Here are the candidates running for local office as Democrats on Nov. 4, 2025 as nominated by the party on July 22. Candidate profiles, photos, videos, backgrounds and campaign material are linked and will be updated regularly.
Nov. 4. Show up for Democracy. Show up for Newtown.
Follow the campaign on social media:

First Selectman:
Bruce Walczak
Board of Selectmen:
Board of Finance:
Janette Lamoureaux
Board of Education:
Legislative Council
District 1:
District 2:
Keith Alexander (chair)
District 3:
Michelle Embree Ku (current Board of Selectmen)
Planning and Zoning Commission:
Peter Schwarz (current alternate)
Planning and Zoning Commission Alternate:
Jill Soderholm (currently Legislative Council)
Edmond Town Hall Board:
Police Commission:
Dan Cruson IV (currently Board of Selectmen)
Zoning Board of Appeals:
Alan Clavette (chair)
Town Clerk:
Campaign 2025
Don Mitchell, Peter Schwarz talk P&Z
Share! Don Mitchell and Peter Schwarz talk Planning and Zoning on Common Ground, Newtown CT’s public access and public affairs program. Mitchell is the longtime chair of P&Z in Newtown and Schwarz, who has been an elected alternate, is running for the town board as a regular member.
Paul Lundquist, Board of Selectmen
Share!What in your background serves you best in the office you’re running to hold? My involvement in Newtown’s local government began back in 2009, and over the years I’ve had the privilege of serving in a variety of appointed and elected roles. Most notably, I served ten years on the Legislative Council, including four as […]
Bruce Walczak, First Selectman
Share!We’re with Bruce! Other Links, News, Info: I’m with Bruce candidate page. Donate! Your Selectmen Candidates! Bruce on Facebook Walczak Pledges to Listen and Respond
Renee Weimann, Candidate for Town Clerk
Share!Renee Weimann, assistant town clerk in Newtown for many years, is the Democratic candidate for Town Clerk. It’s time for a change, time for someone who can lead that office and staff and the town into the future. From the Newtown Bee, Sept. 11: Renee Weimann for Town Clerk
Jim Gaston, Board of Finance
Share!What in your background serves you best in the office you’re running to hold? I have extensive education, experience and practical work in finance. I have a double major from Lehigh University in Finance (with an emphasis on public finance) and Economics. I have served nearly 16 years on the Board of Finance as either […]
Common Ground: Four Candidates
Share!Four Democratic candidates guest on this week’s Common Ground, Newtown’s public affairs program. Chris Eide, District 1 Legislative Council candidate; Jill Soderholm, currently on the Legislative Council and running for the Planning and Zoning Commission as an alternate; Paul Lundquist, selectman candidate; and Jim Gaston, Finance Board incumbent and candidate, bring their various perspectives on […]
Dan Cruson, Police Commission
Share!What in your background serves you best in the office you’re running to hold?When I was on the Newtown Board of Education I was the liaison to the District Safety and Security Committee. This committee is a collaborative group between the the school district and town resources including the Police Department and Emergency Management. I […]
Chris Gardner, Legislative Council District 1
Share!What in your background serves you best in the office you’re running to hold? I am a lifelong Newtown resident and I care deeply about our community. I have been a member of the Legislative Council for 4 years, including 2 years as Chair of the LC Finance Committee. Before that I served on the […]
Lily MacHugh, Legislative Council District 3
Share! What in your background serves you best in the office you’re running to hold? I have worked in the C.H. Booth Library for more than three years in a number of roles, as a Reference Librarian, Newtown nonprofit council coordinator, adult programmer, and ESL teacher. This works lets me interact with far more people, […]
Michelle Embree Ku, Legislative Council District 3
Share!What in your background serves you best in the office you’re running to hold? I think I am supposed to tell you about my experience — where I’ve worked, or how long I’ve volunteered in local government — but the most important part of my background is all of the people who instilled in me […]
Arnie Berman, Legislative Council District 3
Share!What in your background serves you best in the office you’re running to hold? I’ve spent my adult life in Fairfield County, living in Stamford, Darien, Westport and Fairfield. Four years ago, my wife Nancy and I chose to make Newtown our home – not by chance, but by conviction. Every candidate of either party […]
Don Mitchell, Planning and Zoning Commission
Share!I hope to use my years of legal and zoning experience to continue to assist Newtown in administering its zoning rules in a more principled way and, perhaps, even to prompt some real future planning for our town’s growth. I intend to bring a principled, open and balanced view toward development and economic opportunity for […]
Keith Alexander, Legislative Council District 2
