As Democratic second selectman candidate, Jack Ahern offers decades of public service leadership in Branford. He said it is desire to support open town leadership to better unite the community on important issues.

Ahern is the Democratic Party’s endorsed running mate of 2015 first selectman Democratic candidate Mark Rabinowitz. The municipal election on Tuesday, Nov. 3 will be Ahern’s first attempt to win an elective government office seat.

If elected, Ahern would bring to the role his 35 years of professional experience with Branford Fire Department, including the last 12 years as Branford fire chief (he retired in December 2014). His career helped Ahern develop public service and public safety knowledge, while his years as fire chief also built in extensive administrative expertise, he noted.

“The last 12 years as chief required me to deal with just about every town department and all political entities such as the RTM, Board of Finance, and many sub-committees on a regular basis,” said Ahern. “I presented 12 budgets for the Fire Department, and developed plans and goals and objectives for the department which directly affect both how we operated and even things as far-reaching as how much taxpayers have to spend.”

During his tenure as chief, Ahern helped foster the growth of the town’s revenue-generating ambulance service. Among other accomplishments, in 2003, Ahern wrote and received a grant to upgrade the department’s public safety radio systems. Ahern was also instrumental in finally bringing about a new fire headquarters. In 1998, one year after Ahern was promoted to deputy fire marshal, the fire department’s chief and Fire Commission attempted to have the need to address the need to replace the aging fire house, but did not receive political backing; the project stalled. The effort was renewed by Ahern when he was promoted to chief in 2002. The resulting 34,000-square-foot facility, opened in 2012, is a state-of-the-art building with many “green” components, from its rooftop solar array (the largest in town and on any Connecticut fire headquarters) to its geothermal heating and cooling system. The building’s community room has become a town government gathering place for public meetings.

If elected, Ahern said he would like to see more unity within the three-person Board of Selectman (BOS). He questions the practices of past administrations—both Republican and Democratic—to not gather the full board unless there is a public meeting. As a result, the BOS member in the minority party “gets notifications very late, and doesn’t have time to research things” before the full BOS convenes to vote, said Ahern.

He said he wants to research whether the practice is in fact something that needs to continue. Additionally, Ahern would also like to allow for more public input on issues that affect the community.

“I would just like to get more people involved, and the ability for people to attend meetings that aren’t necessarily on a short schedule,” he said. “The current administration’s priding themselves on six-minute [BOS] meetings, [but] I also think that people may get there late and get discouraged, and may not be coming back.”

He also wants to change the current administration’s practice of announcing public information meetings of presentations that are sometimes given as introductions for town projects, Ahern said.

“I feel it’s important we have meetings that aren’t just about specific things, and we have more time for the public to speak and share their ideas,” said Ahern, adding such meetings should be held “in different places and different areas of town” to better reach the community.

Ahern grew up in Branford and he and his wife have raised their five children here. He said he is excited about the chance to remain involved in public service in Branford. He also wants to help foster interest in the town’s next generation of leaders.

“Even before my Fire Department service, I still am and always was a Branford person,” said Ahern. “I still have a good pulse on Branford. I know Branford deeply, and I’m more in tune with what goes on, and I believe I can bring a little bit more to the table. Regardless of whether I get elected, I want to stay in the forefront to involve our younger citizens in the whole process.”

See Zip06's interview with Democratic First Selectman candidate Mark Rabinowitz at http://bit.ly/1PROIII