A Familiar Face Is Back on the RTM

Six months into its legislative session, Branford is already welcoming its second replacement on the RTM.

After the resignation of Republican Bill Severino, an open seat representing Branford's fifth district has gone to Beth Bryan. Bryan made history in 1989 when she became the youngest person ever to serve on the board.

Bryan was inducted Tuesday at Canoe Brook Senior Center by town clerk Marianne Kelly. (She is the second of three replacements this month; Democrat Dorothy Docknovich took her seat earlier in May, and Republican Robert Imperato will be inducted later this week.) Following the swearing in, she took time to talk with Branford Patch about her background, her philosophy and her hope for Branford's future. Here's what she had to say:

• Tell me a little about yourself.

I'm an old Brandfordite - I grew up here and graduated from high school here! When I was young, my single mom bought a house, the same house I still live in with my son. I was first elected to the RTM in 1989, and at the time I was the youngest ever official in Branford history (which is kind of neat, because my mother was the first woman elected to the RTM.) I was 21 then, but I'd been involved since I was 10 -- I ran the phone bank for my mother's election. This has been in my blood. I've just always known that I wanted to be involved in Branford politics.

I was involved with the RTM for quite a few years. When I was 30, I got married and moved away, did the family thing. About three years ago, I moved back to Branford with my young son and started getting involved again.

• What are your favorite things about Branford?

Oh, so many. As a mother, I have nothing but wonderful things to say about the education system. it blows my mind how wonderful the teachers are and how much every professional cares. I just have the utmost admiration for everyone who works in the school system. There are so many great extracurricular activities. The Branford Festival -- my son just goes nuts for the food and the games. We're frequent visitors of Foote Park, and we're constantly riding our scooters, taking walks, and taking advantage of Branford's green spaces. I meet so many people in the parks who aren't even from Branford -- what we have there is a real draw.

• What will you be doing on the RTM, and what issues will you tackle?

I'll be serving on public services -- I'm really, really excited to get back to that. We've had the recent building of the new fire house, which the firemen needed desperately. The building is beautiful, and it looks like everything is going along well -- although I wish we had had a little more time to research the parcel of land. But I can't wait to take a tour of the building.

It's really difficult going on any board of commission in the minority side. As the Republican minority, we've really got to be watchdogs. Take the Founder's issue -- the fact, is there's no harm in researching an issue before giving a blanket approval. I don't like to do anything too rushed. I understand there are timeframes, but we should take advantage of all the available studies and find out everything we can find out. As part of the minority party, i want to be an effective watchdog for people who can't get to the meetings. we might not always have the votes on our side, but I have a loud voice and i'm not afraid to use it. That's my job.

• How will you work across the aisle with Democrats?

Well, it depends upon the individual issue. When someone's passionate about something, they're going to fight for it. If I don't see eye to eye with someone, I hope they'll, let's just say, agree to disagree with me. When I sat on the education committee last season, I really enjoyed working with Maggie Bruno, the Democratic chair of that committee. She always took the time to let me voice my opinion, and she was always very respectful of the process. She was a good hearted person who was very well-versed in the issues. There are other Democrats also. And while Republicans are doing well right now -- we're up another seat after the election -- I'd really hope that both sides of the aisle can get to the point where we're not there as Republicans or Democrats but as servants of the people.