CAMPAIGN 2019
From left to right: Cindy Franco, Barb Shaw, Robin Bates-Mason, Steven Eno, Craig Donovan, Colm Dobbyn, Selectman Kit Devereaux, Susan Edmands, Board of Education Chair Brendan Hayes, Constable Ed Vollmer, and Mark Grzymski.
FIRST SELECTMAN
Craig Donovan
First Selectman
Craig4First.com
Craig Donovan’s campaign for First Selectman is fueled by his lifelong passion for education and public service. For the past 25 years, he’s worked as a professor of management and as head of the Department of Public Administration at Kean University where he has helped to train local, state and federal government leaders in public management. His value for education is deeply personal; after having to leave high school to work full-time for his family business, Craig later went on to get his degree from the University of California and dual doctorates in Business and Public Affairs from the University of Washington.
Through various nonprofits, Craig has focused his service at the intersection of education and community service. As a founding board member of Future City, Inc. he has helped educate and inform a number of communities about sustainable development. There is no one-size fits all approach to helping small towns find their path to success, and in Craig’s role as president of the International Honor Society of the Network of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration and as a Lifetime Member of the American Society for Public Administration, he has studied how nearly 30,000 local governments function to discover their best practices.
Craig’s deepest commitment, however, is to his family. He and his wife Liz Gores Donovan, daughter of Harvard Five architect Landis Gores and his widow Pam Gores, and whose own family has been in New Canaan for nearly nine decades, raised six children, three of whom are adopted. They have three grandchildren and a fourth on the way. With their children now grown, they live with Pam and focus their efforts on fostering rescue dogs and cats.
First Selectman
Craig4First.com
Craig Donovan’s campaign for First Selectman is fueled by his lifelong passion for education and public service. For the past 25 years, he’s worked as a professor of management and as head of the Department of Public Administration at Kean University where he has helped to train local, state and federal government leaders in public management. His value for education is deeply personal; after having to leave high school to work full-time for his family business, Craig later went on to get his degree from the University of California and dual doctorates in Business and Public Affairs from the University of Washington.
Through various nonprofits, Craig has focused his service at the intersection of education and community service. As a founding board member of Future City, Inc. he has helped educate and inform a number of communities about sustainable development. There is no one-size fits all approach to helping small towns find their path to success, and in Craig’s role as president of the International Honor Society of the Network of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration and as a Lifetime Member of the American Society for Public Administration, he has studied how nearly 30,000 local governments function to discover their best practices.
Craig’s deepest commitment, however, is to his family. He and his wife Liz Gores Donovan, daughter of Harvard Five architect Landis Gores and his widow Pam Gores, and whose own family has been in New Canaan for nearly nine decades, raised six children, three of whom are adopted. They have three grandchildren and a fourth on the way. With their children now grown, they live with Pam and focus their efforts on fostering rescue dogs and cats.
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
Kit Devereaux
Board of Selectmen, Incumbent
It has been my honor to serve a two-year term on the Board of Selectmen. As well, I served on Town Council for 8 years, on the Board of Finance for 8 years and on many of New Canaan’s non-profit Boards, often in a leadership position. My experience is in finance. My dedication to our community is deep. And my hope to continue serving is very strong.
Although I am financially conservative, I believe it is crucial to preserve the top ratings of our schools; to protect our infrastructure; to preserve the historic character of our Town. Most importantly, we need to remain hyper-vigilant when faced with new capital expenditures.
I have worked to maintain a balanced, independent presence on the Board of Selectmen. I believe that my presence will be important as New Canaan moves through a challenging future. I ask respectfully for the opportunity to serve another term.
Board of Selectmen, Incumbent
It has been my honor to serve a two-year term on the Board of Selectmen. As well, I served on Town Council for 8 years, on the Board of Finance for 8 years and on many of New Canaan’s non-profit Boards, often in a leadership position. My experience is in finance. My dedication to our community is deep. And my hope to continue serving is very strong.
Although I am financially conservative, I believe it is crucial to preserve the top ratings of our schools; to protect our infrastructure; to preserve the historic character of our Town. Most importantly, we need to remain hyper-vigilant when faced with new capital expenditures.
I have worked to maintain a balanced, independent presence on the Board of Selectmen. I believe that my presence will be important as New Canaan moves through a challenging future. I ask respectfully for the opportunity to serve another term.
TOWN COUNCIL
Robin Bates-Mason
Robin Bates-Mason is a 19 year resident of New Canaan who volunteers with many town organizations. Robin is a board member of New Canaan League of Women Voters, New Canaan Beautification League, and is co-founder and President of Planet New Canaan. She is also a member of the New Canaan DTC and Chairs the Outreach Committee.
As community service is important to Robin, running for Town Council seemed like a good next step in serving New Canaan. With two sons in the New Canaan Public Schools, Robin is a strong advocate for our school system but will also work to serve all the residents of New Canaan and is happy to roll up her sleeves and get to work.
Robin Bates-Mason is a 19 year resident of New Canaan who volunteers with many town organizations. Robin is a board member of New Canaan League of Women Voters, New Canaan Beautification League, and is co-founder and President of Planet New Canaan. She is also a member of the New Canaan DTC and Chairs the Outreach Committee.
As community service is important to Robin, running for Town Council seemed like a good next step in serving New Canaan. With two sons in the New Canaan Public Schools, Robin is a strong advocate for our school system but will also work to serve all the residents of New Canaan and is happy to roll up her sleeves and get to work.
