Democratic Team for the
5th District RTM
Democratic RTM candidates for the 5th District: Alex Larsson (left), Tracy Everson (center), and John Hartwell (right)
The Representative Town Meeting (RTM) is the closest form of government to the people. We will be your voice and stand up for:
Coastal Resilience: plan now for the projected 20” rise in sea level by 2050 in Branford
Safer streets for all: Create a town-wide plan for sidewalks, bike lanes and traffic calming
Return Taxpayer Money: Branford has a $30 million dollar undesignated fund & taxpayers should be paying less
RTM Minority Leader Tracy Everson
Meet Tracy
Tracy Everson is the Minority Leader on the Representative Town Meeting (RTM) and seeks her third term working for Branford’s 5th District. She serves on the RTM Administrative Services Committee and Branford’s Coastal Vulnerability Working Group.
Tracy lives in Branford Point on Mill Creek with her two Jack Russell Terriers. Her family has deep roots in town. She was baptized at Branford’s Trinity Church and the Everson family has summered in the Thimble Islands for four generations.
Tracy is focused on proactively addressing Branford’s coastal vulnerabilities, given our town’s 20 miles of coastline and projected sea level rise of 20 inches by 2050. Tracy seeks to protect our town’s infrastructure like the sewage treatment plant and our fifth district’s low-lying neighborhoods such as Indian Neck, Pawson Park, Branford Point and the Branford river.
Everson is a problem solver and a non-partisan advocate for all her constituents. Working in a bi-partisan way, she was instrumental in getting the state to conduct a Road Safety Audit in May 2022 of Rt. 146 in Indian Neck from the Branford River to Limewood Ave that lays out specific public safety and traffic congestion solutions including sidewalks. When a constituent reached out about dangerous speeding in Maple Street’s 25 mph zone, Tracy worked with the Branford police who installed a speed safety monitor reminding motorists of how fast they are going. Everson supports Branford residents concerned about the potential Tweed Airport expansion’s harmful impact on our health and environment, as well as the noise concerns of constituents who live near the Stony Creek Brewery.
Always mindful of our senior citizens on fixed incomes, Everson fought for a zero percent tax increase in FY ‘24 because the town’s $30 million dollar undesignated fund balance more than doubled the amount recommended by the Board of Finance. When Branford received $8 million from the American Rescue Plan, she and her democratic colleagues asked residents for suggestions and urged them to speak up regarding the town’s use of the funds. The administration was asked to focus on the people and the impact COVID had financially in our community.
Her professional background includes an award-winning 23-year career in journalism focused on politics and government in Westchester County and New York state. In 2009, she changed course, managing communications for two top elected women leaders in law enforcement and legislative/constituent services. She now shares her deep local knowledge with clients as a realtor with Century 21 AllPoints.
Tracy Everson understands public service, and looks forward to continuing to listen and assist constituents as their representative.
John Hartwell - RTM 5
Meet John
Phone - 203-216-1425
Email - JohnHartwell@gmail.com
John and his wife Janet chose Branford as the perfect place to retire. They both enjoy watching the mix of commercial and pleasure boats on the Branford River, dining with friends at our great restaurants, and the welcoming attitude of everyone they’ve met.
Since moving back to Connecticut in 2003, John has been deeply involved in community service. He has been active on the non-profit boards of a nature preserve, a private library, a historical society, and a state-wide pro-choice advocacy organization. He was elected to the Board of Finance in Westport, and he has been a leader on Democratic town committees where he has lived.
John is a former banker and financial industry consultant, and he draws on his finance training, marketing, and customer service experience to contribute to a variety of local non-profits. After earning a Masters in Public and Private Management from Yale’s School of Management, he was a Vice President at Chase Manhattan Bank where he led service quality initiatives in the branch system and worked on international business development projects.
Prior to grad school John lived in the Middle East for eleven years. There he met Janet, who was a teacher, and they both were active members of community theater groups. When their two children were young John coached boys and girls soccer, basketball, and baseball teams, and he took a boys soccer team to a national tournament.
John believes deeply in the role of citizens in our local government, and if elected he promises to listen carefully and work collaboratively to make Branford an even better place to live.
Alex Larsson - RTM 5
Meet Alex
Phone - 732-551-6689
Email - AlexLarsson2356@gmail.com
Alex is a recent transplant to Branford with his wife and dog, Chase, who he fosters for Guiding Eyes for the Blind. He chose to move to Branford because of the beautiful landscape, but also the close-knit community feel that Branford offers.
Alex currently works as an Academic Adviser/Credentialing Specialist and History Professor at Post University. Prior to Post University, Alex was an adviser at Western Connecticut State University. He also ran for the 66th District State House seat in 2018. When Alex isn’t working at Post, he helps run his non-profit, Connecticut Crossroads Project, which seeks to document the individual experience of people young and old to preserve the history of community through casual conversations.