Democratic Newcomer Seeking District 2 Enfield Town Council Seat

ENFIELD, CT — John Santanella, who unsuccessfully challenged for an at-large seat on the Enfield Town Council as an unaffiliated candidate, has announced his intention to seek the Democratic nomination to run for the District 2 seat currently held by Republican Kelly Hemmeler.

An Enfield native and newcomer to the Democratic party, Santanella says he is committed to economic development, cutting wasteful spending, reducing debt and supporting schools.

"I am thrilled to hear John decided to run again for a seat on the town council," councilor bob Cressotti said. "He is clearly his own man, but there is no doubt he is committed to making Enfield a better place, especially for people who live in District 2."

Santanella, 53, graduated from Enfield High School in 1985. He earned a bachelor's degree in political science and history from Boston College in 1990, and an MBA from the Carroll School of Management there in 1997.

His career has spanned more than 20 years, and has included time in both the corporate world and in smaller entrepreneurial environments. After graduate school, he joined Hasbro, Inc. as an Associate Brand Manager at the Parker Brothers games division. Shortly after, he was promoted and transferred to European headquarters in London to oversee marketing and product development for that region's business.

Returning to the U.S., Santanella became Director of Marketing for Milton Bradley in Longmeadow, Mass., and was responsible for all marketing and product development for

North America. He later became Vice President of Global Marketing for the Playskool division.

He also spent two years as Vice President of Global Toy Marketing and Inventor Relations for the Nickelodeon Television Network in New York City. For the past 10 years, he has been CEO of his own company, which operates a chain of upscale men's barbershops, and is actively investing in other start-up ventures.

Santanella has been an adjunct professor at Bryant University in North Smithfield, R.I., and has completed executive education at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College.

To register for free Enfield news alerts and more, click here.