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:
Brenda Buzzi (Democrat) – First Selectman
As a fourth-generation Haddam resident, I truly love this town. I graduated from Haddam-Killingworth High School in 1984. I raised my two daughters here, Rebecca, class of 2012 and Rachel, class of 2013. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology. I enjoy gardening, painting, kayaking, puzzles, games, and reading. With all of my experiences, I have what it takes to be your next first selectmen.
I bring strong leadership skills to Haddam as a long-time business owner and manager. I founded and managed a preschool program in town. I have generated and worked with budgets, accounts payables and receivables, taxes and payroll—all while complying with the many local, state, and federal laws. I also maintained effective communication with parents, staff, and the community. I worked closely with state agencies to offer help to families when needed, acted as liaison with the Department of Children and Families, school staff, and other professionals. I worked for Regional District 17 as a Special Education Para-educator and now I work for Middletown Public Schools.
Volunteering is also very important to me. Currently I serve as Haddam’s voice on the Board of Education. During my tenure on the board, I helped with contract writing, led union negotiations, worked with a $42,000,000 budget, helped save the district money, reviewed audit reports, researched businesses for the superintendent search, participated in expulsion hearings, and tried to bridge the gap in communication between the Board and the community.
I currently serve on the Bereavement Team at Middlesex Hospice, the Haddam Elderly Housing Committee as vice president, and is am a Justice of the Peace. Previous volunteering includes Assistant Director on fifteen musicals with Artful Living and HKMS, Sunday School teacher, Chairman of the Church Council at Higganum Methodist Church, Chairman of the Pastor-Staff Relation Committee, Girl Scout leader, PTO President, school/parent volunteer, and Mason Youth Corrections Facility Chaplin Intern.
I am running for first selectman because I want a transparent government in Haddam—one that will listen to all residents. I know we don’t always agree, but we all want similar things. I believe working together is imperative for our small town and I want to unite Haddam for the good of our community.
One of my goals is to nurture existing businesses while welcoming new ones to rev Haddam’s economic engine and add to the tax base. With the Connecticut River and hiking in our backyard, I believe Haddam is ripe for eco-tourism. I will work with area towns to expand tourism and visitors coming to enjoy our gem of an area. Through diligent budgeting and efficiencies, I will work to reduce expenses while maintaining critical services.
Some key issues facing Haddam currently are Haddam Elementary School (HES), finding a location for the town garage, roads and infrastructure, the budget, and of course, taxes… the list goes on.
HES: I wish it was still open as a school, but that is not the reality. I was able to walk through the empty building recently. To my surprise, I was not as sad as I thought I would have been. The building still has lots of life left in it! We really need to work together and figure out exactly what that life should be for the future. I have heard from many of you and there are so many amazing possibilities.
As far as the town garage, we need to work with our town planner as well as the planning and zoning commission and residents to figure this out. We need to see what the most cost effective opportunity is for us. Your input at the meetings in October will be imperative.
Two of the key things I love about this town are its tranquil beauty and the people. Having lived here most of my life, I know many of you, amazing people, who help each other every day. The memories I have watching the Memorial Day parade will stay with me forever. I hope to ensure these memories live on for future residents.
My door will always be open. As your public servant, I will listen patiently to all points of view and be inclusive with committees and boards. I believe in working with all generations, from the youngest to our most valued senior residents, for the betterment of our community. I believe in bringing people together for the good of the whole. Together we can bridge the divide to make our town economically vibrant while keeping our small town charm. United we are stronger.
As a driven leader and former business owner, I have what it takes to be your next first selectman. I am dedicated to Haddam, to you, and to all residents—I am your voice. I am honored and enthusiastic to serve Haddam. With your vote, I will create an honest, friendly, approachable, and knowledgeable government for Haddam. With sleeves rolled up, I, Brenda Buzzi, will put people before politics—I am the right choice for Haddam.
Bob McGarry (Republican) – First Selectman
Bob McGarry has served his country in numerous leadership roles in the U.S. Coast Guard, including Commanding Officer, Chief Staff Officer, Operations Officer, and Director of Training and Consulting. Now retired, Bob wants to serve his beloved town of Haddam as First Selectman.
