Patch Candidate Profile: Sean Connelly, Ridgefield Board Of Selectmen

RIDGEFIELD, CT — The 2023 municipal election is heating up in Ridgefield and there are plenty of races with candidates eager to serve in elected office.

Ridgefield Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as Election Day draws near.

Sean Connelly, 53, is running for re-election to the Ridgefield Board of Selectmen as a Democrat. He earned his MA in applied psychology from Boston University in 1993, and has worked as a management consultant for 30 years. He has been married to Tao for 21 years, and they have two sons: Tristen, attending Trinity College Dublin, and Jack, a senior at Ridgefield High School.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Have you ever held a public office, whether appointive or elective?

Yes, Ridgefield Board of Finance 2016-2019, and Ridgefield Board of Selectmen 2019-present.

Why are you seeking this office?

I care deeply about Ridgefield and our community. I strive to represent the full breadth of people in our town.

Please complete this statement: The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is ___, and this is what I intend to do about it.

There isn’t one single issue that’s most pressing for everyone which is why we need to listen to all groups. Keeping our community safe for all, improving education for our students, keeping tax increases small, and overall affordability of living here are among the biggest issues we face.

What are the major differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I am the only one running for the Board of Selectmen with a child in our school district and a senior citizen in our household. I strive to see all perspectives. Also, I work hard to investigate the issues that come before the board.

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?

We need to continue to preserve the many great things about our town while also looking to see how we can smartly create new opportunities for families across the wide socioeconomic spectrum to feel welcome and at home in Ridgefield.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

I believe my experience working with our town’s government for the past seven years, asking good questions, investigating the issues, and representing our people, demonstrate my capacity to continue to handle the job.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

Do more listening than speaking

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I love Ridgefield and I’m very proud to call this town our home.