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12/11/2024 08:30 AMWhether it’s from his time in local politics, local athletics, or as a local business owner, Joe Campbell has been a familiar face around Westbrook for decades.
In 2005, Joe had been volunteering in school with his kids for a while when he decided to try something different.
“I was at a point in my life where I wanted to get more involved. I’d been volunteering in school, so town government seemed like a natural fit,” Joe explains.
Since first volunteering close to 20 years ago, Joe has been an active member of the Board of Education, the Republican Town Committee, and now, the Board of Selectmen (BOS).
Joe was most recently reelected to the BOS in 2023.
“We work with the First Selectmen who runs the day-to-day of the town to look over any initiatives we think the town should implement,” Joe says.
For Joe, the best part of being on the BOS is “taking some of these initiatives that we think can help the town and are in the town’s people’s best interest and seeing them through.”
However, this can often be a laborious process Joe concedes.
“The most frustrating part is seeing how long it takes for some of those initiatives to come through to the end and be fruitful,” Joe says.
In particular, Joe points out two different projects he has helped oversee to completion.
“One is the new fire ordinance. That took a lot longer than I thought, but myself and Selectman Chet Balicki were on it representing the BOS, and I was glad to see it passed and get through a town meeting process. The other is the new dog park. That was a simple thing I was glad we were able to see completed,” Joe says.
As for a future project, Joe points to efforts to improve the downtown. “When I lived in Old Saybrook, I always thought of Westbrook as the small town next door, but there is so much history there, and that’s why myself, First Selectman John Hall, and Chet want to revitalize the downtown,” Joe says.
Besides his time in municipal politics, Joe has been involved with initiatives at Saint Mark's Church, as well as coaching softball, soccer, and basketball in town.
“I’ve always enjoyed sports and the competition,” Joe says.
Over the years, Joe has coached both the girls' and boys’ teams at the middle school and high school levels.
“I went to the athletic director and said that if there were open assistant positions, I would be interested wherever they need me,” says Joe.
Still, others may know Joe and his wife, Julie, from their coffee shop, Julie’s Cup of Joe. Several of the store’s employees are adults with disabilities who are given the chance to work independently and gain life skills as well as money.
“Julie always envisions doing something to help the population of adults who have different challenges. One thing we’re really proud of is we partner now with four different schools in Westbrook and Clinton to set up a program that allows the students to sell coffee to different teachers or people around town that teaches them life skills, entrepreneurship, and the chance to earn some extra money,” Joe says.
Joe attributes getting involved in his local community to his childhood. He grew up one of eight kids in a family that moved around along the shoreline growing up. When Joe and Julie settled in Westbrook, it was important to him to plant roots and become involved in one community. “It’s something that I came to when I got older. I wanted my girls to go to one school system and stay in that system kindergarten through graduation of high school. And they did,” Joe notes. “When you settle in one environment for a long time, it’s good to become involved.”
Due to his background in food service, Joe says he is often called upon to pitch in.
“Whenever people need a chef, I get a phone call,” Joe says with a laugh. “I really don’t mind sharing my talents with whatever event it is,” Joe says.
Although Joe did not grow up in Westbrook, he and Julie have lived in town for 32 years.
“I grew up along the shoreline, so it was what I was used to and comfortable with. We lived in West Haven for a short time, but it wasn’t where I wanted our daughters to grow up,” Joe says.
In his spare time Joe enjoys keeping active with volleyball and spending time with Julie, his two daughters, and his grandson.
Since moving to Westbrook, the town has left quite an impression on him.
“I love that there’s a strong sense of community here. There’s a strong personal identity that I also feel it from new residents who come here,” Joe says. “I hope to stay in Westbrook for a long time helping share my talents and my coffee.”