As a graduate of the Coast Guard Academy, with a degree in Civil Engineering, Bob served on active duty for 20 years, retiring as a Commander in 1996. Bob and his wife Vivienne and their two children, Travis and Amanda, moved back to Haddam, and settled in Haddam Neck. Since returning, Bob has held positions as a Director of Northeast Utilities, a consultant with various government agencies and private companies, and as a Senior Manager with a State agency. He currently is an Associate Professor at Post University.
Bob is heavily involved in the community. He has been the Chief of the Haddam Neck Fire Department since 2002, is on the Board of Directors for the Haddam Neck Fair, and volunteers with the East Hampton Ambulance Association. In 2016, Bob was elected to the Board of Finance where he serves to this day. Bob is aware of the challenges faced by small businesses. He and Vivienne own Cold Goats Farm, raising sheep and Angora goats.
It is evident that Bob is a natural born leader with a commitment to serve his home country and community.
Kate Anderson (Unaffiliated/Endorsed by Republicans) – Selectman
Kate Anderson is a proud lifelong resident of Haddam. She graduated from HK in 2007 and worked for Haddam Park & Recreation at the after-school program and summer camp continuously throughout high school and college. Kate is excited to continue her service to the community by running for Selectman.
Kate is active in four Haddam committees. She is Chairman of the Economic Development Commission, Secretary of the Infrastructure Committee and Charter Revision Commission, and a member of the Plan of Conservation & Development Implementation Committee.
Kate holds a BS in Marketing and has over seven years experience working as a Marketing and Proposal Specialist in the architecture/engineering/construction industry. Her work has included coordinating team responses for professional services on over 300 proposals for municipalities and private companies. Kate looks forward to fostering a collaborative team approach for town management.
Sean Moriarty (Democrat)
I am a long-time resident of Higganum who has raised two children through the HK school system with my wife, Tanja.
Over the years, I’ve served Haddam in various roles as a member of the board of finance and the infrastructure committee. I’ve coached youth basketball and soccer teams. I march as Desert Storm Veteran in the local Memorial Day parade honoring those who have given their lives so we can live freely in this country and town.
Now that I am retired after 31 years as a municipal police officer, I am able to bring invaluable career experience to the Town of Haddam. As a Lieutenant and Captain, I’ve worked collaboratively with several municipal and private agencies including public works, the Fire Department, the Ambulance Service, Health Department, Parks and Rec, along with Middlesex Community College and Wesleyan University.
I managed the Patrol Division comprised of 80 sworn and civilian personnel, patrol supervisors and officers, the traffic unit, Animal control, Marine unit, and S.W.A.T.
I am eager to bring my managerial and budgetary skills, as well as respect for all people, to the Town of Haddam.
I care about what comes next in Haddam. I feel Haddam is at a turning point with the potential to grow economically and want to help usher in a new era of prosperity. I seek your vote for selectman and pledge to work carefully, openly, and respectfully with the board of selectmen to guide Haddam as we go forward. I helped develop and administer the police department’s $13,000,000 budget. I know how to trim fat from a municipal budget by utilizing a zero-based budget process and will encourage this strategy at budget time.
Stabilizing Haddam’s tax base and easing the burden of property owners should be the focus of the next administration. This can be achieved by truly exploring the potential of the Scovil property. This building has the potential to house maker spaces, small shops, restaurants, galleries, or any number of businesses. For an idea of what we can happen here, look at the old Remington Rand building in the north end of Middletown.
We need to stop studying and finally agree on a wastewater solution in Higganum Center as proposed by our town planner. This issue has been kicked down the road for far too long. There have been several empty businesses in town for years. The board of selectmen should spearhead initiatives to incentivize businesses to come to the area, such as streamlining the permitting process, especially with the water project coming to completion.
One of my absolute favorite things in Haddam is the Memorial Day Parade. As a Veteran it makes me proud that my town has not forgotten the brave women and men who have served their country and gave all to it. The camaraderie and reverence that the people display at the parade exemplifies what it means to live in a small town.
