Selectman Candidate Q&A: Glee McAnanly

On November 8, 2011 Stonington will hold its municipal election. Stonington-Mystic Patch asked each candidate to answer a questionnaire to give residents information about his or her background. For additional election coverage visit Elections 2011.

Name: Glee McAnanly

Party Affiliation: Republican

Age: 47

Address: 52 High Ridge Drive in  Pawcatuck.        

Hometown: I consider Pawcatuck, Conn., my hometown having lived here my entire adult life, specifically since 1989. However, I was born in Omaha, NE; reared in Atlanta, GA; raised in Bridgewater, NJ.

Employment (if retired, when and from what): My first job out of college was traveling around the country with a singing group. We sang in a number of venues but one of my favorite things was to perform in the school assemblies of which we did about 125 that year!  In 1989 I joined the ServiceMaster Company and served in various positions before I left in 2002. I then joined Floor Coverings International and my role was to get the company in a position to be sold as well as seek out potential buyers. The company was successfully sold to First Services in 2004. Since that time Jim and I have had two kids, Austin and Connor and they are my primary responsibility. We do own our own business and I can be found working in it on occasion as well.  

Education: I graduated from Wheaton College (Chicago, IL) with a bachelor's in communications and completed an Executive MBA Program through ServiceMaster in 2002.

Incumbent? (if yes, first elected when): Yes, I was elected Selectman in 2009 and consider it a privilege to be able to serve in this role. I feel as though I have a much greater understanding how the Selectman fits in our form of Town Government and would consider it an honor to be able to continue on in this role for the next two years.

Previous elected experience: Bridgewater-Raritan Student Council President 1982 J (O.K. so it has been awhile)

Civic experience (appointments, non-profits):

Trustee – The Memorial Library in Westerly serving the Pawcatuck/Westerly Community.

Member of the Stonington Prevention Council

Member of the Non Profit Organizations Steering Committee

Member of the House Committee at

Actively involved at our church, Groton Bible Chapel

Top issue facing the town and your ideas for fixing it: I think one of the top issues is figuring out how to maintain the infrastructure and town services without increasing taxes. Considering our present economic climate I believe setting some reasonable long-term and short-term goals and making the community aware of these is a starting point. That being said this is really the job of the First Selectman as well as the department heads within the town.  I have a much better understanding of my role as a Selectman having served in this role for the past two years and our job really is not the day-to-day operation of the town.

Second issue: We certainly need to continue to try and create jobs, is a great addition to our community and we need to do everything we can to keep the jobs we have here.      

Third issue: We are fortunate to have so many citizens involved in the 27 various boards and commissions that really do contribute to the running of our town.  I believe we need to be mentoring and encouraging the next generation to join in the process. As a Selectman, this is and area that I absolutely can help with and has been a focus of mine already.