Share!I’ve lived in Sandy Hook since 1996; married to Elizabeth, father to Claire and Scott (Newtown schools graduates). I’m an engineer at heart, designer by trade, astrophysicist in my next life. For the last two years, I’ve served as chair of the Legislative Council. I love the feeling of being nestled in this community in […]
Eric Paradis, Legislative Council District 2
Share!My wife and I moved our family here because of what Newtown offers. Our schools, parks, community offerings are our strengths and I want to continue to improve what we can offer families so that we remain a vibrant, inclusive community. I was elected to the Legislative Council in 2023. I want to continue to […]
Jordana Bloom, Legislative Council District 2
Share!I have lived in Newtown with my family for more than 20 years and was encouraged by enormously supportive peers to get involved in the community. I want to continue to set an example for all residents to actively participate in our government. Married (husband John Fletcher); four children (Jamison, Jackson, Hudson, and Hayden); and […]
Laura Miller, Legislative Council District 1
Share!I have lived in Newtown more than 25 years. I never tire of the scenery and varied landscape around Newtown, and I love calling Newtown my home. I raised my three children here and cannot imagine a better place to live. My inspiration to run for Legislative Council came during the Book Challenges. Literacy is […]
Peter Schwarz, Planning and Zoning Commission
Share!What in your background serves you best in the office you’re running to hold? As a corporate lawyer, my job is not to create controversies or make problems worse … my job is to advise my executives how to solve a complicated business problem within the law. I’ve been dong that for almost 40 years […]
John Fletcher, Board of Finance
Share!For the Board of Finance, the most important issues are investing in schools and education; encouraging smart business development in town; and working in a bipartisan way to keep our spending affordable – as the BOF has in recent years. More broadly, it is important to keep our town government focused on Newtown issues. We […]
Jill Soderholm, Planning and Zoning
Share!What in your background serves you best in the office you’re running to hold? I have a professional background in architecture, land planning, and real estate finance. As a member of the Planning and Zoning Commission, I would contribute to the evaluation of project proposals and the application of zoning regulations. Most recently I was a member […]
Janette Lamoureaux, Board of Finance
Share!Janette Lamoureaux, incumbent, is running to retain her seat on the Board of Finance.
Common Ground Episode 6
Share!Three Legislative Council candidates are in the spotlight this week on Common Ground, Newtown’s public affairs program on Charter local access. Arnie Berman (D-District 3), Chris Gardner (D-1) and Michelle Embree Ku, D-3, talk about the issues that Newtown voters care about.
Alan Clavette, Zoning Board of Appeals
Share!Alan has been an elected member of the Newtown Zoning Board of Appeals since 2003, currently serving as the chairman. He is also am a member of the Board of Directors for Newtown Savings Bank and the Connecticut Institute for Communities (CIFC) based in Danbury. He is running with Betsy Paynter, who is currently vice […]
Betsy Paynter, Zoning Board of Appeals
Share!Betsy Paynter and Alan Clavette are the Democratic candidates for the Zoning Board of Appeals. Betsy is currently vice chair of the board of Edmond Town Hall.
Doria Linnetz, Board of Education
Share!My husband and I moved to Newtown in 2007, drawn to a community that offered a more reasonable cost of living, excellent schools and a community that shared similar values – education, service, and kindness. We now have two children, both attending Newtown Public Schools. We also share our home with our two dogs (Toby […]
Beth Young, Board of Finance
Share!What in your background serves you best in the office you’re running to hold? My background has taught me to be able to listen carefully and not be shy about asking questions. I am also a team player who thoroughly enjoys learning and sharing with others. What do you think are the most important traits […]
Herb Rosenthal for ETH Board of Managers
Share! Herb Rosenthal is running to retain his seat on the Edmond Town Hall Board of Managers. Herb is a former five-term First Selectman, serving from 1997 — 2007, and has remained a dedicated public servant in the town he loves since then.
Labor Day Parade Photos!
Share!So many great people. So many terrific candidates. And what a great crowd, for Newtown’s 63rd Labor Day Parade!
Ready for the Parade?
Share!DTC members and family get our float ready for Monday’s Labor Day parade!
Meet the candidates on Youtube
Share!One minute apiece with 12 of our candidates. 🙂 Video also available on individual profile pages.
Chris Eide, Legislative Council District 1
Share!What in your background serves you best in the office you’re running to hold? One reason I’m confident that I will be able to serve in this office is that I have done so successfully in the past. I have served on the Legislative Council already for six years. In that time, I served on […]