Wallingford Election 2025: Bryan Rivard Running For Town Council

WALLINGFORD, CT — The 2025 municipal election is heating up in Wallingford with plenty of races on the ballot.

Voters will cast their ballots in the Nov. 4 election for the position of mayor, along with seats on the Town Council and Board of Education.

Wallingford Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as election day draws near.

Bryan Rivard is running for election to the Wallingford Town Council as a Democrat.

Campaign Website
http://bryan-rivard.squarespac...

Occupation:

I am a director of commercial jet engine programs at Pratt & Whitney and have been a loyal employee there for over 20 years • | maintain a Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification • My BS in Engineering at Cornell, MS at Rensselaer, MBA at Carnegie Mellon all prepared me for success in this role.

Family:
Celebrating 20 years of marriage to my incredible wife, Anne Marie.

Proud father of our 3 amazing school-age kids… Our twin daughters Jocelyn & Bridget who are sophomores in High School and our son Owen who is entering Kindergarten.

Our "hometown" Wallingford community family truly bring us pride

Previous public office, appointive or elective:

I currently serve on the Planning and Zoning Commission and the board for the Meriden-Wallingford United Way.

I am past Chairperson of the Wallingford Schools District-Wide Parent Teacher Advisory Council where I served for many years.

I am an Eagle Scout, committed to community volunteerism, serving as a local scout troop leader, a little-league coach, soccer coach, STEM-town steering committee member, and various other roles.

Why are you seeking this office?
Love of our hometown community is what is driving me to run for a seat on Your Town Council. As I’ve been out and about connecting with residents, everyone is seeking civility in our politics and pragmatic candidates of integrity, who will put in the hard work and bring the skills to get the job done.

I’ll work tirelessly to bring people together, regardless of political affiliation or ideology, to find common ground that benefits all residents, businesses, families and especially the children of Wallingford.

I represent everyone in our community, whether they vote for me or not and I want each of you to know that my door is always open. We can’t build the best community possible unless all voices are heard and sincerely respected. This is what matters most to me in this race.

The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is ____, and this is what I intend to do about it:
…the need for better town-wide planning practices, especially for the long-term.

While it won’t garner flashy headlines, I agree with voters that this subject is critically important to ensure we align on shared goals and make steady progress toward them, while keeping an eye on the overall cost.

Some have expressed worry that the town’s historical decision-making solely favors near-term cost minimization without regard for down-stream impacts; a sort-of reactive mode that pushes off maintenance of assets, further snowplows and piles up higher costs down-stream, resulting in need for major repairs and/or replacements. These often come at unexpected times and displace other smart investments for the future. And so-on goes the cycle.

While such a broad generalization isn’t totally fair or accurate, there is often some truth in criticism, and I’d challenge the next Town Council to collaborate with the administration, Board of Education, town departments and other stakeholders to view it as an opportunity to grow their practices and strike a better, more proactive balance.

It will take time, effort and perhaps changes in process, but the pay-off can be more efficient operations, less hidden and unanticipated costs and returning our schools, infrastructure, shared services, spaces and other assets to a high standard that we can all be proud of. And if you entrust me with a seat on Your Town Council, I’ll bring many years of directly applicable experience and skills in this area that uniquely position me to hit the ground running.

What are the major differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?
Below are five critical qualities that I will help to strengthen within the Council and where I’ve demonstrated professional and personal success. With focus in these areas, I believe we can be an exceptional team, performing at the highest level of governance for our incredible town and delivering the tangible results that our fellow citizens deserve!

1. Collaboration and Teamwork:
Partner effectively as a team and stay focused on “getting the job done”. Demonstrate respect, trust, and openness towards all, to ensure a collaborative environment.

2. Strong Leadership and Ethical Conduct:
Always act with integrity, honesty, and accountability, upholding high ethical standards. Make decisions based on data, ethical principles, and prioritizing public good. Lead by example to help inspire, motivate, and guide the council toward It’s goals.

3. Community Engagement:
Build and maintain positive relationships with residents, community groups, and organizations. Keep them informed and encourage their active engagement in building a future vision for the town. Involve all stakeholders in decision-making processes.

4. Accountability and Transparency:
Establish clear plans and goals, monitor and report progress and drive to achieve results. Hold ourselves accountable for the conduct and effectiveness of our council and the administration. Assure our approach to issues and decision-making proactively considers long-term risks and opportunities for the future. Remain open to new & creative ideas.

5. Continuous Learning and Development:
Self-reflect on our own performance and never shy away from constructive feedback that could improve our effectiveness. Rather, encourage it, and prioritize ongoing learning to broaden skills and knowledge of critical issues.

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?
We need to encourage development that expands affordable residential housing options and quantity while maintaining neighborhood character, as demand currently greatly outweighs supply, which is driving prices out of reach.

Market conditions are making down-sizing options for seniors challenging and many contributing positively to our town are struggling to find a place that works for their financial and life situation. It is an issue state-wide, but Wallingford has some positive momentum and I believe we have the ability to improve our situation locally if we stick with it.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?
• I have learned how to meet challenging and global business goals with integrity
• Every day, I must listen to many voices and interpret various sources of data to inform best solutions and make good decisions
• I build creative, self-motivated and collaborative teams to get the job done
• I must work with fiscal responsibility, demonstrating smart budgeting and innovation to create growth opportunities

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?
Take some extra time to really, truly listen, then think, then act.

Favorite Quote: “An investment in learning pays the best interest” - Ben Franklin

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?
Service to this incredible community has been a joy and privilege for nearly 20 years. It would be an honor to continue that on Your Council. If entrusted with a seat I’ll work tirelessly and collaboratively to help build Wallingford’s best future!

Please feel free to reach out and connect.

Website: Bryan-Rivard.squarespace.com

Social: facebook.com/RivardForCouncil

Email: RivardForCouncil@gmail.com