Politics & Government
Carr changes registration from Republican to unaffiliated
Selectman, former first selectman was not nominated for another term at Republican caucus
By Scott Benjamin
BROOKFIELD -- Selectman Tara Carr, who was elected as first selectman four years ago, has changed her party registration from Republican to unaffiliated just a week after being denied in her bid for the GOP caucus nomination to serve another term as a selectman on the three-member board.
Carr, who served for 25 years in the U.S. Army, was elected first selectman in 2021 with nearly 52 percent of the vote. She was only the second female to serve as the town's chief elected municipal official.
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During her two years as first selectman, she was noted for providing thoughtful constituent service and posting information on the social media on municipal-related topics. Carr also was praised for her personal interaction with constituents and for establishing an area in the town hall to recognize the local military veterans.
However, her Twitter account was suspended in February 2023 after she posted what was considered controversial comments regarding the Chinese craft that was hovering over the United States.
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Carr was challenged by former Board of Education Chairman Matt Grimes in a September 2023 primary, winning easily.
However, after defeating Democratic First Selectman Steve Dunn in 2021, Dunn returned in 2023 and prevailed with almost 54 percent of the vote in the general election. Carr garnered enough votes to win one of the two other seats on the board.
This last April 21, she announced that she was running as a team with Austin Monteiro, a real estate asset manager. Monteiro was seeking the Republican nomination for first selectman and Carr would run for another term as an Other Selectman.
About a week later the Republican Town Committee recommended Zoning Board of Appeals Vice Chairman Karl Hinger for first selectman and Zoning Board of Appeals Chairman Alan Donnelly for a seat on the Board of Selectmen.
Hinger defeated Monteiro and Donnelly outpolled Carr, each by nearly two to one margins on July 16 at the Republican caucus.
Patch.com left a voice-mail message for Carr and has not yet received a reply.
