Re-elect Brian First for Board of Finance

I invite you to join me in re-electing Brian First to remain on Canton’s Board of Finance. Brian was elected with a strong vote majority to serve a full term four years ago after previously being selected to fill a vacancy on the Board. His dedication, attention to the many details of the town budget and his willingness to challenge the status quo are the key attributes he continues to exhibit in his current position as Vice Chairman on the Board of Finance.   During Brian’s tenure on the Board, he has achieved goals such as retiring town debt, passing an annual budget with reduced spending and no tax increase, supporting key infrastructure projects like roads,  and keeping the average of overall spending and tax increases well below 2% annually.  No one recalls the last time this happened and it’s even more impressive that this was achieved in a time of unprecedented financial strain on our families and towns in CT. 

I have had the pleasure of knowing Brian on a personal level for over 10 years.  We have served together as board members and coaches for Canton Youth Athletics Basketball and worked together on many events to benefit our community and schools.  Through these volunteer activities, I have gained a true appreciation of Brian’s ability to manage and to demonstrate a level of “fairness” that is unfortunately lacking in many circles today.

As President and Chief Operating Officer of a national insurance company, Brian faces complex financial situations and has responsibility for delivering both the top and bottom line on budgets in excess of $350 million.  Additionally, his professional experience has reinforced in him the important lessons of working with different interest groups to achieve common goals while staying true to his principles.

Brian is a fiscal conservative and believes in serving the needs of all of Canton’s residents - from quality schools for our kids to tax relief for our seniors. He believes in responsible and realistic budgets that protect our property values and promote a high quality of life in our town. 

In short, there is not a finer or better person for the job than Brian First.  Please support him on Tues. Nov. 5 to continue his good work on the Board of Finance.

Joe Pelehach

38 Thompson Hill Rd.

Canton, CT 06019