TOWN COUNCIL CANDIDATES
RICHARD BAILEY
Richard “Rich” Bailey, a life-long resident of Wethersfield, has a long and distinguished career in public service to the town.
He served in the Wethersfield Public Works Department for 34 years, retiring as an Assistant Director. Bailey also spent 35 years with the Wethersfield Volunteer Fire Department, serving 17 years as Chief Officer, seven years as Assistant Chief and 10 as Chief of the Department.
He was also a volunteer girls soccer coach with the Wethersfield school system and then town leagues among numerous other community activities.
MICHAEL BOURASSA
Michael Bourassa is a lifelong Connecticut resident who was born and raised in Waterbury, Connecticut. A graduate of Central Connecticut State University, Michael holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business Management. Michael, his wife Robin, and their two daughters Alexis and Cassidy have resided in Wethersfield for over 20 years and are active in their community.
For the past 22 years, Michael worked as a brokerage director for Certified Financial Services, a general agency of Guardian Life Insurance. Prior to working in insurance, Michael spent several years working as the Northeast Regional Operational Manager for Honda Finances.
In addition to coaching his daughter’s youth sports teams, Michael has also volunteered for many years as an assistant football coach at area High Schools. Dedicated to his town and community, Michael served as the President/Co-President of Pine Acres Swim and Tennis Club for five years. Presently, he serves on the Zoning Board of Appeals and is an active member of the Wethersfield Republican Town Committee.
SHELLEY CARBONE
Shelley is seeking her first full term on Town Council. Appointed to the Council in June 2022, she had previously served on the Youth Advisory Board, the Historic District Commission, and the Shade Tree Commission.
Shelley comes from a family of first responders, and strongly supports our police, fire and EMS. She has been an active member of the community, especially in town sports. Her family owns a business and comes from a long line of entrepreneurs. She knows the challenges and benefits that come with hard work and dedication.
She and her husband, John, have been married 25 years and have four children. She has been a registered nurse for 30 years. She hopes to be of great value and service to her community in this role and contribute to our town in a positive and meaningful way.
AMANDA DREW
Amanda has been a litigation paralegal for almost 20 years at a Hartford law firm. She is married to her husband, Bill, who is a Captain in an area Fire Department and is the proud mother to two school age girls, Kellie (Grade 10) & Abigail (Grade 4). Currently, she is a member of the Wethersfield Board of Education and Chairs the Finance and HR Committees. She is a vocal member of the board and believes in common sense policies. Amanda also volunteers with SafeGrad and the WHS Running Boosters. Before being elected to the BOE, she was a member of the Library Board, WSPC, and Treasurers of both the Charles Wright PTO and SDMS PAC.
Amanda did not grow up here but chose Wethersfield to be her home and raise her children. She is always active and believes in giving back to her community. Amanda has been able to reach across party lines to create conversation and wants to prioritize the maintenance of our buildings and improve how the town communicates with the public and school district.
She looks forward to making Wethersfield better than what it was yesterday.
CHRIS HEALY
Healy is seeking his first term on the Town Council after six years as a member of the Board of Education. During his tenure on the BOE, Healy served as Vice Chairman, Chairman of Student Programs and Services and the Community and Public Relations Committees.
He is the Executive Director of the Connecticut Catholic Conference which represents the interests of the Catholic dioceses in CT before state and federal elected officials. He has also served in positions at the local, state and federal governments in a variety of communications and policy positions.
Healy has served on the Youth Services Committee, the Ethics Committee and Charter Revision Committee.
A native of New York City, he graduated from The Gunnery School in 1976 and received his BA in Theater and Cinema from Dennison University in 1980. He is a member of the Knight of Columbus Council 4193. He and his wife, Suzan, live in Old Wethersfield, and are parishioners of the Church of the Incarnation.
BRIANNA TIMBRO
Timbro was born and raised in Middletown, CT to young, working-class parents, and was blessed with an upbringing that included a strong influence from her grandparents. Most of Brianna’s childhood was spent between two generations whose common denominator was a strong belief in American and family values.
