2025 Elections
Board of Selectman
Amy Murphy Carroll
BOARD OF SELECTMAN
Town Council
Hilary Ormond
Town Council
Lina Lee
Town Council
Heather Russell
Town Council
Mike Rodgers
Town Council
Board of Education
Erica Schwedel
Board of Education
Kate Brambilla
Board Education
Josh Kaye
Board of Education
Board of Selectman
AMY
MURPHY
CARROLL
Amy Murphy Carroll is a current member of the New Canaan Board of Selectmen and a longtime public servant with deep financial expertise and a strong record of civic engagement. She and her husband, John, moved to New Canaan in 1996, where they raised their four children, all graduates of New Canaan Public Schools.
A graduate of Cornell University with an MBA from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, Amy spent more than 30 years in municipal finance on Wall Street. She brought this expertise to her nearly decade-long service on the Board of Finance (2014–2023), before being elected to the Board of Selectmen.
Amy has been deeply involved in shaping the town’s financial future, serving as budget liaison to the Board of Education, Public Works, and Parks & Recreation; co-authoring a comprehensive review of municipal buildings; and contributing to capital projects like the Saxe and Police Department renovations, both delivered on time and under budget. She also served on the Retirement Plan Advisory Committee and the Debt Guideline Subcommittee.
Beyond government, Amy has volunteered extensively—from managing youth sports and supporting Staying Put, to co-chairing Rotary’s Lobsterfest and leading St. Mark’s White Elephant Sale. She brings knowledge, leadership, and a deep commitment to New Canaan.
Hilary Ormond
TOWN COUNCIL
Hilary is seeking a second term on New Canaan’s Town Council, where she’s served since 2021 with a strong focus on good governance, transparency, and support for the institutions that make our town exceptional—our schools, library, parks, and public services.
Hilary comes from a family rooted in service. Her father was a U.S. Navy submariner and Vietnam veteran; her mother has served nearly 30 years on City Council in Chesapeake, Virginia. Hilary holds degrees from the University of Virginia, John Jay College, and Fordham Law, and previously worked as a litigation attorney and federal court clerk in New York City.
Since moving to New Canaan in 2014, Hilary has been a full-time mom and tireless community volunteer. She co-chaired the fundraising campaign for the all-abilities playground at Waveny, advocated for park security cameras, and led the town’s first Pride recognition. She supports countless local causes and is an active leader in our community.
On Town Council, Hilary serves as liaison to the Affordable Housing Committee and co-chairs the By-laws & Ordinances Committee, working across the aisle on smart, balanced policy.
She hopes to earn your vote this fall and continue representing New Canaan with dedication and heart.
Lina Lee
TOWN COUNCIL
Lina Lee is a New Canaan resident and accomplished attorney with extensive leadership experience in the legal and nonprofit sectors. Since moving to town in 2023, she has developed a strong appreciation for New Canaan’s character, civic values, and engaged community. She is committed to preserving what makes the town unique while planning responsibly for the future—balancing long-term investment, principled management, and thoughtful growth that reflects residents’ priorities.
Lina currently serves as Executive Director of the Connecticut Bar Association (CBA), where she leads a statewide organization of more than 8,000 attorneys, judges, and legal professionals. She is guiding the CBA through its 150th anniversary year with a focus on revitalization, modernization, and expanded public impact. She also serves as Secretary of the Connecticut Bar Foundation, which administers over $371 million in legal aid funding across the state.
Earlier in her career, Lina founded a civil rights legal services organization in New York City and spent more than a decade as a practicing attorney and litigator. She has held appointed and elected leadership roles and earned recognition from City & State New York and PoliticsNY for her nonprofit leadership.
Lina is a graduate of Cornell University and Boston University School of Law.
Mike Rodgers
Town Council
Mike Rodgers is running for New Canaan Town Council to help preserve what makes our town special while planning smartly for the future. He brings common sense, life experience, and a deep commitment to keeping New Canaan strong, connected, and uniquely itself.
Mike grew up in Chester County, Pennsylvania, where his father was a township first selectman who championed land preservation. That early example shaped Mike’s belief in thoughtful growth and community balance.
Mike and his wife moved to New Canaan in 2002 because it felt like home. He launched a successful housewares business from their home, developing products now sold nationwide. That entrepreneurial journey sharpened his skills in problem-solving, budgeting, and long-term planning.
Mike and his wife adopted their son Edward from Guatemala in 2006. Raising a multicultural family deepened their commitment to inclusion and led Mike to serve on the board of a nonprofit that fosters equity and community understanding. Edward attended New Canaan public schools and is now a student at UConn.
