Democratic Candidate Profiles: First Selectman and Board of Selectmen

TOM FRENAYE, Dem. candidate for first selectman (incumbent)

Frenaye is running for re-election as First Selectman. He is currently serving his first term.

“We’ve worked together and improved Suffield,” said Frenaye. “Let’s keep the momentum going.”

Frenaye has served on the Finance, Zoning and Planning and Capital Expenditures boards and has 25 years of experience in corporate technology management.

As First Selectman, Frenaye worked to break the logjam of inaction on many projects. Spending has been reduced, and an annual savings of $600,000 has been returned to the town’s general fund.

“A professional government that improves public safety and plans development while functioning openly is the first place to start,” Frenaye said.

Accomplishments under Frenaye’s leadership include:

Tax Savings

• Keeping taxes low through efficient government, resulted in the smallest tax increase in 12 years

• Saving taxpayer money by reducing increases in salaries and benefits through negotiations and vendor contract changes, resulting in $350,000 annual savings 

• Saving more money by rolling trash collection costs into the tax rate, resulting in direct savings to most homeowners and increased state aid

Efficient Government

• Moving projects forward by by using consensus-based leadership to work with people on all sides of issues. 

• Managing projects to save money - completed the senior center under budget!

• Keeping costs low by not increasing the number of town employees

Smart Economic Development

• Creating business-friendly atmosphere that has resulted in several new businesses relocating to town

• Protecting & repairing infrastructure with major road repairs under way on nearly one-third of town roads and long-needed Library roof repairs

• Maintain rural beauty & open farmland that characterizes the town through prudent open space preservation

Frenaye, a long-time Suffield resident, earned his BA and MA from Sonoma State University. For more information on Frenaye, visit www.SuffieldDemocrats.com.

BRIAN FITZGERALD, Dem. candidate for board of selectmen (incumbent)

Fitzgerald is running for re-election on the Board of Selectmen.

He is a retired school teacher with a long history of service to the Town of Suffield. He has served eight years on the Board of Selectman and four years on the Board of Finance. Fitzgerald is proud of his service to the community.

“I have served over 30 years on boards and commissions, including eight years as a selectman,” he said. “My varied experiences will serve Suffield well in the future.”

Fitzgerald earned a BA from Providence College and a masters in education from Westfield State College. For more information on Fitzgerald, visit www.SuffieldDemocrats.com.

EILEEN MONCRIEF, Dem. candidate for board of selectmen (incumbent)

Moncrief is running for re-election on the Board of Selectmen, where she has served two terms.

Moncrief brings over 20 years of public service and was a member of the two Charter Revision Commissions, the Ethics Commission and has served as chair of the Democratic Town Committee. She has also served on the Registrar of Voters and Suffield League of Women Voters.

Moncrief earned BA, BS and master's degrees from the University of Virginia and currently works in higher education and business development. Moncrief is a member of the Board of Directors for the Friends of the Farm at Hilltop.

For more information on Moncrief, visit www.SuffieldDemocrats.com.