School Board Member Nominated For WH Town Council

Town of West Hartford

WEST HARTFORD, CT — Three days after a Democratic West Hartford Town Council member bid a tearful goodbye for a new role with the town, Democrats Friday announced her likely replacement.

In a statement Friday morning, West Hartford Mayor Shari G. Cantor said she and her Democratic colleagues will nominate Deb Polun to fill the seat vacated by the recent resignation of former council member Adrienne Billings-Smith, a Democrat.

Polun, a Democrat, is currently a member of the West Hartford Board of Education, where she was chairperson.

Cantor said Polun will be formally nominated at the next regular Town Council meeting on Nov. 9.

“This is a transformative time for West Hartford with lots of exciting community and economic development projects in the works and it was very important to me and my Democratic colleagues to find an experienced public servant who understands our community and is ready to hit the ground running,” said Cantor.

“Deb has a proven track record as a leader on the board of education and we are fortunate to have her experience.”

Polun lives in West Hartford with her husband, Ian, and she has two children who graduated from Hall High School.

She is the executive director for the Connecticut Association for Community Action, a state association for community action agencies that provide services to low-income people.

Polun is also chair of the Government Affairs Task Force for the Jewish Community Relations Council and she previously served on the West Hartford Advisory Council for Persons with Disabilities; as vice president of the League of Women Voters of Greater Hartford; as a mentor in the West Hartford Public Schools; and in several positions on the board of directors for Congregation B’nai Tikvoh Sholom (previously Tikvoh Chadoshoh).

“I am humbled to be nominated to this position,” said Polun. “West Hartford is a very special community that has given so much to me and my family and I am honored to be able to continue serving the town in this new capacity.”

Deputy Mayor Liam Sweeney, a Democrat, praised the selection of Polun.

“Deb is an enthusiastic, creative problem solver, and I look forward to collaborating with her to maintain West Hartford as one of the most livable, successful and welcoming communities in America,” said Sweeney.

As required, Polun will resign as a member of the board of education.

Under the town charter, upon Polun’s resignation, the school board will have 90 days to appoint someone to serve the remainder of her term.

West Hartford Board of Education Chairperson Lorna Thomas-Farquharson thanked Polun for her service on the board and said she and her colleagues would move quickly to find a replacement for Polun.

“Deb has been a wonderful partner in supporting our nationally recognized school system,” said Thomas-Farquharson. “I am grateful to her for her service on the Board, and I look forward to continuing to work with her in her new role.”

From Oct. 28: 'West Hartford Councilor Resigns For New Role'