Our school system is top notch. The teachers show their dedication every day. Our parents are truly involved in their children’s education, which is something you do not see in all towns.
It has been my experience over the 31 years that I have been a resident, the people of the town really pull together in tough times. Whether it is an illness, tragic fire, or loss, we seem to put aside our differences and reach out to help lift each other up.
I care deeply about Haddam and I truly believe this is a great town to live in. I have spent my adult life as a public servant in the Army, police department, and now keeping children safe in the East Lyme School System. I have worked collaboratively with all people and will continue to do so as your selectman. In these days of divisive rhetoric I will work honestly and openly to unite Haddam.
Joe Rizzo (Democrat)
I live in Higganum with my wife Katy, two sons, and our dog Sami. I am a high school educator and biologist. My passion for the natural world spills over into all areas of my life, whether I am in the classroom, speaking at a community event, or a scout meeting presenting to kids with reptiles draped over my arms. I adore the innate natural beauty of Haddam, which first struck me back in college when I was studying ecology on the Connecticut River. A few days ago, I was speaking to a resident, something he said struck me, “It’s like we live in a postcard….” and I couldn’t describe our town more perfectly. I embraced that statement, thinking back to when my family and I happily moved to our home in Higganum.
Since moving to town, my concerns over village center properties that stand unfilled has grown. I believe we can embrace and promote the potential of spaces like Higganum Cove, the HES building, and Swan Hill. Those resources can help us fill the empty buildings. Along with my passion for our town’s natural beauty, I bring a dedication to increasing our village center’s vitality to the office of selectman. I see a need for a facility dedicated to school-aged children and adults alike where they may engage in sports, games, classes, and extracurricular activities. If the townspeople share that vision, the newly acquired HES building, paired with Swan Hill, could provide that center for activity and connectivity. This is just one idea among many to bring vitality and businesses to one of our centers.
I am passionate about our community, the rich history, natural beauty, and the wonderful people that make up our town. Preserving our small town feel while utilizing these attributes as a way to increase the vitality of our village centers will be one of my primary goals as selectman. I strongly feel that the closure of HES was a poor decision both educationally and economically speaking. I am now shifting my dedication from that fight to ensure that the HES property is utilized in a way that aligns with the development of our village center and benefits taxpayers. I will also ensure the concerns of Haddam residents are communicated clearly and effectively to the board of education in the future. I believe that we still boast a top-notch educational system and that advantage will continue to attract young families to our town. While working to help secure the HES building and surrounding property for our town, the need for boards to work together, listen to the people, and find common ground became abundantly clear to me. I am not a politician; in fact, I am unaffiliated. Before this run, I have never been associated with a political party because in my opinion, political party affiliation really doesn’t matter. I am tired of watching stalemate meetings where nothing gets done and I believe the office of selectman needs some common sense thinking. I have a strong inclination to reach across the aisle, because it is up to everyone—political party aside—to cooperate and achieve our common and shared goals.
I see the economic development of Higganum center and the continued careful development of Tylerville as key aspects to the health of Haddam. I believe that we have many resources already available that are being underutilized and under-advertised to folks outside of town. We can bring people to our centers with minimal improvements and some enthusiastic advocating. As your selectman, I will encourage ecotourism activities to areas like the Higganum Cove, the waterfall on Depot Hill Road, the Higganum Reservoir, HES, and the 145 acres of gorgeous Swan Hill trails. In addition to all of this, we have miles and miles of trails in Cockaponset State Forest, Eagle Landing in Tylerville, and the beauty of Haddam Meadows State Park, which is so big it looks vast and open in spite of being one of the most popular boat launches on the Connecticut River. Promoting these areas will bring active, outdoor oriented people directly to our town center and to our businesses, piquing their interest in our town as a destination and a place to settle their families.
I will be steadfast in promoting all of these resources and more while managing smart development. We have potential and the ability to ensure the bright future of our town and make it an even more beautiful postcard for generations to come.
I am happy to hear your ideas or questions. Please do not hesitate to contact me at selectjoe2019@gmail.com.
