Branford Election 2021: Eileen Poulton Cimino For Town Clerk

BRANFORD, CT — The state Municipal Election is Tuesday, Nov. 2.

Patch contacted candidates to answer questions about their campaigns.

Democrat Eileen Poulton Cimino, 62, is running for Branford Town Clerk.

Occupation: Assistant Town Clerk

Family: I live in Branford with my husband Steve and my mother, Nanako. We have three adult children, Steven, Brandon and Francesca who were all raised in Branford.

Family in government: No

The single biggest issue in town is ______, and I plan to do this about it:

The single most pressing issue facing the Town Clerk’s office is planning for the future. We have two staff members that are nearing retirement. The departure of long-term employees and how the Town Clerk will replace their wealth of knowledge and experience is a concern for the office. I would begin preparing for their departure now, rather than waiting until they announce their retirement and take steps to make sure the loss is less severe. The goal is to seamlessly transfer knowledge from the retiring employee to any current or future staff. However, the knowledge and wisdom gained from experience can’t be easily passed from a seasoned employee to a new hire. Working closely with that long-time employee to identify and document as much of that knowledge as possible before they leave is crucial. Because I’ve worked side by side with these employees for years and have their respect and support, and I will be able to work with them to prepare for a smooth transition when they move on to the next phase in their lives.

Critical differences between me and my opponents:

The most critical difference is that I have worked as an assistant Town Clerk for six years and have spent every day learning and doing all of the tasks that a Town Clerk handles. Just spending time working to learn the complicated ins and outs of recording land records is something you can’t learn from a class. You need to do the work and come across the hundreds of different types of documents and situations that come up. It’s a natural transition that should happen in any office, that a seasoned employee moves up to a position of leadership.

Accomplishments:

I have had a varied career that has prepared me for this unique time. I have worked as a bench jeweler, managed a large trade workshop while training apprentice jewelers, worked as an award-winning realtor, been a director of marketing for a senior living facility, and run my own business. In 2018, I achieved my Certified Connecticut Town Clerk accreditation. I’m punctual, organized, dependable and patient, all valuable skills needed when working in service of the residents of a town.

Other issues:

Because I’ve worked as an assistant Town Clerk for six years, I know what it's going to take to make the Town Clerk's office a place that exceeds the needs of our community. It needs to be a place that the residents can count on for exceptional customer service, and new technology and strong fiscal management. I will work for those exact things and make a plan for the future to preserve the past.

What else would you like voters to know about you?

I love working in the town clerk's office! I love helping people at all phases of life, getting married, buying a home, having a baby, and even getting a puppy. That’s why I’m running for Town Clerk. I will be a “working” town clerk. Because spending time helping the residents of Branford is the best part of working there.