MEET OUR CANDIDATES
Bruce M. Glowac, Selectmen
Bruce has devoted most of his adult life to serving his community. He has been an active member of numerous boards, commissions and committees. He has been a lifelong area resident and holds a BA in Environmental Sciences. In 1975 he married his high school sweetheart Taffy (Comstock) and they have raised four sons in Essex. Bruce owned and operated two local Businesses before being hired as the Director of Facilities for Regional School District #4 where he oversaw the renovation projects of Valley Regional High School and John Winthrop Middle School. He retired from his position at the schools in 2019 after 20 years of service. He was a member of the board of selectman from 1988-1991 and Essex First Selectman from1991 – 1995. He was elected to the Board of Selectmen again in 2013 and is currently running for re-election to a sixth consecutive term on the Board of Selectmen. Bruce is a fiscally responsible proven leader with a great deal of common sense. He has the knowledge and experience necessary for the job.
“My goal is to keep our taxes low and our services high through fiscal responsibility with a conservative approach. My past community service and lifelong residency has given me the background and experience necessary to help lead our Town into the future.”
Vin Pacileo for Treasurer
Vin is running for Town Treasurer to safeguard taxpayer dollars while keeping our community’s financial future strong. With decades of proven leadership in both the private and public sectors, he brings the experience, judgment, and commitment needed for this important role.
A multi-term elected member of the Essex Board of Finance, Vin reviews and considers approval of proposed expenditures for both the Town and Board of Education budgets, always with an eye toward accountability and fiscal responsibility. His public service also includes time on the Essex Elementary Board of Education and three full terms as a Selectman, where he contributed his expertise to a wide range of community priorities.
Now retired, Vin concluded his career as the Chief Administration Officer for the Town of Stonington, overseeing human resources, labor relations, and information technology. Before that, he held progressively senior positions in finance and human resources in the insurance and pharmaceutical industries, gaining a deep understanding of budgets, efficiency, and organizational leadership.
An active community volunteer, Vin has coached in the Essex Little League and Tri-Town Youth Soccer programs, served as the Advancement Coordinator for Essex Cub Scouts Pack 4, and continues to serve as a Lector and Extraordinary Minister at Our Lady of Sorrows Church. He resides in Ivoryton with his wife, Laura.
Vin earned a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Quinnipiac University, an M.B.A. in Finance from the University of New Haven, and held a Secondary Teaching Certification from Southern Connecticut State University.
Vin’s record is clear: he knows how to manage resources, lead with integrity, and put the community first. As Town Treasurer, he’ll do the same for you.
Mark Watson, Essex Board of Education
Mark was first elected to the Essex Board of Education in 2003. He currently serves as the Board Vice Chair and is on the Finance and Negotiations Committees. Mark’s overarching emphasis has been standardizing the R4 business practices, making the budget and spending processes transparent to the public, and finding financial and performance efficiencies by maximizing collaboration between the school districts where possible. His education focused emphasis has been to improve Essex Elementary math fluency and to support the existing Gifted and Talented and foreign language programs. Mark and his wife Maryanne had the privilege of sending their four children Neil, Sarah Beth, Brian, and Sean through Essex Elementary.
Mark’s first career was as a Coast Guard Officer where he retired as a Commander after commanding units both afloat and ashore. Operationally his service was exceptionally varied. He seized drug runners; saved thousands of mariners in distress; protected American fisheries; interdicted illegal migrants; sailed into the Arctic 5 times to ensure our Greenland military bases were resupplied, and conducted multiple Cold War science missions in support of our submariners. Mark served as an intelligence officer in Latin America and was decorated for combat service in Panama. Mark held multiple business and training ashore positions. The most notable was as the business manager for a $350M shipbuilding project. His cost estimation model for the patrol boat replacement project was recognized by the Congressional Coast Guard Appropriations staff as the new baseline for all future Coast Guard acquisition projects.
Mark’s second career was as the federal chief business officer for the Plum Island Animal Disease Center. He managed a $45M budget, a $1M small purchasing program, $21M in personal property, HR, records management, and vehicle fleets. In Mark’s spare time, he operated the Essex Police boat for over a decade.
Mark has supported our community in numerous volunteer capacities. He was a Scout leader for over two decades. He was a youth soccer coach for many years. He was also on the Board of Directors and Treasurer for both the Clubhouse youth program and the Essex Ambulance Association.
Mark has a BS degree from the United States Coast Guard Academy, and an MBA from the University of New Haven.
Kristin Pillion, Essex Board of Education
Kristen currently serves on the Essex Elementary Board of Education, the Essex Elementary PTO as corresponding secretary, and chairs several PTO programs. If you are not familiar with Kristen from within the school community, you may recognize her as your barista at Essex Coffee and Tea Company where she has worked part time for many years. Kristen holds an Associate's Degree in Culinary Arts with a focus on baking and pastry arts from Paul Smith's College and a Bachelor's Degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Kristen was building a career as a successful pastry chef when her daughter was born and she chose to take a step back to focus on motherhood. Her daughter attended Essex Elementary until moving on to the middle school this year and her son is now in first grade at Essex Elementary. Kristen has remained involved in her children's classrooms and school activities and is a familiar face to the front office staff. Kristen believes that there is value in providing a good educational foundation for our young children in a safe environment with teachers and staff that truly make a difference. Kristen is looking forward to continuing to uphold the reputation of Essex Elementary as a Board of Education member not only from the perspective of a taxpayer but also one of a parent. Kristen resides in Ivoryton with her husband and two children.
