TOWN COUNCIL CANDIDATES
Deb Carroll
Deb is the Majority Leader of the Town Council, where she works hard to deliver responsible budgets, an exceptional education system, and town services we all can rely on.
A lifelong educator, Deb worked for two decades as a high school teacher. She’s now a bookseller at River Bend Books in Glastonbury, a locally owned small business.
Deb is passionate about ensuring Glastonbury is a great place to live and work for all of us. She served on the Affordable Housing Steering Committee and co-chaired the Racial Justice and Equity Commission. Deb is focused on creating affordable housing options and finding ways to support our local farmers in these challenging times.
Deb and her husband Tom have lived in Glastonbury with their three sons since 2012.
tom Gullotta
Tom is the Chair of the Glastonbury Town Council, where he works to pass responsible budgets, protect our businesses and farms, and maintain our excellent school system.
In the 1980s, Tom served two terms on the Board of Education and two terms as Vice Chair of the Town Council before retiring from public service. He returned to public office roughly 10 years ago.
Tom previously served as the CEO of a children’s social service agency, taught in the state university system for over 40 years, and was an academic author/editor focused on adolescence and mental health promotion.
Currently, Tom is a gentleman farmer, bibliophile, and owns a book auction company that donates its profits to charity.
Mary LaChance
Mary is running for her fourth term on the Town Council, where she works to deliver responsible budgets, a quality education system, and town services that benefit everyone.
Professionally, Mary is a Sr. Director of Data Engineering at Travelers, where she manages IT budgets, personnel, and development efforts. She brings that experience and perspective to the Town Council. She also previously served on the Zoning Board of Appeals in another town. Mary and her family moved to Glastonbury 15 years ago, and they are proud members of First Church of Glastonbury.
A lifelong volunteer, Mary co-founded the Glastonbury Robotics and Engineering Club, which grew the number of competitive robotics teams in town to the largest in Connecticut. She also mentored the high school robotics team. As a result of these efforts, Glastonbury now hosts both the FLL and the FRC state championships, as a recognition of the strength of the robotics program in town. Mary also serves on the Metropolitan District Commission.
Jake McChesney
Jake is a former prosecutor and is currently an Assistant Attorney General protecting the legal interests of public safety agencies & employees. Through his education and career, Jake has learned to respect diverse opinions, carefully analyze issues from multiple perspectives, and engage in thoughtful discussions on challenging topics.
Jake and his family set roots in Glastonbury for its excellent schools, open spaces and small-town feel. He firmly believes that maintaining these qualities while wisely managing town finances will ensure Glastonbury remains an excellent place to live, work, and raise a family.
Jake has served on Town Council for 5 years, and previously served on the Town Plan and Zoning Commission. He is a loving husband and father of two young children.
Larry Niland
Larry serves as the Vice Chairman of the Town Council, and he has served on the Council since 2017. He has been a resident of Glastonbury for over 29 years with his wife, Nicole, and their two sons, Jack and Alex. Previously, Larry served as Majority Leader of the Council and on the Town Plan and Zoning Commission. He is the Council’s ex-officio member of the Glastonbury Education Foundation, and also the Council’s representative to the Capitol Region Council of Governments.
Larry has over 33 years of municipal experience as an IT Specialist for the Town of West Hartford and currently with the City of Middletown as a Network Engineer. He has also spent numerous seasons coaching for Glastonbury Hartwell Soccer and Glastonbury Little League.
Throughout his time on the Town Council, Larry has made it his priority to deliver responsible budgets, quality education, socially-conscious policies, and town services that benefit everyone
Jen wang
Jen is honored to be serving on the Town Council since November 2021, working with all towards a healthy, sustainable, and inclusive community. Jen’s priorities include increasing our affordable housing options, supporting the needs of our diverse residents, improving walkability and bikeability, advancing our climate and environmental leadership, enhancing our library and recreation amenities, championing our local farms and businesses, and keeping our budget lean while maintaining strong public services. Jen serves as the Council liaison to the Glastonbury Community Action Partnership, our community substance abuse prevention coalition. She previously served on Glastonbury’s Racial Justice and Equity Commission.
Jen is a nonprofit professional with over 16 years of experience at the intersection of sustainable economic development and public health. Most recently she was the International Climate Associate Director at Health Care Without Harm, where she facilitated a global team working on climate action in the health sector.
A well-rounded program manager, team leader, communicator, and advocate, Jen is excited to bring her skills and perspectives to community engagement and local policymaking here in Glastonbury.
Board of Education Candidates
Alison Couture
Alison was elected to the Board of Education in 2019. During her tenure, she has worked collaboratively with parents and administrators to bring a balanced perspective in support of the many initiatives that set Glastonbury Public Schools apart. Alison has been an advocate for sustainability, mental health, and STEAM initiatives to thoughtfully advance Glastonbury’s vision. She currently serves on the Board of Education’s Personnel Committee and Strategic Facilities Committee.
Her 16 years of experience as a Human Resources Professional, have positioned her well to collaborate and engage in discussion around strategy, teacher hiring and retention, as well as maintaining a fiscally responsible budget. She currently works at The Hartford as an HR Business Partner supporting multiple lines of business, and as a representative for DEI and Engagement Councils.
Alison and her husband moved to Glastonbury 14 years ago because of the exemplary public education. As a mother of three children who currently attend Smith Middle School and Nayaug Elementary, Alison has a vested interest in maintaining Glastonbury’s high education standards for years to come. She is an active member of First Church Congregational and spends her free time supporting her children’s many extracurricular activities
Matt Saunig
Matt is currently in his first term on the Board of Education. During his tenure, Matt has been an advocate for continuing Glastonbury Public Schools' academic excellence while also delivering fiscally responsible value for taxpayers. He has also been a champion for initiatives that support student mental health and improve teacher retention and recruitment.
With over a decade of bank regulatory experience, Matt is an attorney currently serving as an Assistant Division Director for the state Department of Banking. He also previously served on the Town Plan and Zoning Commission, Public Buildings Commission, and Ethics Commission.
Matt and his wife chose to live in Glastonbury because of its wonderful quality of life and great schools. With a child not yet in the school system, Matt is committed to maintaining Glastonbury Schools' success well into the future. In his spare time, Matt and his family (including their corgi, Brendan) can be found enjoying Glastonbury's first-rate parks and restaurants.
Julie Thompson
Julie has served our community as an elected official and devoted volunteer in many capacities. She has been a leader on the Board of Education for 8 years and has been chosen by her colleagues to serve as Vice Chairman.
Julie also represents the BOE on the Capitol Region Education
Council, Youth and Family Services Commission, the Parent Teacher Student Organization and the Glastonbury Education Foundation.
Julie is currently the President of the Historical Society of Glastonbury, providing education and insight to community members of all ages. She has served on the Board of Friends of Glastonbury Rowing and the Board of Children’s Ministers at First Church. Julie has volunteered countless hours to the GHS PTO and the GHS crew team.
Julie has lived in town for over 20 years and she is a proud Mom of 4 GHS graduates. We are fortunate that Julie has always provided fair, inclusive and responsible leadership for our town.
Board of Finance Candidate
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Kevin Graff
Kevin joined the Board of Finance in 2022. He believes strongly in responsible budgets and has shared his extensive knowledge of town budgeting and best financial practices. His past service on the Town Council is critical to the best decision making and he looks forward to continuing serving the public.