of dealing with the public and understanding the finances of Haddam continue to aid me in my duties on the board of assessment appeal.
I made a few positive changes while on the board of assessment appeals over the years. I have changed the hours of hearings in order to accommodate the seniors who have appeals, I have called applicants to make appointments that are convenient for them, not just assigning a time, I continue to educate the taxpayer in what the board legally can adjust, and I encourage attending workshops for board members.
I will continue to serve with openness and fairness, I ask for your support on November 5.
