Longtime Public Servant John Opie Bids Farewell to Politics, For Now

Election season is has officially begun, but one key player is noticeably absent. John Opie has decided he will not seek another term on the , putting the breaks on a political career that has spanned more than two and a half decades.

“I’ve been there for so many years and we’ve run so many times,” said Opie. But, he said, the decision to pull back from politics right now isn’t entirely his.

“With less than 100 percent support from my own party, it’s just not going to work,” he said, referring to the RTC’s decision to back and and first and second selectman Republican candidates, respectively. Opie completed a two-year term in the top slot six years ago. He lost subsequent bids to regain the post.  

“I like the involvement. I’ve been there a long time,” said Opie. However, if he is not the preferred candidate by his party, he has to accept that reality, he said.

There has been talk that Opie will look outside of Branford and perhaps seek to represent the larger region on a statewide level. That has been suggested by others, he concedes, but it is not something he’s looking into at this point.

“My interests have been strictly Branford. My knowledge is Branford,” Opie said. “I go back to the RTM when Judy Gott was first selectman.” Opie, 64, served as second selectman during the Gott administration, and eventually made his own mark governing the town as first selectman from 2003 to 2005. He now serves as third selectman on the board led by Democratic First Selectman Anthony “Unk” DaRos. Francis Walsh serves as second selectman.

Opie looks back fondly on his time working with Gott, viewing it as valuable experience over the course of his political career.

“She certainly did a lot during her term,” Opie said, citing the solid waste program and investments put into much-needed town acquisitions such as new fire equipment among improvements gained.

Reconfiguring the town’s IT system is among the highlights of his own administration he mentioned.

“There was a complete overhaul of the IT system,” Opie said. For example, he noted, “When I took office, there as a shambles of an e-mail system at best. We certainly redid that from stem to stern.”

In addition, said Opie, “we installed Outlook in the Town Hall management system so people could schedule meetings appropriately. It saved time and money.” As a result, he said, “there are so many things you don’t need to go to town hall for these days.”

But there are some issues that must be addressed through town meetings and agenda-item discussions. One of those is a between the town and land-owner Wayne Cooke that is now in the courts. Although some aspects of the matter have been resolved, an aspect of the case – whether to classify a Red Hill Road parcel as farmland, thus subjecting it to much lower taxes – remains in litigation.

Opie had hoped to have the issue disposed of before leaving office, arguing that the ongoing legal battle presents an unnecessary financial burden for the town.

“It was a foolish waste of money and way too close to a vendetta. I really want to see it put to bed before I’m gone,” Opie said. “It’s a legacy not to pass on.”

It now appears likely that the continuing clash will be passed on. During its Sept. 21 meeting, the Board of Selectmen voted against an Opie-introduced motion that would have settled the matter in Cooke’s favor.

“That was just simply wrong from day one,” said Opie about the parcel’s current classification. “We don’t support out assessor, right or wrong. The town made a mistake.”

Though that case is costly to the town, Opie lauds it fiscal health in general, and is pleased that legacy will be passed on.

“The town is in basically great financial shape,” he said, adding, “That’s because of a great Board of Finance and very good fiscal policies.”