Brianna went on to receive her Secondary History Teaching Degree, Teaching Certificate, and Masters of Educational Leadership from Central Connecticut State University. While Brianna loved teaching History, she had three wonderful children of her own (ages seven, six, and three) with her husband, Kevin, and decided to put her career on hold so she could spend more time with them.
During her time away from teaching, Brianna acquired her Real Estate License and practiced Real Estate part-time for the last five years.
Brianna currently works as the Legislative Aide for a State Senator Lisa Seminara in Hartford. This role equips her with extensive knowledge of the legislative process, public policy, and community relations. She was also appointed and currently sits on the Wethersfield Economic Development and Improvement Commission.
BOARD OF EDUCATION CANDIDATES
LEW MICHAELS
Lew Michaels is seeking his second term on the Board of Education, having served between 2019-2021 when he was Chairman of the board’s Finance and Information Management Committees. Lew is the Executive Director of Cinestudio, a not-for-profit independent cinema located on the campus of Trinity College in Hartford, CT. Prior to taking on that leadership role, he served as the General Manager at the Shubert Theater in New Haven, CT where he oversaw the day-to-day operations of the historic 1600 seat theater. Previously, Lew was with the Tony Award-winning Hartford Stage in Hartford, CT, for thirteen seasons. During that time, he served as the Facilities and Operations Manager and the theater's Accessibility Coordinator. He played a pivotal role in introducing Audio Described and Open Captioned shows at the theater.
Lew is married to Wethersfield native Kristen Mauro Michaels; they have two young boys, Andy, a 6th grader, and Alex, a 2nd grader, who both go to Hanmer. Lew is a parishioner of Incarnation Church and serves on the Capital Improvement Advisory Committee and the Inland Wetlands and Conservation Commission.
JAMES F. REILLY
Reilly is seeking his second term on the Board of Education. He has served as Chairman of the board’s Policy and Planning Committee and member of the Facilities and Maintenance, Finance and Information Management and Human Resource Committee. Prior to his service on the BOE, Jim was on the Zoning Board of Appeals.
A Wethersfield native and graduate of the Wethersfield Public Schools, Jim is a parent of three school-age children, and is committed to supporting our teachers, administrators, and staff as they seek to make our schools even better. As an experienced corporate accountant, Jim appreciates making the hard but necessary choices to oversee resources wisely and efficiently.
Jim’s professional background includes tax accountant positions at local and international companies, including his current position at Eversource Energy, and a member of the Finance Committee of Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Hartford.
He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Central Connecticut State University and a Masters of Science degree in Taxation at the University of Hartford.
Jim and his wife, Jennifer, a public-school science teacher in East Hampton are the proud parents of Peter, 16, Sophia, 14, and Carolyn, 7.
ELIZABETH WALTERS
Liz, nicknamed Lizean by her mother, is a lifelong Wethersfield native who grew up in Wells Quarter Village. Liz is starting her 25th year at The Hartford and currently serves as a Sr. Portfolio Analyst in Group Benefits Technology, holding certifications in Agile Methodology as a Scrum Master, Lean Portfolio Manager and Product Owner. Liz currently leads a Lean-In Circle for Women in Technology called “In-TECH-llectual Women”.
Liz will bring her solid skill set in financial management, process improvement and execution to the BOE. She currently serves on the Board of Ethics and the Wethersfield Advisory Committee for People with Disabilities, and previously as a parent representative on the 2021 WHS Principal Search Committee. Liz was the WHS booster treasurer for football and field hockey while her children played, and in 2016 she was the Secretary of Wethersfield Sticks Inc. which created the youth Field Hockey feeder program for WHS. Liz chaired the Safe Grad Business & Family donations committee in 2019 and volunteered for numerous PTO and class events at Webb and Hanmer.
Liz is the proud mother of Michael, a 2019 WHS Graduate, and Emily, a 2022 WHS Graduate. Liz will bring her passion for collaboration, action and transparency to help Wethersfield schools thrive.