The Democratic candidates for Oxford town offices. From the left: John T. Powers (Board of Finance), Betsi Hellman (Zoning Board of Appeals), Scott Flaherty (First Selectman), Christin Kimball (Board of Education), and Pete Zbras (Planning and Zoning). Missing: Margaret West, Town Clerk candidate.
Democrats in Oxford unanimously nominated Scott Flaherty as their candidate for First Selectman, at their caucus on July 19.
Flaherty made his political debut last year, as a candidate for state representative in the 131st District. He is a bar manager and long-time Oxford resident, who worked for more than ten years at the Oxford House, on Rte. 67.
“I look forward to working with both sides,” he said after the caucus. “The current polarized climate is not helping anyone.”
The other candidates are:
John T. Powers, for a seat on the Board of Finance. A veteran of the U.S. Navy Submarine Service, he most recently served as a senior project team lead for AT&T in Meriden.
Christin Kimball, for a seat on the Board of Education. She is the founder and owner of Sasstastic Designs, in Oxford, which develops and designs corporate identity and branding for independent business owners. She is also an adjunct professor of communications at Southern Connecticut State University.
Pete Zbras, for a seat on the Planning and Zoning Commission. He has been an alternate on the board since 2013.
Betsi Hellman, for a seat on the Zoning Board of Appeals. A town resident for more than 25 years, she founded the Oxford Library Foundation in 1999. She and her husband own two small businesses in the town: Aeroturn LLC, which manufactures turnstiles, and Brighton & Hove Ltd., an engineering consulting firm.
Margaret West, for Town Clerk. She is the long-serving incumbent in that office.