Colm Dobbyn
Colm is running for Town Council to serve the town in a new capacity. He's been a resident of New Canaan for 26 years and has served as an appointed member of the Inland Wetlands Commission for over a decade. In that role, he has been exposed to the workings of town government. He believes that he can now contribute by bringing a new perspective to the Town Council. As a practicing attorney and manager with over 30 years’ experience, he will apply analytical and management skills to the issues that come before the Town Council. He believes strongly in preserving the character and quality of life in New Canaan. He is also deeply committed to supporting our top-notch public school system. He pledges that if elected, he will listen to and seek to address the concerns of all of our citizens.
Colm is running for Town Council to serve the town in a new capacity. He's been a resident of New Canaan for 26 years and has served as an appointed member of the Inland Wetlands Commission for over a decade. In that role, he has been exposed to the workings of town government. He believes that he can now contribute by bringing a new perspective to the Town Council. As a practicing attorney and manager with over 30 years’ experience, he will apply analytical and management skills to the issues that come before the Town Council. He believes strongly in preserving the character and quality of life in New Canaan. He is also deeply committed to supporting our top-notch public school system. He pledges that if elected, he will listen to and seek to address the concerns of all of our citizens.
Mark Grzymski
Mark, his wife Kristen, and two daughters are 12 year residents of New Canaan and consider it a privilege to belong to such a wonder community. Both his daughters currently reside in the public school system and his wife is an active member of the community. With 22 years of professional experience in finance, the past twelve years as a partner at TimesSquare Capital Management, Mark wants to give back to New Canaan. He believes in a strong school system, prudent investments in infrastructure to support a modernizing community, a town government working for all, and fiscal responsibility that puts the future ahead of short term benefits. Mark, like so many families in town, came to New Canaan to raise his family and believes his experiences will be an asset to all who appreciate the many wonderful aspects of the community.
Mark, his wife Kristen, and two daughters are 12 year residents of New Canaan and consider it a privilege to belong to such a wonder community. Both his daughters currently reside in the public school system and his wife is an active member of the community. With 22 years of professional experience in finance, the past twelve years as a partner at TimesSquare Capital Management, Mark wants to give back to New Canaan. He believes in a strong school system, prudent investments in infrastructure to support a modernizing community, a town government working for all, and fiscal responsibility that puts the future ahead of short term benefits. Mark, like so many families in town, came to New Canaan to raise his family and believes his experiences will be an asset to all who appreciate the many wonderful aspects of the community.
BOARD OF EDUCATION
Steven Eno
Steve and his family moved to New Canaan 9 years ago specifically for our excellent schools. His older daughter graduated from NCHS and his younger daughter is a Saxe 8th grader. After 20+ years in the corporate world, Steve decided to step away and focus on marketing consulting and local entrepreneurial opportunities.
Steve became interested in how our schools are run through his involvement with the Healthy School Start Times initiative. He believes there is room for improvement in governance, transparency, budgeting, healthy debate and community involvement. Steve will leverage his extensive finance, operations and marketing experience to drive changes in how the BOE sets direction for our schools and interacts with the community. Active engagement with all stakeholders and an open and transparent approach will ensure our amazing schools continue to improve.
Steve and his family moved to New Canaan 9 years ago specifically for our excellent schools. His older daughter graduated from NCHS and his younger daughter is a Saxe 8th grader. After 20+ years in the corporate world, Steve decided to step away and focus on marketing consulting and local entrepreneurial opportunities.
Steve became interested in how our schools are run through his involvement with the Healthy School Start Times initiative. He believes there is room for improvement in governance, transparency, budgeting, healthy debate and community involvement. Steve will leverage his extensive finance, operations and marketing experience to drive changes in how the BOE sets direction for our schools and interacts with the community. Active engagement with all stakeholders and an open and transparent approach will ensure our amazing schools continue to improve.
Brendan Hayes
Board of Ed Chair, Incumbent
A senior managing director at a major investment bank, Brendan Hayes is the father of three children, all of whom are in the New Canaan Public Schools (NCHS, Saxe, West). Brendan joined the Board of Education in 2015 and has worked collaboratively with the administration and the Board to address many topics, including facilities, finance and school start times. He has been the chairman of the resources committee of the board and since last November has been the Chairman of the Board of Education. He relishes debating educational issues with other town bodies, as his focus on our schools’ excellence is at the forefront, for the betterment of our children, families and to ensure our financial wellbeing.
Brendan, whose children range in age from 15 to 8, has also served as a youth sports coach in town. He and his wife Ainsley are also dedicated to historic preservation.
He graduated from NYU’s Stern School of Business with an MBA and holds a BS degree in Mathematics and History from Tulane University. He currently serves on the Newcomb Tulane College Dean’s Advisory Council at Tulane University and is a member of the board of MPP.
Board of Ed Chair, Incumbent
A senior managing director at a major investment bank, Brendan Hayes is the father of three children, all of whom are in the New Canaan Public Schools (NCHS, Saxe, West). Brendan joined the Board of Education in 2015 and has worked collaboratively with the administration and the Board to address many topics, including facilities, finance and school start times. He has been the chairman of the resources committee of the board and since last November has been the Chairman of the Board of Education. He relishes debating educational issues with other town bodies, as his focus on our schools’ excellence is at the forefront, for the betterment of our children, families and to ensure our financial wellbeing.
Brendan, whose children range in age from 15 to 8, has also served as a youth sports coach in town. He and his wife Ainsley are also dedicated to historic preservation.
He graduated from NYU’s Stern School of Business with an MBA and holds a BS degree in Mathematics and History from Tulane University. He currently serves on the Newcomb Tulane College Dean’s Advisory Council at Tulane University and is a member of the board of MPP.
BOARD OF ASSESSMENT APPEALS
Barb Shaw
CONSTABLE
Susan Edmands
Cindy Franco
Ed Vollmer
Incumbent
Incumbent