For the 2025 Wilton Municipal Elections, GOOD Morning Wilton asked all candidates to submit a 150-word bio; candidates running for the Boards of Selectmen, Finance and Education and the Planning and Zoning Commission were asked to sit for a video interview and submit an 800-word op-ed. In addition, candidates in the other races were invited to submit an op-ed if they wanted. More information is available in GMW’s Election Guidelines and Policies.
GMW Video Interview
Candidate Submitted Bio
Jessica Rainey is running for the Planning and Zoning Commission to help shape a more inclusive, forward-thinking Wilton, one with thoughtful development, revitalized public spaces and expanded affordable housing. A legal program manager, mother and community volunteer, Jessica has lived in Wilton for the past five years with her family. Professionally, she manages an intellectual property portfolio at a scientific society and oversees paralegal responsibilities across departments, requiring precision, discretion and strong communication skills.
An active community member, Jessica serves on the Democratic Town Committee. She co-chaired the 2023 Miller-Driscoll Book Fair, participated in Women’s History Month events, and has coached four seasons of youth soccer. She also co-founded a chapter of a professional circle focused on leadership development for women and allies.
If elected, Jessica is committed to working thoughtfully and collaboratively to ensure Wilton grows in a way that honors its character while meeting the needs of future generations.
Candidate Submitted Op-Ed
A Planning and Zoning Commission that listens to residents
by Jessica Rainey, Democratic Candidate for Planning and Zoning Commission
One of the pleasures of campaigning for a seat on Wilton’s Planning and Zoning Commission has been getting to speak with so many residents while out canvassing. When people hear “P&Z” they almost universally want to share their thoughts about recent P&Z decisions, the effects of those decisions on Wilton, and often their dismay that they have nowhere to express their concerns. Commissioners are elected to serve the residents of this town, and P&Z should develop a better system for facilitating public comment and should be more proactive in soliciting feedback from their constituents.
The Plan of Conservation and Development (POCD) affords such a wonderful opportunity to steer the wants and needs of the town over the next decade, including the preservation of natural and historic resources, thoughtful development that provides more diverse housing options and also encouraging a more vibrant downtown area that attracts businesses. The newly elected P&Z Commission will be tasked with creating the next POCD in 2029, and in doing so should take the wishes, concerns, ideas and general feedback from Wilton residents into consideration. P&Z should not create such an important document in a bubble and should actively seek input from residents, and certainly from the other boards in town. Other towns do this successfully — for example, New Canaan described a “robust community engagement process” for the development of their most recent POCD in 2024. Wilton should adopt this approach as well: 1) a set time period for the public to submit written comment; 2) one open meeting to hear public comment; and 3) an executive session for the commission to review and discuss these comments. These forums should be well-communicated to residents so a wide array of voices are heard. Buy-in from the other boards in town is crucial for the success of a POCD, and developing a plan that considers the public in this way would add weight to the plans and goals set out in the document.
Residents currently have the opportunity to email P&Z and they are able to provide public comment at some P&Z meetings, yet it is clear that they still feel their comments are either not heard or heard too late to make any difference. Some meetings have turned contentious (one recent GMW headline reads “Shouting, Insults & Threats to Resign”), and in speaking to the community through door-to-door canvassing, many people have expressed exasperation at being caught off guard by the new developments in town. Public comment, specifically the legality of it, has been a frequent topic of conversation at P&Z. Seeking legal advice is prudent but more in-depth research from counsel is required before the commission makes a decision (see GMW article “New Year, Same Question” that states this would require approval from the first selectperson). The current protocols are based on 15 minutes of research and no prior case law could be cited. One thing that is quite clear is that Wilton residents are unhappy with the current avenues for public comment. To remedy this P&Z should allow for public comment on development proposals before they are approved or denied and should bring back at least semi-annual or quarterly in-person meetings. Residents deserve a voice in the shaping of their town and community and a Planning & Zoning Commission that takes their opinions seriously.
Candidate Interview Clips
Q: Tell us why you are the right person to serve on Wilton’s Planning and Zoning Commission.
Q: Let’s touch on your professional experience — how will your background in regulations and legal work be an asset to the Planning and Zoning Commission?
Q: Do you think Planning and Zoning has a reputation for saying “no” — to developers or to the public? Where do you think the real issue lies?
Q: You mentioned challenges and conflicts in town boards. How do you think this P&Z Commission has been performing?
Q: Should the commission bring back in-person meetings, or at least hybrid options, to allow more public participation?
Q: Some say developers should be heard as one full presentation before public comment — do you think the public should still be allowed to speak earlier in the process?
Q: What’s your overall planning and zoning philosophy? What would you do differently if you joined the commission? How should Wilton handle all the new development, and what’s your view on the pace and scale of growth? How can Wilton balance development with maintaining its small-town character and local businesses?
Q: What could Planning and Zoning do better to engage the community and get residents more involved in decisions before projects are approved?
Q: As a resident, what new public amenity would you most like to see in Wilton?
Q: And what type of new business would you love to see come to town?
Q: Is there another town whose planning and zoning you admire or think Wilton could learn from?
Q: Who should be handling affordable housing now that the Housing Committee has been disbanded — and what’s your view on how Wilton is approaching affordability?
Q: What kind of new housing or development would you consider appropriate for Wilton — if not large apartment complexes?
Q: Which area of Wilton should Planning and Zoning focus on next for a master plan — downtown, Cannondale, or somewhere else?
Q: How can P&Z directly support economic development — for example, with better signage or parking policies?
Q: Speaking of parking, what should be done to make Wilton Center more walkable while managing parking demand as new apartments open?
Q: Finally, give us your 30-second elevator pitch — why should voters elect you to the Planning and Zoning Commission?
Correction: The headline on an earlier version of this story mistakenly read “ELECTION 2024”. The headline has now been corrected to ELECTION 2025.