Meet the Candidates: Peter Black Hopes to Represent the Third District Again

Name: Peter Black

Age: 51

Years of residence in Branford: 48

Party affiliation: Republican

Position running for: RTM [Third District]

Branford Patch: When you’re not sitting in committee and full meetings, what are you doing? i.e. work and fun?
Peter Black: Legal work, Naval Reserve duty, working around house. swimming.

Branford Patch: How long have you been actively engaged in politics in general?
Peter Black: My whole life. I followed JFK and John-John in the oval office through Life magazine, later saw pictures of all the Sixties commotion (Khe San, My Lai, Kent State, urban riots, etc., in Life). I remember,too, the Faces of the Dead in Life, and the graphic on page two of the Register with the weekly body count.  My older brother's draft number was 16, so the war was a constant dinner topic.

Branford Patch: What and when was your first foray into politics?
Peter Black: I was Town Chair for John Anderson in 1980.

Branford Patch: What’s your 10-second elevator pitch for getting elected?
Peter Black: I don't do elevator speeches. I read and research the issues, then vote as my head and heart dictate.

Branford Patch: What’s one thing right about Branford politics?
Peter Black: Outside of the political arena, our children attend class together, we attend church together, etc.

Branford Patch: What’s one thing you’d like to see changed?
Peter Black: Change RTM to non-partisan, as in Greenwich and Wesport [sic].

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?
Peter Black: DaRos has continued Branford acquisition of open space. Joy will bring a fresh perspective to government.

Branford Patch: What has been the most exciting national election you have every voted in?
Peter Black: The exciting ones were before I could vote: Nixon v. Humphrey, McGovern.  

Branford Patch: What’s one piece of advice you would give apathetic voters about the importance of casting his or her ballot?
Peter Black: On a local level, your vote really does count. Six years ago, the RTM was split 50-50 because of a one vote margin in Stony Creek.  

Branford Patch: What’s the one thing that you like best about Branford?
Peter Black: Huge volunteer involvement, both in "NGO's" and on town boards and commissions, all working for no pay.

Branford Patch: Why did you decide to for re-election?
Peter Black: I like to think I add something to the debate, and every once and a while I can persuade a majority on the RTM to change course to avoid harm to the town, or to do the right thing even when it hurts. 

Meet RTM Fourth District candidates Gail Chapman Carbone-D and Cynthia A. Nargi-R on Monday.Third District candidates Douglas J. Hanlon-D and Cynthia Frawley-R did not fill out Q&A surveys. 

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