Meet the Candidates: Scott Thayer for Fifth District RTM

Name: Scott Thayer

Age: 58

Years of residence in Branford: 30

Party affiliation: Democrat

Position running for: RTM - 5th District

Branford Patch: When you’re not sitting in committee and full meetings, what are you doing? i.e. work and fun?
Scott Thayer: I work in Quality Assurance at Nucor Steel Connecticut, and part time as a computer technician at Staples. I'm on the Board of the Branford Soccer Club and I referee youth, middle school, and high school soccer.

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

Branford Patch: How long have you been actively engaged in politics in general?
Scott Thayer: Since fifth or sixth grade.

Branford Patch: What and when was your first foray into politics?
Scott Thayer: Making get-out-the-vote calls on election day when my Dad ran for the Board of Education.

Branford Patch: What’s your 10-second elevator pitch for getting elected? Scott Thayer: Branford is a wonderful place to live, and we need to to re-elect Unk and the Democratic team in order to keep it that way.

Branford Patch: What’s one thing right about Branford politics?
Scott Thayer: Anyone can voice their opinion and be heard.

Branford Patch: What’s one thing you’d like to see changed?
Scott Thayer: I would like to see less behavior designed to get attention for one particular point of view and more time to do their job for the people who volunteer their service to the people of Branford.  

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?
Scott Thayer: People may not realize what a good manager Unk has been for the Town of Branford. Under his leadership our credit rating went to AAA and has stayed there, enabling us to refinance our obligations and save the taxpayers millions of dollars. I really don't know much about Joy McConnell, but I have to commend anyone who wants to try their hand at electoral politics.

Branford Patch: What has been the most exciting national election you have every voted in? Local?
Scott Thayer: On the national level, voting against Richard Nixon for President in 1972. Locally, the election of 2009.

Branford Patch: What’s one piece of advice you would give apathetic voters about the importance of casting his or her ballot?
Scott Thayer: I don't think many people who are reading this would be apathetic about voting, but I will say that the way you cast your vote in a local election has everything to do with the quality of your schools, your roads, the value of your property, and the quality of your life.

Branford Patch: What’s the one thing that you like best about Branford?
Scott Thayer: It has everything - the water, the woods, the open fields, the stores, the Green, the Quarry; and the people - rich and poor, scholars and artists, small business owners, and old factory hands like me.

Meet Sixth District candidates Chris M. Sullivan-D and Gerald P. Araneo-R and Marc T. Riccio-R tomorrow. Sixth District candidates Anthony Giardiello-D, and Joseph Selvaggio-D did not fill out Q&A surveys. 

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