Patch Candidate Profile: Ed Prete For Branford Treasurer

BRANFORD, CT — Election Day on Nov. 4 is fast approaching, and there are a number of key races on the ballot.

Patch reached out to candidates for office to get more information on their campaigns and the issues that are facing their towns.

Candidate's Name:
Ed Prete

What office are you seeking?
Treasurer

What town do you live in?
Branford

Campaign Website

Party Affiliation:
Republican

Occupation:
Retired

Family:
Married to his wife, Jill, for 51 years, the Pretes raised their two children, Joseph and Tracy, in Branford, and are blessed with four grandchildren.

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

Previous public office, appointive or elective:
Ed served 5 consecutive terms on the Branford RTM, where he was appointed Chair of the Education Committee. Before that, he served as an ex-officio member of the James Blackstone Memorial Library Board.

Why are you seeking this office?
We need a steady fiscal hand at Town Hall. I want to be part of the team Jeff Vailette has assembled and use my experience in business and government to help build conservative budgets that lower tax rates on all of us and protect our AAA bond rating. It's important that I give back to a Town that has meant so much to me and my family.

The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is ____, and this is what I intend to do about it:
Tax relief for ALL of us!

What are the major differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?
I'm part of team, Vailette for Branford, and we have been clear that this is not about one person or one "opponent." It's about a vision for the future of our Town. We have run as a team, and we will lead together as a team. That's how we will deliver results.

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?
Protecting our AAA bond rating and helping Jeff Vailette deliver smart economic development that helps lower the tax rate on residential taxpayers.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?
My service on the RTM, the Blackstone Library, and time spent coaching and mentoring young people as a coach in the Branford Little League have prepared me for this role. In addition, having raised a family here makes me aware of the real needs that exist in our Town and should be our focus. In the end, it's about people, not politics.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?
Work hard, and never take yourself too seriously.