Board of Selectmen
2 Open Seats
3 Candidates
Vote for up to 2
Why it’s Important: The Board of Selectmen (BOS) is a five-member board that serves as the Town’s legislative body. Each selectman/selectwoman serves a four-year term. The members of the BOS carry out town policies, enact ordinances, and manage the budget and administration of the Town, including appointing nominees to appointed boards.
Who’s on the Board: In 2023, First Selectman Toni Boucher (R) was elected to her first term, and Second Selectman Josh Cole (R) and Selectman Ross Tartell (D) were elected to their second terms, to end in 2027.
Selectwoman Kim Healy (R), who was elected in 2021, declined to run for a second term and instead is a candidate in the race for Board of Finance. Selectman Rich McCarty (D) was appointed to the BOS in August 2025, to fill the last few months of a BOS member who stepped down and moved out of town; he is now running for his own first term on the BOS.
What’s at Stake: There’s a lot at stake in this year’s Board of Selectmen race. Long a Republican-controlled board, this year, the balance of political power shifted as allegiances around party lines changed. Boucher often found herself with opposition from her own fellow Republicans, and with a lot of drama coming out of Town Hall (including Finance Department turmoil, top staff departures and calls for more transparency), candidates are growing more outspoken about wanting to see more accountability and less messy process. And everyone is talking about the financial skills they would bring to the table.
Adding to the intrigue, candidate McCarty got a bit of a head start when he was appointed to the BOS to fill a vacancy in August — after his candidacy was already announced.
There are two seats open and three candidates. Voters can vote for up to two candidates. Both seats are 4-year terms.
Click on the candidates to learn more about them or listen to their interviews with GMW’s team!