Election 2025: Letters of Endorsement 

NewCanaanite.com will publish endorsement letters for this local election through Oct. 27. Send letters to editor@newcanaanite.com. 

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Please join me in supporting Josh Kaye for election to New Canaan’s Board of Education. With his legal training, Josh will provide the Board with this essential skill, which it is losing as lawyer Penny Rashin rolls off after 18 years of service. Josh is dedicated to working with our exceptional administration, and his legal training will be critical as NCPSs face the challenges the future of education will necessarily present. Josh is laser-focused on New Canaan and will not allow the Board to be distracted by irrelevant issues. With two young kids at East School, he is in this for the long run. Josh has already demonstrated his commitment to town government, currently serving as the Chair of our Ethics Board. Importantly, Josh will do the work, he will be at the meetings, he will be prepared, he will go the extra mile – all to the benefit of our schools.

In my 12 years of involvement in town government, I have witnessed all levels of participation on boards and commissions, from people who just like the title, and are marginally involved – to the individuals who step up, take on the extra work, and don’t duck when a proposal is put forth that “we” should do XYZ. Josh will be the board member who puts the “me” in that “we.”

Please vote for Josh Kaye, along with Erica Schwedel and Kate Brambilla for BOE by November 4th.

Sincerely

Amy Murphy Carroll

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Dear Editor: 

It is my privilege to recommend and support Penny Young for re-election to the Town Council. She has demonstrated her dedication and willingness to work hard on behalf of the Town. I will mention just two major projects Penny has been involved with. 1) Penny spearheaded the development of the Lapham Community Center. With over a 100 programs, the Lapham Center has become a vital and important part of the lives of many New Canaan residents. 2) Penny co-chaired the Building Evaluation and Use Committee which produced a detailed study of all community buildings, and she continues to strongly advocate for the proper maintenance and preservation of the town’s properties.

I have observed Penny’s dedicated work on behalf of New Canaan for a long time. I admire her integrity and spirit. I hope that New Canaan will continue to benefit from her institutional expertise and hard work for years to come. Join me and vote for Penny Young for Town Council.

Laszlo Papp

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Every New Canaan election is important. There are the issues we know that need to be addressed, and the unforeseen issues that emerge as the years play out. And while New Canaan elections center on local concerns, the town is not an island. It’s affected by decisions at the state level, which, in turn, are instigated by federal policies that seem to arbitrarily withdraw funds that underpin worthwhile programs in education, health care and alternative energy, to name a few.

For that reason, the slate of Democratic candidates on the ballot’s Row A for Town Council and Board of Education, offers the range of professional experience and know-how New Canaan needs to steer through the coming years. Along with their professional experience, each of the candidates has demonstrated a longstanding commitment to public service. To them, it’s not about asking what New Canaan can do for them; it’s asking what they can do for New Canaan – and setting out to achieve those positive outcomes.

For Town Council, incumbent Hilary Ormond, a Fordham Law School graduate, serves as vice chair, and is recognized for her deep knowledge of town government, the issues that come before the council and for her committed accessibility to voters. She is focused on budget transparency and is an advocate for the town’s public schools, library and other institutions that make New Canaan a draw for residents and their families.

Lina Lee, executive director of the Connecticut Bar Association, was the founder and executive director of a legal services organization in New York City with a focus on civil rights. Now, as a New Canaan resident, she is committed to preserving the town’s innate charm, its civic values and its strong sense of community. Since moving to town, Lina has focused on the issues related to workforce housing, and preserving the town’s character, not just for the present, but for the next generations. She also believes in preserving the town’s reputation for educational leadership based on a strong curriculum guided by experienced school administrators and teachers.

Before coming to New Canaan seven years ago, Heather Russell demonstrated her early commitment to community by founding Houston Young People for the Arts, advocating cultural enrichment and civic participation programs for young people. She seeks to apply her background as a community advocate and in her career as a communications professional on behalf of New Canaan, preparing it for a “vibrant, inclusive and future-ready tomorrow.” On the council, Heather’s vision centers on proactive planning to ensure the town thrives for generations to come, built on a foundation of excellent schools, sustainable development, vibrant local businesses and transparent government.

By serving on the Town Council, Mike Rodgers, a successful entrepreneur, would be carrying on a family tradition of public service, as his father served as first selectman in his Pennsylvania town. In New Canaan since 2002, Mike has served as a deacon in the Congregational Church of New Canaan and is involved in STAR, Stand Against Racism. He believes in preserving what makes New Canaan special while planning smartly for the future.

Turning to Board of Education, incumbent member Erica Schwedel serves as the board’s secretary and also serves on its Executive, Communications and Facilities committees. She is known for always being deeply prepared for the meetings’ agenda items, asks questions aimed at deepening the Board’s collective thinking and bolstering transparency for parents and the broader community. She and her husband have two children in Saxe Middle School, and before that, Erica served on the Parent Teacher Council at West School for three years, including a stint as co-president. Erica has a B.S.E. in Operations Research Engineering from Princeton University and an M.B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School.

Josh Kaye, an attorney for nearly 20 years with a law degree from Duke University, describes himself as passionate about public education and believes the town’s schools are best served by a board that is balanced, practical, collaborative and focused on driving excellence in our schools free of political agendas. Josh coaches several children’s sports programs, most recently, hi daughter’s kindergarten softball team. Echoing a theme among the Democratic candidates, he emphasizes the importance of being prepared for meetings, ready to address the issues. As a litigator for a major New York law firm, he made a point of making the time to represent victims of domestic violence in family and criminal court proceedings. In New Canaan, Josh is chair of the New Canaan Board of Ethics and is chair of New Canaan Chamber Music, celebrating its fifth year for bringing highly-praised musical performances to town.

The third Democrat running for Board of Education, Kate Brambilla, has also forged a record of public service in town, serving as manager of Member Services for Staying Put in New Canaan, the organization devoted to making it possible for senior residents to remain in their homes. In that role, she works with various town organizations and services to ensure seniors have access to groceries, can make doctors’ appointments and attend to their needs to afford them with the support they need. She has been a room parent for her daughter’s first and second grade classes and is co-chair of the Community Outreach arm of the PTC for East Elementary School. Prior to moving to New Canaan, Kate volunteered as a court-appointed Special Advocate for the Brooklyn Family Court, acting as liaison between judges, attorneys, youths in foster care, parents, teachers and social workers.

I urge other New Canaan voters to join in supporting these candidates on Row A for Town Council and Board of Education. With their record of achievement, demonstrated commitment to public service, thoughtful leadership skills and understanding of the issues likely to arise over the next two years, they will represent New Canaan with skill and wisdom guided by a desire to serve the best interests of the town as a whole.

Michael Dorfsman