2025 Patch Profile: Margaret Bratton, 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.

Margaret Bratton is running for the Avon Town Council as a Republican.

The following is Margaret Bratton's questionnaire sent to Patch:

Candidate's Name: Margaret Bratton

What office are you seeking? Town Council

What town do you live in? Avon

Campaign Website: https://www.avonctrtc.org/

Party Affiliation: Republican

Occupation:

I earned a bachelor’s degree in human resources management from Bryant University, which led to my job with the Navy Exchange Service Command in New York and Virginia. After moving back to Connecticut, I worked for Aetna Group Long Term Care Insurance. Then, after a 12-year career, I became a stay-at-home mother and eventually became a full-time caregiver to my elderly mother for five years.

Family: My husband, Ken, and I have been married for 31 years. We raised three children, Abigail, Tessa, and Neil (an Eagle Scout), who are all graduates of Avon High School. I am also a graduate of AHS, Class of 1983.

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

Previous public office, appointive or elective:

Elective: Board of Finance, 18 years, 1/1/2006-12/31/2023;
Elective: Town Council, 2 years, 1/1/2024-present.

Why are you seeking this office?

I am committed to preserving Avon’s history, character, and small-town charm. I advocate for policies that preserve local control and protect your home values, while also resisting unfunded State mandates.

The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is ____, and this is what I intend to do about it: The increase in property taxes.

In my decision-making, I choose to follow the most logical and least expensive path. Throughout my 18 years on the Board of Finance, I sometimes voted “No” on proposed tax increases, and in other years, I was successful in getting a consensus to limit tax increases.

I stand by my “No” vote in 2024, where I was the only member of the Town Council to oppose the July 2024 tax increase after considering the three “No” referendum votes from Avon constituents.

I also voted “No” on the 2025 proposed tax increase because I knew that many taxpayers were already financially burdened by the real estate revaluation.

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

I have demonstrated that I listen to the concerns of Avon residents and business owners, and respond in Town Council meetings by giving voice to the opinions of all of our generations and by casting my Town Council votes accordingly.

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

I am disappointed with how Phase I of the Old Farms Road project took away the country wooded scenic road look and changed it to more of an industrial park road entrance look.

I will keep fighting to make sure that the same thing does not happen in Phase II by trying to narrow the focus of the changes to only fixing the problems of the two bridges.

I will continue to bring attention to the recurring threat of the State Legislature defunding the historic First Company Governor’s Horse Guards in Avon.

Once we lose these two landmarks, Avon will never be able to get them back.

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

In my 20 years of elected service to Avon, I have demonstrated that I have the fortitude to cast a vote of a minority opinion as a board member in order for my vote to represent the majority opinion of Avon residents and business owners whose voices I feel are being ignored on a given issue.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

“If you’re going to love your neighbor as yourself, then you’re going to engage in the public square for the sake of their families.” - Rob McCoy, Charlie Kirk’s pastor.

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

Having grown up in Avon, I have the unique perspective of being able to look back at five decades of living through changes to our town.

In my roles on the two town boards, I have approached proposed changes carefully to ensure that they will not become detrimental to Avon in the long term.

I respectfully ask for your vote, so that I can continue to support only good changes and only reasonable tax increases, and listen to the voices of Avon constituents.