Mike has also served his church as a deacon, usher, Sunday school teacher, and committee chair. He believes in service—and in New Canaan. He’d be honored to earn your vote.
Heather Russell
Town Council
Heather Russell is a seasoned communications professional and dedicated community advocate running for New Canaan Town Council as a Democrat. With a career rooted in public engagement, Heather is committed to helping New Canaan thrive as a vibrant, inclusive, and future-ready community.
Heather began her career by founding Houston Young People for the Arts, promoting youth participation in civic and cultural life. She later worked with the Houston Downtown Alliance, advancing revitalization efforts and community-centered events. After relocating to the Northeast, she served as Director of Communications at The Windward School, spearheading strategic initiatives to strengthen educational outreach.
For the past seven years, Heather has lived in New Canaan with her husband, a Connecticut native, and their two young daughters, who attend New Canaan Public Schools. She is an active parishioner at St. Aloysius, where she has taught Sunday School, and a member of the Junior League.
Heather’s priorities include excellent public schools, smart and sustainable development, support for local businesses, and transparent, forward-thinking governance. She brings to her candidacy a unique blend of professional expertise and a deep commitment to service—ready to help lead New Canaan with clarity, collaboration, and vision.
Erica Schwedel
BOARD OF ED
Erica and her husband, Andrew, have lived in New Canaan since 2010 and have two children attending Saxe Middle School, after starting at West School. For more than 15 years, Erica has been an active volunteer in New Canaan, serving on the boards of the New Canaan Newcomers Club, Young Women’s League, New Canaan CARES, and the West School PTC, where she was co-president for two years.
She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the New Canaan Community Foundation as Chair of Governance. She leads the boys 7th–8th grade Squash Team and volunteers with Boy Scout Troop 70. Erica is proudly finishing a four-year term on the New Canaan Board of Education, where she serves as Secretary and sits on the Executive, Communications, and Facilities Committees. She was also a member of the parent-led Dome Committee that fundraised to renovate the high school Planetarium.
Erica brings preparation, thoughtfulness, and transparency to her board service. She holds a B.S.E. from Princeton and an M.B.A. from Wharton. Her professional background includes consulting roles at PwC, IBM, and Bain, and nonprofit work in education with Achievement First and the Dalio Foundation.
Josh Kaye
Board of Ed
Josh Kaye and his wife, Megan, moved to New Canaan in 2020 with their two children, who attend East School. Their son will enter fourth grade this fall, and their daughter will begin first grade. A product of public schools, Josh is passionate about public education and believes New Canaan is best served by a Board of Education that is balanced, collaborative, and focused on academic excellence.
Josh has been a practicing attorney for nearly 20 years. He spent most of his career as a litigator at a major New York law firm, handling high-stakes commercial disputes and government investigations. He also dedicated significant time to pro bono work, including representing domestic violence survivors and litigating civil rights cases—one of which reached the U.S. Supreme Court. Josh now serves as Chief Counsel for Global Contingent & Litigation Risk at an international insurance company.
Josh is active in the New Canaan community. He serves as Chair of the New Canaan Board of Ethics and of the Board of New Canaan Chamber Music. He’s also a youth sports coach, most recently for his daughter’s kindergarten softball team. Josh holds a B.A. with honors from Wesleyan University in the College of Social Studies, and an M.A. in History and a J.D. from Duke University.
Kate Brambilla
Board of Ed
Kate moved to New Canaan with her family in December 2020 and quickly became an active part of the community. She works as Manager of Member Services at Staying Put in New Canaan, where she helps support more seasoned residents by connecting them to local resources including: Lapham, the Library, the Y, Waveny, GetAbout, Emergency Services, and Health and Human Services.
Kate is running for the Board of Education because she understands that public schools are the heart of a strong community. At East Elementary, where her daughter Adelaide is entering 4th grade, Kate has served as a room parent and now co-chairs the Community Outreach arm of the PTC. She recently helped launch a composting initiative in partnership with Planet New Canaan—helping the school get ahead of statewide sustainability mandates.
Earlier in her life, Kate served as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for Brooklyn Family Court, helping youth in foster care by coordinating with judges, attorneys, teachers, and social workers. Professionally, she worked at Christie’s Auction House for 10 years managing high-profile collections.
Kate holds a degree from the University of Vermont, where she graduated Phi Beta Kappa. She is also a member of First Presbyterian Church.