Simsbury Democrats Announce Board of Selectmen Campaigns

Four Democrats have officially announced their intentions to seek seats for Simsbury's Board of Selectmen. 

Three of those candidates currently serve on the board, including First Selectman Mary Glassman, Deputy Selectman Lisa Heavner and selectman Shannon Knall. Joining them was Jay DeVivo, who serves on the Economic Development Commission and Recycling Committee, and is seeking his first elected position. 

Heavner said town leadership in the past four years has brought fiscal responsibility, support for seniors, education, the environment and more. 

"These are the things you can expect from us in the future and you can count on us because we've done it in the past," Heavner said. 

"Simsbury works because local government works," Glassman said in her remarks. 

She touted the leadership of the town as well as those who volunteer, including those on government boards and and elsewhere. 

"We all give back," Glassman said. "That's what makes Simsbury so great." 

DeVivo said when he and wife Kelly moved back to Connecticut 11 years ago, they chose Simsbury for its educational system, natural beauty and more. He is running for office to help emphasize the need for the town to expand its economic base, he said. 

While some see Simsbury's distance from a major highway as a disadvantage, DeVivo said he feels all the positive attributes of town can be emphasized. Companies are made up of people who want those types of amentities and character, he said. 

"My objective is to help Simsbury capitalize on those advantages so we can preserve and protect all those attributes that make it a fantastic town," he said. 

Party members shared some laughs as well. The original plan was to make the announcements at the Flower Bridge. With the forecast, a tent for the event was set up outside the Red Stone Pub. Due to heavy rains, that didn't work either and the event was held inside the pub. 

"We're on plan C," said DTC chairman Amy McLean Salls, stating that Democrats were organized and prepared for whatever comes. 

The candidates have not yet been endorsed by the Democratic Town Committee. Simsbury Democrats will nominate a full slate of candidates for municipal office at a townwide caucus to be held on Wednesday, July 17 at Eno Memorial Hall.

The following are descriptions of each candidate, as released by a DTC press release: 

• Glassman is seeking re-election to her eighth term as First Selectman. She currently serves on the executive boards of the Capital Region Council of Governments and the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities, statewide organizations that advocate for legislation that protects local government. Under Glassman's leadership, Simsbury has been awarded a Distinctive Dozen Award from the National Trust for Historic Preservation, was named Connecticut 's first Bicycle Friendly Community, was awarded a "This Old House" award for Tariffville, and twice named one of the top 100 Best Places to Live in the United States by CNN Money Magazine. 
• Heavner currently serves as Simsbury 's Deputy First Selectman. She is founder of Simsbury 's senior citizen outreach program with the Simsbury Public Schools, and served for four years on the Simsbury High School Leadership Team. Heavner initiated the Town's Technology Committee to determine the Town’s technology needs and the status of the Town’s technology security.  She is chair of the Personnel Subcommittee, and is liaison to the Board of Education, the Economic Development Commission, and the Simsbury Housing Authority. She is also a member of the Pension and Public Safety Committees. 
  
• Knall is Executive Director of the Well Served Tennis Academy . She is Policy Chair for the Connecticut Chapter of Autism Speaks, and has worked with bi-partisan support to create, pass and implement laws providing insurance coverage for autism, tax incentives to businesses who hire people with Intellectual Disabilities, and laws that protect families with autism from criminals. She serves as liaison to Simsbury's Aging and Disability Commission and Tourism Commission, and is a past member of the Economic Development Commission. She is also host of the Simsbury Woman aired monthly on Simsbury Community Television, and was host of the recently-held Women's Forum, held in conjunction with the Simsbury Women's Club. 
• DeVivo is AVP of Risk Management at Cigna Reinsurance. Prior to joining Cigna, he consulted for start-up and publicly traded companies, primarily in the areas of strategic marketing and product development. He is a volunteer coach with the Simsbury Little League, and serves as an appointed member of the Town of Simsbury 's Economic Development Commission and Recycling Committee.