(October 17, 2023)—We reached out 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 candidate’s reply is unchanged from the original as submitted. HK-Now.com and Haddam Killingworth News are not responsible for errors in grammar, usage, punctuation or spelling. The questions posed to the candidates were:
- Tell us a little about yourself.
- Why are you running for the position?
- What do you see as the important issues facing your town and how would you address them in your role?
- What are the key things you love about this town and its people?
- Additional thoughts to leave voters with?
Full Term
Emily Carrow (D):
My husband and I moved to Haddam in 2007. Having grown up in Connecticut but lived elsewhere most of my life, Haddam’s rocky brooks and forested hills sweeping down to the Connecticut River called out to me. Another big draw was the opportunity to live in a historic, rural setting yet still have the major conveniences of a village center nearby. To this day I still look forward to doing errands in town because I know I will find friendly faces and the chance to chat with someone.
Always with an eye for improvement, I have been involved with the community over the years, including work with the Higganum Vision Group to spur the transformation of Higganum Cove into a recreational/historical site for the public to enjoy. I also volunteered my time as a member of an advisory committee to the town reviewing initial proposals for revitalization/re-use of the historic Jail building and the Scovil Hoe building.
Charting the future, Haddam faces some big decisions, including the suitable development of the many vacant or under-utilized properties in Higganum, as well as much needed upgrades to our school buildings. In alignment with the Haddam Democrats’ vision, as well as my own skills, my pledge as a member of the Board of Finance would be to support careful planning and thorough cost benefit analysis of all proposals, an appreciation for the big picture, and importantly, inviting public participation.
My professional career as a microbiologist and research project manager has provided me with broad experience in planning and budgeting as well as an appreciation for teamwork. I would put these skills to good use with a commitment to fairness, due diligence and transparency.
Marijean Conrad (D):
It is an honor to be nominated for a position on the Haddam Board of Finance. Having lived in 5 States as well as in Japan and Singapore, I am fortunate to have spent the past 20 years in this lovely town. It is a welcoming community and I have enjoyed being a member of the Haddam Garden Club, the Haddam Historical Society, the Board of the 30 Mile Island Plantation Cemetery and for several years served as President of the Brainerd Memorial Library Board of Trustees. In addition to continuing to work with these great volunteer organizations, I am also working with a refugee family through the HaRRP program. In 2022, my deceased husband and I were honored for our community service by being selected for the Haddam Killingworth Hall of Fame. I appreciate being given this opportunity to continue to serve our town by becoming a member of the Board of Finance.
My childhood was spent in California where I lived until I obtained a degree in psychology from Occidental College. As a lifelong learner, I later received a M.S. in education from Eastern Michigan University, a M.A. and Specialist certification in school psychology from S.C.S.U. and a doctorate in educational administration from University of Bridgeport. These degrees and life experiences enabled me to hold a variety of positions within the field of education having worked as a teacher, a school principal and a school psychologist. While living overseas I was the director of a large community agency as well as having a private practice as an educational psychologist. These positions required knowledge of and responsibility for a variety of financial budgets.
As a member of the Haddam Board of Finance I would hope to utilize these same skills to build a secure financial future for the town through teamwork and a respect for others’ views. Transparency in the financial planning and implementation of Haddam budgets is an important personal goal. All community groups should have an opportunity to express their financial needs and to be heard, while recognizing that financial resources are finite. Planning and leveraging our financial resources will continue to give residents of Haddam confidence in the future of our great town.
Your vote for Marijean Conrad as a member of the Haddam Board of Finance will allow me work on your behalf to make Haddam the best town it can be for all.
