Politics & Government

Meet the Candidates: Joanne Cleary Hopes to Maintain Post as Tax Collector

Six-year Branford political member, Joanne Cleary works to keep her seat.

Name: Joanne Cleary

Years of residence in Branford: Total of 12

Party affiliation: Democrat

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Position running for:  Tax Collector

Branford Patch: When you’re not sitting in committee and full meetings, what are you doing? i.e. work and fun?
Joanne Cleary: Reading, traveling, walking

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Branford Patch: How many years have you been a sitting member of Branford politics? 
Joanne Cleary: Six.

Branford Patch: How long have you been actively engaged in politics in general? 
Joanne Cleary: Six.

Branford Patch: What and when was your first foray into politics? 
Joanne Cleary: When I first ran for Tax Collector in 2005.

Branford Patch: What’s your 10-second elevator pitch for getting elected? 
Joanne Cleary: Six years experience; hold state certification as municipal collector; met or exceeded budgeted collection rate in each year I have been in office; work well with taxpayers who are in difficult situations.

Branford Patch: What’s one thing right about Branford politics? 
Joanne Cleary: Most Branford politicians really have the best interest of the town in mind.

Branford Patch: What’s one thing you’d like to see changed? 
Joanne Cleary: Petty attacks with no basis or alternative plan.

Branford Patch: Regardless of your party affiliation, can you name one good thing about the current First Selectman Anthony “Unk” DaRos and one good thing about his challenger, Joy McConnell? 
Joanne Cleary: Unk has led Branford successfully and with great perception for five terms; I really don’t know anything about Joy McConnell.

Branford Patch: What has been the most exciting national and local elections you have every voted in?
Joanne Cleary: National: 1992, 2000 and 2008 were all pretty cool; local: 2005, when I was first on the ticket.

Branford Patch: What’s one piece of advice you would give apathetic voters about the importance of casting his or her ballot? 
Joanne Cleary: EVERY vote counts, and you cannot be part of the solution if you don’t step up and exercise your right to vote.

Branford Patch: What’s the one thing that you like best about Branford? 
Joanne Cleary: It has great diversity.

Branford Patch: Why did you decide to for re-election? 
Joanne Cleary: I really like the position, and feel that I have done well for the Town of Branford and for the taxpayers.

Meet Board of Education Candidates David A. Squires-D and Judith L. Hotz-R on Monday night. 

Did you miss the stories on the candidates for selectman’s office? Check out the profiles below:

Candidacy  Republican Democrat First Selectman  (challenger) Selectman


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