2025 Patch Profile: Erin Barthel, Avon Town Council

AVON, CT — Avon Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as Election Day draws near.

Erin Barthel is running for the Avon Town Council as a Democrat.

The following is Erin Barthel's questionnaire sent to Patch:

Candidate's Name: Erin Barthel

What office are you seeking? Town Council

What town do you live in? Avon

Campaign Website: https://avonctdem.com

Party Affiliation: Democrat

Occupation: Physician, 18 years

Family: Yes

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government? No

Previous public office, appointive or elective:

Yes, Town Council August 2023-present

Why are you seeking this office?

I am seeking re-election because I love volunteering in this role to help my community. I enjoy learning about topics that affect my town, such as affordable housing, invasive plant species, sewer management, and budget development. I am happy to also be a point person for residents’ concerns and am delighted when we can come to a solution.

The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is ____, and this is what I intend to do about it: My constituents are feeling overwhelmed.

People are very stressed right now and have a lot on their plates. It is easy to feel isolated.

As a town councilwoman, I will continue to work on community events with Recreation and Parks and the town manager. Together, we created Avon Shines, Restaurant Week, and a Bakery Scavenger Hunt in this last term.

Additionally, I will continue to provide a monthly Town Council meeting summary on my Substack account that aims to inform those who are unable to make the meetings. Community engagement and keeping people informed will help others feel connected to the town and educated about what is going on around them.

What are the major differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I am only focused on doing the best I can to help the town.

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?

I am happy to answer any questions while phone banking and door-knocking to clear up misinformation they may have heard. I want people to know that we lead transparently. Everyone is welcome to attend town meetings where both Republicans and Democrats make decisions together.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence that you can handle this job?

Together, as a council, we have accomplished a lot, including the completion of the North-South section of Old Farms Road, the transfer of Avon dispatch to a regional dispatch center in Farmington, improved office space for the Board of Education, and produced a Master Plan for Recreation and Bike Walk Connectivity.

Smaller projects that may not have made as much news include our community projects mentioned above, externalization of an AED at Sperry Park, planning for Avon 250, and support for the Avon Place Fires through the Uniform Relocation Act and a clothing drive.

There will always be new problems that arise, but Avon is actually extremely lucky to have town staff who are amazing at their jobs and prepared with solutions.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

We volunteer for this position because we want to live in a wonderful town. We try our best to make this a place you’re proud to live in, as well.