The reporting that exposed Wilton’s CFO holding two full-time municipal jobs 2,000 miles apart, raised questions about the Town’s financial oversight and led to the closure of an unlicensed local business has now been recognized among the best journalism in Connecticut.
GOOD Morning Wilton won three awards in the Society of Professional Journalists Connecticut Chapter’s 2025 Excellence in Journalism Contest, which drew 624 entries from 54 news organizations across the state.
Together, the honors reflect a year of local reporting focused on accountability, transparency and the real-world consequences of issues affecting Wilton residents.
Award-winning work
First Place, Continuing Coverage or Series — Division C
“The fallout of uncovering the town’s CFO held another job 2,000 miles away”
Reported by Heather Borden Herve and Jarret Liotta, the series began with the revelation that Wilton’s chief financial officer was simultaneously employed in a second full-time municipal role in Wyoming. The reporting that followed tracked the town’s response, a series of official statements, a special meeting and ultimately the CFO’s resignation, raising broader questions about oversight and internal controls.
First Place, Editorial Commentary — Division C
“Wilton’s Financial Review Committee needs independence, clarity — and course correction”
In this editorial, Borden Herve examined concerns surrounding the town’s newly formed financial oversight committee, arguing that its structure and direction risked undermining Wilton’s long-standing reputation for sound fiscal governance and transparency.
Third Place, Investigative Reporting — Division C
“State closes unlicensed Bone & Bark Kennel”
Liotta’s investigation uncovered that a local dog kennel had been operating without a required state license, documenting the violations and regulatory failures that ultimately led to its closure.
Why it matters
From uncovering gaps in municipal oversight to documenting animal safety violations and raising questions about governance, each of the recognized stories reflects the role of independent, local journalism in holding institutions accountable.
In this case, the reporting revealed a senior town official holding two full-time jobs across the country, prompted public meetings and closer scrutiny of internal controls, and brought to light regulatory violations that led to the closure of a local business operating outside state requirements.
Without dedicated local coverage, issues like these may take longer to surface, receive less scrutiny or be harder for residents to stay informed about decisions and events that directly affect their lives.
For a small newsroom like GOOD Morning Wilton, the work is often collaborative and cumulative, built story by story over weeks as new information emerges and officials respond.
We’re proud to be committed to continuing that work in service of the Wilton community, and appreciate the recognition from our peers.
Congratulations! Wilton is lucky to have GMW. It’s my go-to for what’s going on locally, and I appreciate the good writing, responsible research and thoughtful and fair commentary. Thank you!
As a relatively new resident I cannot emphasize how important GMW has been as a resource to get caught up to speed on the town government, social events, and the overall news around town. We’re grateful to have GMW, and regardless of awards you all should be incredibly proud of the work you put in, day in and day out.
Hey Heather, Congratulations – well done and keep at it going forward. We need people like you and your team. THANK YOU!!
Congratulations! GMW is my go-to source for all things Wilton. We are so fortunate to have truly local news.
Congratulations Heather. You are an essential asset to our town. Please continue your good work and holding our Town Officials collective feet to the fire!!
How wonderful to receive this deserved recognition of thorough reporting. What you do matters very much. Congratulations.