Wilton Dems Set November Slate, With Several New Faces

**News Release Submitted by Wilton Democratic Town Committee**

July 25, 2023

At its meeting Tuesday evening, the Democratic Town Committee endorsed a slate of 12 candidates for local races in November. “Wilton Democrats are especially proud of this exceptionally strong slate of candidates for November, several of whom are new to local politics,” said Wilton DTC Chair Tom Dubin. “They each bring important professional and community service accomplishments. Most of all, they share a passionate vision and desire to make Wilton work for all of us.”

The slate, approved by members of the DTC at its meeting at Comstock Community Center Tuesday evening, is as follows:

Board of Selectmen

Farah Masani (she/her), is a farmer and social justice advocate. She is founder of Wilton Pride, a Board Member of Trackside Teen Center, a Scout Leader of BSA Troop 125, a volunteer at Middlebrook PTA and CP2027 Co-Chair at WYC. She was appointed by the Board of Selectmen to serve on the SIMM (Schenck’s Island/Merwin Meadows) Committee. Farah has lived in Wilton since 2009. She is married to Shawn Frendt, one of Wilton's finest, a police officer here for 24 years. They live in town center with their son Oliver and their rescue, Scruffy. Farah works at Barcelona Wine Bar as the Director of Purchasing.

Ross Tartell (incumbent) is seeking his second term on the BOS. Tartell founded a leadership development consulting firm and teaches at Columbia University, where he received an M.Ed., M.B.A. and Ph.D. He worked in managerial positions at GE Capital and Pfizer. Having spent his career helping individuals become successful leaders and enabling organizations to achieve peak performance, he brings that same commitment to public service, serving as a Wilton fire commissioner, chairing long-range planning teams in Wilton schools for 22 years, and now volunteering with the Wilton Kiwanis. Ross and his wife, Karen, moved to Wilton in 1989. Their son graduated from WHS.

Board of Finance

Tim Birch is Executive Vice President-Legal and Corporate Development for NorthStar Memorial Group, LLC, Houston, Texas. Birch manages all legal functions as well as mergers and acquisitions for a funeral and cemetery company with approximately 100 businesses in 13 states. He is a member of the Advisory Board of Muhlenberg College, which he attended before earning a Masters at Xavier University and a law degree from Boston University School of Law. Tim has served on the boards of the Wilton Soccer Association and Ridgefield Academy and currently serves on the committee administering the opioid settlement in Connecticut. He and his wife Catherine raised two sons in Wilton.

Slava Servello is Controller for North Sails Group LLC in Bridgeport and previously served a similar position with Sisley Cosmetics in Danbury. Servello has overseen all facets of strategic financial planning, including budget management and financial reporting. She earned an MBA in Accounting & Finance/Leadership & Change Management from New York University. She is Treasurer of the Miller-Driscoll PTA and has two children who attend Wilton schools.

David Tatkow has lived in Wilton with his wife and two children since 2014, and has served as an investment advisor to several multi-billion dollar public and private pension funds since 2010. He graduated with an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business in 2007. Both of David's children have attended Wilton public schools since kindergarten, and they will be attending Cider Mill in the 2023-24 academic year.

Board of Education

Ruth DeLuca (Incumbent) was elected to the Board of Education in 2019 and has served as its chair for the past two years. She has a bachelor’s degree in political science and economics from Northeastern, a master’s in public and social policy from George Washington University and a JD from Brooklyn Law School. Her pro bono work includes assistance to individuals navigating the healthcare and insurance system. She and her husband and three children were drawn to Wilton in 2016 for its excellent schools and caring community. All three of their children attend Wilton schools.

Patrick Pearson is Vice President, Open Banking Partnership Sales for MasterCard. He was awarded MasterCard’s 2022 CEO Award. A graduate of Fordham University, he is a volunteer with the First Tee of Connecticut and formerly Board Chair of FISH of Greater New Haven. He chairs the Mastercard employee golf tournament that raises funds for First Tee of CT, Ronald McDonald House of NY, and the Make-A-Wish Foundation. He and his wife Jessica have lived in Wilton for two years. Their two daughters attend Miller-Driscoll School and Children’s Day School.

Planning & Zoning
Mark Ahasic is an appointed member of the P&Z Commission. As President of Ahasic Aviation Advisors, he has worked in the aviation industry as a consultant to airlines, airports, terminal operators, infrastructure funds, and government agencies worldwide for 25 years, including several years of leading planning initiatives at JetBlue and Ove Arup & Partners. He has an MBA and a BS in Industrial Engineering and Management Science from Northwestern University. He has lived in Wilton with his wife Amy and their two children since 2018.

Board of Assessment Appeals
Robert Zsunkan (incumbent) is chair of the Board of Assessment Appeals, on which he has served since 2020. Zsunkan is the former Vice President and Audit Manager for Partner Reinsurance Group, an international company offering life, casualty and property insurance. He is now retired after a 50-year career in the reinsurance industry. Zsunkan earned a bachelor’s degree in business and an MBA from Adelphi University. He and his wife Alison have two grown sons who were educated in the Wilton school system.

Constable
Bo Mitchell (Incumbent) was Wilton Police Commissioner from 1985 to 2001, and thereafter founder of 911 Consulting, which manages corporate emergency and crisis planning, management. He has lived in Wilton since 1970 and served as a constable since leaving the Police Commission two decades ago. He helped develop Wilton’s Community Emergency Response Team.

Ernie Ricco (Incumbent), has owned a property, construction and management firm since 1988 and has for 25 years coached football at the collegiate and high school level. He has been married 35 years to Brenda Scott Ricco. They have six children ranging in age from 18 to 32, all of whom graduated from Wilton public schools. Ricco is a three-term Constable. He has served 38 years in municipal, state and national elected and appointed positions including councilman at age 22.

Jane Rinard is a retired financial consultant who has lived in Wilton with her husband Damon for eight years, following a 40-year career, most recently as a consultant to tech start-up companies. She earned a BA in Accounting from the University of Illinois and an MBA from San Diego State University. She was a competitive cyclist and has been active in local politics with the Democratic Town Committee.

”The Democratic campaign team is looking forward to supporting this highly- qualified and enthusiastic slate of candidates,” said DTC Vice Chair Jane Rinard. “We know that each of these candidates is committed to making Wilton an even greater place to live, work and play.”